The Alabama State Board of Education’s brief January meeting included passage of resolutions related to Career and Technical Education, including adoption of the State Course of Study for Architecture and Construction, Information Technology, and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics, as well as approval of textbooks for Business Management and Administration, Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Work-Based Learning. 

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey’s report included good news for the state’s workforce development programs in schools and computer science education initiatives:

• The National Computer Science Teachers Association ranked Alabama as sixth in the nation for the expansion of computer science education; and
• Site Selection Magazine ranked Alabama as sixth best place in the nation for opening new businesses and fifth in the nation for school-based workforce development programs.

Mackey updated the board on his recent budget presentation to the Alabama Legislature, explaining the alignment of the department’s legislative priorities and budget requests. He also shared recent developments in the department’s response to the teacher shortage, including a series of teacher certification changes such as the issuance of a temporary special education certification. 

In response to Gov. Kay Ivey’s recent State of the State Address during which she stressed that Alabama should no longer accept a “failing elementary school,” Mackey informed the board there currently are 12 elementary schools on the AAA’s “failing schools list.” He said the department is hard at work getting those schools off the list, with additional funding and targeted supports being developed to meet each school’s individual needs. 

Other board meeting action included recognition of January as Gifted Education Month and February as Alabama Career and Technical Education Month. 

Work Session News

Thursday’s board work session began with a lengthy discussion of legislative matters and upcoming bills: 

• Statewide Textbook Committee process - (S. 15 – Sen. Tim Melson) - Remove requirement for materials to be no more than three years old so more textbooks can be vetted and approved; Give committee members a stipend
• First Grade Readiness (a.k.a. Kindergarten bill) – bill not yet introduced - Basic academic knowledge should also be considered as factor, not just meeting assessment benchmarks; Concerns over whether this legislation will mandate children to be in kindergarten at an age earlier than what is currently prescribed by law
• Alabama Course of Study law – there is no bill at this time - Would like to pay committee members more than just per diem in order to cover costs for travel to Montgomery which is required for multiple meetings

Mackey gave a brief overview about the ALSDE’s strategy for increasing math achievement. He told the board Sen. Arthur Orr currently is working on a “math bill” to be introduced this legislative session, but a final draft is not yet available. Board members stressed the importance of being included in any discussions related to the bill and having the opportunity to provide input on any education-related legislation being crafted. 

Tracie West (District 2) said she is hopeful some of the plans the department has crafted to address math achievement will be enough to stave off legislative action. Board members also expressed concern about the impact math achievement legislation would have on classroom teachers who already are working hard to implement Literacy Act requirements and dealing with a host of issues created by the pandemic. 

Discussion also included upcoming Administrative Code changes pertaining to new construction or renovations of school facilities. The changes come on the heels of building code and safety requirement recommendations made by Gov. Kay Ivey’s study group as part of a bill passed during last year’s regular legislative session removing the Department of Construction Management oversight from K-12 public education construction projects that cost less than $500,000 or for HVAC system renovation/repairs or roof maintenance and repairs.

The board discussed at length the process for the adoption of English Language Arts (ELA) textbooks as required by the Alabama Literacy Act. After review by the Literacy Task Force, only two core reading programs met the requirements for alignment to the science of reading. Those programs were recommended to the ELA Textbook Committee for adoption; however, upon closer review, one of the programs could not be considered because it was outdated. 

Board members voiced concerns about only one reading program being recommended for ELA textbook adoption (K-3 list). The board will consider several options at its January 26 retreat:

• Move forward and approve the recommendations from the ELA textbook committee, with one textbook option for ELA K-3. 
• Move forward and approve the recommendations for 4th-12th grades from the ELA textbook committee and ask the ALSDE to discuss and potentially have textbook publishers submit bids for K-3 textbooks again.
• Move forward and approve the recommendations from the ELA textbook committee, with one textbook option for ELA K-3, with a caveat that they will immediately have textbook publishers submit bids for K-3 textbooks again.

Next Board Meeting and Work Session

The next regular meeting of the Alabama State Board of Education will take place Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.