The State Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to approve a resolution strongly encouraging local school boards to implement policies limiting the use of cell phones in schools. Citing national studies that show cell phone usage in the classroom negatively impacts test scores and learning retention, the resolution also encourages boards to provide training to ensure staff understand and enforce the policies.

State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey explained current law permitting boards of education to regulate electronic devices on school property originated in the 1990s to address disruptions caused by pagers. As technology has evolved and parents and educators are increasingly concerned about screen time and social media, school boards should revisit and update their policies, Mackey said.

Many school systems already have adopted policies banning or restricting cell phones, and the issue remains a local decision.

Educator Prep Programs Aim to Reduce Teacher Shortage

The SBOE work session included progress updates from representatives of six universities seeking approval of new UTeach Alabama educator preparation programs. UTeach Alabama, funded with $14 million in grants allocated in 2023 by the Alabama Legislature, aims to reduce the state’s teacher shortage by allowing college undergraduates to simultaneously earn STEM degrees and teacher certification. The University of Alabama at Birmingham launched the state’s only other UTeach program in 2014.

Lee Meadows, executive director of the Alabama STEM Council, said each of the six new sites has launched freshman exploratory programs and along with UAB’s program have attracted nearly 400 STEM majors across the state now exploring STEM teaching.  

For further information, read Alabama Program Aims to Put More STEM Teachers in State Classrooms.

The board also heard from representatives of https://educatorsuccess.com/#T.E.A.C.H. (Training Educators and Creating Hope), the first alternative educator preparation organization to seek approval under legislation passed last year expanding pathways for teacher certification. Representatives said the online program provides intensive coaching for its students and is heavily focused on bringing more African-American males into the profession. #T.E.A.C.H., which operates in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina, is scheduled for Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) review next spring.

The SBOE is expected to vote on approval of the UTeach sites and conditional approval of the #T.E.A.C.H. program at its March meeting.

Alabama Administrative Code Rule Changes: Professional Learning 

Also on the work session agenda was discussion of the board’s intent to adopt changes to the Administrative Code rules pertaining to Professional Learning and Standards for School Leadership. The changes are required by the School Principal Leadership and Learning Act passed during the 2023 Legislative session to better reflect current practice and research on high-quality standards for professional learning. The Legislature allocated $30 million in the budget beginning Oct. 1, 2024, for principal and assistant principal stipends based on the implementation of up-to-date professional development plans. Mackey said some school leaders will begin receiving stipend checks by this December.

 
Other Board Meeting and Work Session News

• CTE Update: The board approved a resolution proclaiming Feb. 1-29 as Alabama Career and Technical Education Month. Assistant State Superintendent Jimmy Hull provided an update during the work session on Career and Technical Education. Hull said the state’s CTE initiatives have recovered from pandemic-related dips in credentials earned and dual-enrollment participation, with more than 160,000 CTE students in grades 9-12, 517 CTE courses being taken and nearly 75% of Alabama high school students enrolled in at least one CTE class.
• ALSDE Personnel Processes: Deputy State Superintendent Brandon Payne detailed changes and improvements related to day-to-day management of ALSDE staff, hiring and training practices and department culture – all topics that came up in Mackey’s most recent evaluation. Among the changes discussed were the hiring of an attorney as personnel director and additional HR staff, employee handbook updates and new software to streamline processes for the routing and approval of documents.
• Legislative School Performance Program Awards: The board approved a resolution in recognition of 50 schools in 30 school systems that received the 2023 Legislative School Performance Award. Several lawmakers attended Thursday’s meeting to celebrate award recipients in their districts.
• 2024 National School Counselor of the Year: The board approved a resolution recognizing Diana Virgil of Daleville High School (Daleville City Schools) as the 2024 National School Counselor of the Year.

 Other board action included approval of resolutions recognizing:

• Feb. 1-29 as Alabama Career and Technical Education Month; and
• March 2024 as Arts Education Month in Alabama Schools.

Next SBOE Meeting & Work Session

The board’s next meeting will take place Thursday, March 14 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.

• Gordon Persons Building Auditorium
• Livestream viewing: https://www.youtube.com/user/aldeptofed/live
• Archived meeting and work session recordings: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/state-board-of-education/meeting-videos/