By Bart Reeves
AASB Associate Executive Director for Governmental Relations

The decision to suspend the Praxis content knowledge assessment for teacher candidates completing an Alabama educator preparation program in a teaching field remains on hold while the State Board of Education continues to gather information.  

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey indicated during Thursday’s board work session the teacher certification work group, tasked with identifying short- and long-term solutions to address a critical teacher shortage, will meet again in June, allowing him to present additional information for discussion and consideration at the board’s next meeting.

Suspension of the Praxis was suggested as a short-term measure to increase the pool of available teachers, but Mackey explained some stakeholders view the solution as controversial. Since March, Mackey has held meetings with Praxis officials, college and university deans, business leaders and others with concerns about suspending the assessment. 

“There is a fear out there that the Praxis would not be reinstated at a later date,” Mackey said.

Several board members also urged caution on suspending the assessment, including Stephanie Bell (District 3) who said "testing brings stature and credibility just as it does with other professions."

Wayne Reynolds (District 8) said he has heard from several college deans on the matter, with one opposing the suspension who said he had less than ten percent unable to pass the assessment. 

“The idea of testing and eliminating the datapoint is a serious consideration,” Reynolds said. 

Dr. Cynthia McCarty (District 6) asked if the Praxis assessment is aligned to state standards being taught in Alabama colleges and universities. Mackey said the Praxis is a national assessment - designed to measure content knowledge in a specific field of study - but there are states that have contracted with Praxis to construct assessments aligned to state standards. 

Mackey plans to present options to the board next month, including details about what other states are doing to address teacher graduation requirements, before making a recommendation. He added that suspension of the assessment would not affect 2022-23 teacher candidates. 

Replacements and Cut Scores for Retiring Math Praxis Assessments

Two existing Praxis assessments and recommended passing scores in mathematics content knowledge (middle school and secondary grades) approved by the SBOE are set to be discontinued by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in August. As is customary, the board expects to follow the Educational Testing Service’s recommendations for replacement of those retired assessments and setting new passing scores as a precondition for initial certification and program admission. A related resolution will be considered at the June board meeting. 

In Other Work Session Discussion 

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Board members shared questions received from constituents regarding the FAFSA application as a graduation requirement, which some view as controversial due to privacy concerns. Mackey said calls to the department from families asking about the FAFSA application are fewer each week, in part because of the great job school registrars and counselors have done managing FAFSA communication, information and requirements. Mackey explained there are two levels to the application -- one for students and the other for parents.  Students fulfill their responsibility by completing the first section. The parent section requests tax information; however, it is the parent’s prerogative on whether to complete it. “If students do their part, but parents don’t, the student will be able to graduate,” Mackey said.  He also addressed constituents’ privacy concerns, stating the Department of Education is neither keeping nor housing any records when parents choose to fill out the documentation.  
• Social Studies and Sciences Courses of Study: Mackey updated the board on the course of study adoption schedule for social studies, which has been rescheduled and slated for adoption in 2024. Science course of study adoption remains on schedule in 2023. Mackey explained adopting two core areas back-to-back will present challenges to staff with a textbook adoption the following year. Under this schedule, the state will move forward adopting a social studies course of study followed by science textbooks in 2024.
• Educator Prep Programs: The board engaged in discussion with deans of colleges of education regarding teacher recruitment, retention and the science of reading. A number of resolutions extending approval to educator preparation programs to 2028 are expected to appear on the board’s meeting agenda.
• CTE State Textbook Committee: The board discussed a resolution to appoint the 2022-23 state textbook committee for Career and Technical Education clusters: Architecture and Construction; Information Technology; and Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics.  
• Construction Projects: The board announced its intent to adopt an amended Alabama Administrative Code rule changing permit and inspection requirements for school facilities. The rule change is needed to align the code with a bill passed last year and recently amended this legislative session allowing school systems to bypass the Division of Construction Management for projects costing less than $750,000, including roofing or HVAC improvements. The law will become effective Oct 1, 2022. 

Board Meeting Updates

The State Board of Education approved a resolution commending Reggie White of Birmingham City Schools as the 2022-23 Alabama Teacher of the Year. White, a National Board certified fifth-grade teacher, was announced Wednesday as Alabama’s new Teacher of the Year and formally recognized at the state board meeting Thursday. The board also approved resolutions recognizing the Alternate Alabama Teacher of the Year, William Edmonds of Mobile County Schools, along with 14 district winners. 

Other board action included approval of a resolution recognizing Alabama’s “Grow Our Own” Initiative and “Future Teachers of Alabama” organization as well as approval of Dr. Brandon Payne as Deputy State Superintendent of Administration and Finance. 

Next SBOE Meeting

The board’s next meeting will take place June 9 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.