The State Board of Education discussed new 2024 courses of study for arts education and social studies during Thursday’s board work session., The proposed changes would add more high school courses in the arts and include substantial changes to social studies for the first time since 2010, aiming for more comprehensive, in-depth and integrated approach to historical topic across multiple grade levels.

Also during the work session, State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey presented preliminary data for the federal and state report cards, showing the state has increased its overall grade from last year’s 83 “B” to an 85 “B.” 

The state and federal report card system-level data will be published Nov. 22. Systems currently are validating their data, which is due back to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) by Nov. 21. There are differences in how the data is weighted and formatted in the two report cards, which will be detailed in next month’s FYI. In the academic achievement category, the state report card (bottom chart) earns more points than the federal report card (top chart). 

Social Studies Course of Study Revision

The State Social Studies Course of Study Committee presented a significant revision and realignment of sequencing, topics and standards. Geneva City Schools Superintendent Ron Snell, committee chair, highlighted substantial efforts to better connect topics between grade levels, increase the emphasis on civics education and expand instruction on Alabama's role in U.S. history. 

Key grade-level changes include:

• Grades 3-5: Current grade 4 coursework will be expanded across grades 3-5, with new content emphasizing the impact of geography on state history and economy and its connection to U.S. history.
• Grades 5-7: Earlier introduction to civics and U.S. history, combining parts of current grade 5 and 7 civics coursework and integrating civics concepts with foundations of government.
• Grades 7-9: Expanded world history and geography sequences from grades 8-9 to grades 7-9, increasing content depth and collaboration among middle school teachers.
• Grades 10-11: Significantly expanded coverage of post-WWII history and updated content and language reflecting new scholarship. The committee proposes three new standards covering the 1990s and 2000s, focusing on foreign policy, economic and political history with specific standards and sub-standards. 
• Grade 12: Re-structured U.S. government and economics coursework to better fit the half-year course schedule based on feedback from teachers. The committee also developed new elective offerings, including Alabama studies, historical studies and Holocaust studies. 

Comparison of the 2010 and 2024 Social Studies Course of Study Sequence:

View drafts of the 2024 Alabama Course of Study: Arts Education and the Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies here. The public comment period on these drafts is open from Thursday, Nov. 14 through Thursday, Nov. 23.

New Flexibility Waiver for Decatur City Career and Technical Education (CTE) High School:

Citing increased interest from local superintendents, Mackey presented a resolution approved by the Decatur City Board of Education for a flexibility waiver under provisions of the Alabama Accountability Act for a new standalone comprehensive CTE high school, similar to the waiver approved earlier this summer for the new Baldwin Preparatory Academy.

New School Library Guidance:

The Board also reviewed new guidance for school libraries, which have not been updated in two decades. In reviewing the proposed library guidance, Tracie West (District 2) noted public school libraries are uniquely structured and operate differently from the state's public library system.

State Textbook Committees for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science:

The State Textbook Committee recommended the adoption of new textbooks in two areas:

• Career and Technical Education Cluster (Arts, A-V Technology, and Communications; Health Science; and Human Services)
• Science for grades K-12.

View the textbooks and supplemental materials list to be considered by the Board for adoption and/or rejection here. 

Recognitions:

The Board recognized Alabama's five National Blue Ribbon Schools and the A+ College Ready Schools of Distinction, Schools of Excellence, and Mary D. Boehm Schools of Achievement.

• National Blue Ribbon Schools: 
  • Carver School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (Dothan City Schools)
  • Brookwood Forest Elementary School (Mountain Brook City Schools)
  • EPIC Alternative Elementary School (Birmingham City Schools)
  • East Elementary School (Cullman City Schools)
  • Crestline Elementary School (Hartselle City Schools)
• The A+ College Ready Schools of Excellence, Schools of Distinction, and Mary D. Boehm Schools of Achievement are those schools that increased access to Advancement Placement (A.P.) coursework and qualifying scores on the A.P. exam(s).
  • Schools of Excellence: Foley High School (Baldwin County Schools); John Herbert Phillips Academy and W.J. Christian School (Birmingham City Schools); Hokes Bluff Middle School (Etowah County Schools); Fort Payne Middle School (Fort Payne City Schools); Hartselle High School and Hartselle Jr High School (Hartselle City Schools); Moody High School (St. Clair County Schools); and Bankhead Middle School (Walker County Schools).
  • Schools of Distinction: Denton Magnet School of Technology (Mobile County Schools); Hewitt-Trussville High School (Trussville City Schools); Orange Beach High School (Orange Beach City Schools); Plainview High School (DeKalb County Schools); and Wetumpka High School (Elmore County Schools).
  • Mary D. Boehm Schools of Achievement: Geneva High School (Geneva City Schools) and Hewitt-Trussville Middle School (Trussville City Schools).

Resolutions

• Karissa Lang, principal, Crestline Elementary School (Hartselle City Schools), recipient of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership
• Approval of Samford University's educator preparation programs
• Inclusion in Alabama Schools Week, Dec. 2-6, 2024

Amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule Changes

• The Board adopted amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule, 290-3-3-.60 pertaining to Alternative Teacher Preparation Organizations (ATPO) following extensive discussion at previous work sessions. This rule change is in alignment with recent technical changes made through Act 2024-393 this legislative session.

2025 SBOE Meetings and Work Sessions

• The Board will meet the first Thursday of each month as well as on the last Wednesday of January and August for board retreats.  The January retreat will be hosted by Tonya Chestnut (District 5) in Montgomery County and the August retreat by Jackie Zeigler (District 1) in Mobile or Baldwin County. Two new board members will take their oath of office in January:
  • Allen Long replacing Belinda McRae (District 7)
  • Kelly Mooney replacing Stephanie Bell (District 3). 

Next SBOE Meeting and Work Session:

The board’s next meeting will take place during Thursday, Dec. 12 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/

Ada Katherine van Wyhe, MPA
Director of Governmental Relations