The State Board of Education voted 5-2 Thursday to approve a College Career Readiness indicator (CCR) as a new graduation requirement. Gov. Kay Ivey, who has strongly supported the measure, urged a yes vote to help the state close opportunity gaps for students.

“Parents want their children to graduate from high school with the skills needed to excel in college and career,” Ivey said.

In 2021, 92% of students graduated, but only 76% earned a CCR indicator, creating a 16-percent gap. The CCR rate has lagged the graduation rate since 2016, compelling state leaders to act.

Proponents of adding a CCR indicator as a graduation requirement believe closing the gap will signal to employers, higher education institutions and companies looking to locate in Alabama that students are academically ready for college and/or career.

Board members Stephanie Bell (District 3) and Jackie Ziegler (District 1) voted no. Belinda McRae (District 7) and Dr. Cynthia McCarty (District 6) were absent.

The new requirement will take effect with the class of 2028, when seniors will need to meet current graduation requirements as well as achieve one of the following CCR indicators to graduate: 

• Earn a benchmark score in one of the areas of the ACT
• Earn a qualifying score of 3 or more on an AP exam
• Earn a dual enrollment credit
• Earn a silver or gold on the ACT WorkKeys exam (currently about 37% of CCR indicators earned) 
• Complete an in-school apprenticeship (participating students must be age 18) 
• Earn career tech industry credential (4,000 credentials available in Alabama)
• Earn a career tech completer status by taking one foundations course in a career tech field, an intermediate course in that field and an additional course such as a capstone project 
• Any additional CCR indicator approved by the SBOE

First Grade Readiness 

ALSDE Governmental Affairs Director Jessica Sanders facilitated board discussion about an administrative code proposal that would require local school boards to adopt policies and procedures requiring students to demonstrate first-grade readiness skills before being promoted or entering first grade.

If approved, incoming first graders would have to demonstrate successful kindergarten completion or demonstrate readiness on an assessment of essential development and physical skills. Students unable to demonstrate satisfactory skills, particularly those who have not been in a school environment before, would be required to enroll in kindergarten.

The SBOE will continue discussions with State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. If the discussion is favorable, the board could vote on its intent to adopt the rule at the December meeting with a 45-days public comment period before a final vote to approve in February.  

Office of School Improvement and Accountability Report 

ALSDE Office of School Improvement (OSI) Coordinator Dr. Melissa Shields provided a comprehensive update on direct support, including increased personnel, being provided to low-performing schools. Shields said OSI support varies from school to school based on need but generally centers around either chronic attendance, student achievement, English-Language Learners and/or CCR indicators. She added support is prioritized to schools in greatest need in the following order:

• Schools targeted by Federal Intervention defined by ESSA (Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Governor’s Turnaround Schools; Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI); Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI);
• Governor’s new Turnaround School Initiative
• Failing schools as defined by the state Accountability Act 
• All others upon request

Anticipating the release of accountability reports later in the month, board members expressed frustration in a series of questions about how OSI can address so many schools with such a small team. Referencing 79 schools on the “failing schools” list and several hundred more on CSI, TSI and ATSI lists, Dr. Yvette Richardson (District 4) said OSI is “stretched so thin.”

Mackey told the board the list that will be shared later in the month includes one-third the number of schools on previous lists and indicates improvement is heading in the right direction.  

Mackey also issued an accountability update and an embargoed copy of the new Alabama Education Report Card for each board member’s district. Local superintendents have already received copies. District report cards are scheduled to be released to the public Nov. 18. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Course of Study 

ALSDE Course of Study Coordinator Dr. Cathy Jones and Houston County Superintendent Brandy White, joined by several CTE teachers, led a presentation on the proposed CTE Course of Study.

The CTE Course of Study Committee, comprised of members across the state including teachers, administrators, school board members, higher education officials and business partners, was tasked with creating a rigorous course of study in three cluster areas: Education and Training; Hospitality and Tourism; and Cosmetology and Barbering. Progression of rigor in standards was presented for each cluster, demonstrating how educators will prepare students for college and/or the workforce.  

The presentation also included an overview of total occupations in Alabama, demand, average entry and experienced salary information and top 10 occupation earnings for each cluster.  

The proposed CTE Course of Study is expected to appear on the SBOE December agenda for consideration to adopt.  

Other Board Meeting Action 

Approved resolutions honoring Alabama’s 2022 Blue Ribbon School recipients: 

• Elberta Elementary School, Baldwin County Schools 
• Newton Elementary School, Dale County Schools 
• Piedmont Elementary School, Piedmont City Schools 
• Moody Elementary School, St. Clair County Schools 
• Walter Jackson Elementary School, Decatur City Schools  

Approved resolution honoring Alabama 2022 College-Ready Schools of Excellence:

• Wetumpka Middle School, Elmore County Schools 
• Pisgah, Jackson County Schools 
• Orange Beach Middle School, Orange Beach City Schools 
• Scottsboro Junior High, Scottsboro City Schools 
• Hewitt Trussville Middle School, Trussville City Schools 
• Brookwood Middle School, Tuscaloosa County Schools 
• Carbon Hill Junior High, Walker County Schools.  

Approved resolution honoring Alabama 2022 College-Ready High Schools of Excellence 

• Elberta High School, Balwin County Schools 
• Crossville High School, Dekalb County Schools 
• Dothan High School, Dothan City Schools 
• Geneva High Schools, Geneva City Schools 
• Charles Henderson High School, Troy City Schools 

 The board also approved resolutions: 

• Recognizing Dec 5-9, 2022, as Special Education Inclusive Schools Week in Alabama Schools 
• Declaring the Critical Importance of Teacher and Student Attendance 
• Appointing the Science State Course of Study Committee 
• Appointing the Career and Technical Education State Course of Study Committee 

Next SBOE Meeting  

The board’s next meeting will take place on December 8, 2022, at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.