The State Board of Education Thursday approved a requested increase of $55 million for the Foundation Program in the FY26 Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget. The Board also established a new cut score for the lowest level in reading on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP), with several board members sharing concerns from constituents and educators alike about the need for a higher cut score, and two dissenting members noting the new cut score is not high enough to prevent third graders not reading sufficiently from promotion to the fourth grade. 

For fourth grade promotion under the Alabama Literacy Act, the lowest achievement level for the reading subtest of the ACAP is now set at the following raw scores and schedule: 

• Previous 435 cut score for 2023-2024
• 444 cut score for 2024-2025 
• 444 cut score for 2025-2026 
• 454 cut score for 2026-2027 

ACAP Reading Cut Score: At last month's work session, State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey presented a recommendation for a three-year ramp up to the new cut score. Several board members explained their vote during Thursday's meeting, noting support for the new cut score. "After two years, my understanding is that we'll get to the 454 cut score, which is where we should've been all along," said Wayne Reynolds (District 8). Marie Manning (District 6) said, "People in my district are thrilled we are moving forward and understand that most of this board has the opportunity and desire to see an increase in our student performance, and they are content we will keep it at 444 for two years to get us streamlined data." 

Two dissenting board members explained they have heard from constituents who do not think the board is increasing the reading cut score enough. "A lot of my constituents and teachers reached out to me and said we need to push on the accelerator a bit harder," said Jackie Ziegler (District 1). "It's a hard decision to be made but we've got to keep moving forward." Stephanie Bell (District 3) agreed. Bell noted when the time comes to move into the third-year cut score increase, there may not be a commitment to do so. She also said she heard from teachers "concerned they have students being promoted to the next grade who would be better off if they remained in their current grade." 

FY26 Foundation Program Budget Request: The requested FY26 Foundation Program of $4.7 billion features additional funding for assistant principals in schools with more than 275 students. 

The ALSDE will now submit the approved Foundation Program budget request along with the department’s budget request to the Executive Budget Office by the Nov. 1 constitutional deadline. View the ALSDE budget request spreadsheet for the FY26 ETF.

The FY26 ALSDE budget request does not include any one-time funds available in the ETF supplemental appropriation, which is anticipated to be around $500 million next year, or the Education Advancement and Technology Fund, which will have approximately $1.6 billion available.

Other Board Meeting & Work Session Updates

Updates on Social Studies and Arts Courses of Study: Mackey provided an update on the work of the social studies and arts courses of study committees, both of which will present to the board in next month's work session. The social studies committee will recommend a significant expansion of historical topics to be covered by the course of study, including African-American history, the Civil Rights Movement and events and presidents up to 2008, in alignment with other states. 

Educator Preparation Program: Representatives from Samford University presented the institution's undergraduate and graduate educator preparation programs during the work session. The programs will be up for approval at next month's meeting, highlighting compliance with the Alabama Literacy Act and preparation for requirements of the Numeracy Act. The program took in students from Birmingham Southern College, which closed in May 2024.

Resolutions from the SBOE Meeting:

• Recognition of Charles Longshore, assistant principal, Dothan Preparatory Academy (Dothan City Schools), as Alabama’s 2024 Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year, SBOE District 2
• Recognition of  Alan Keith York, principal, Opelika Middle School (Opelika City Schools), as Alabama’s 2024 Middle School Principal of the Year, SBOE District 2
• Recognition of  Michele Hewlett, assistant principal, Chickasaw Elementary School (Chickasaw City Schools), as Alabama’s 2024 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Outstanding Elementary Assistant Principal, SBOE District 5
• Recognition of Dr. Gregory Deval Moore, Jr., principal, Springville High School (St. Clair County Schools), as Alabama’s 2024 High School Principal of the Year, SBOE District 6
• Recognition of Shannon McCaskey, principal, Frances Nungester Elementary School (Decatur City Schools), as Alabama’s 2024 NAESP National Distinguished Principal, SBOE District 7
• Recognition of Mindy Walker, Holt High School (Tuscaloosa County Schools), as Alabama’s 2024 History Teacher of the Year, SBOE District 4
• Distinguished Recognition of the 2023 Alabama School Counseling and District Counseling Programs of Distinction 
• October as Principals Month, Dyslexia Awareness Month, Manufacturing Month and Statewide Parent Engagement Month
• School Bus Safety Week Oct 21-25, 2024
• Alabama's 2024 Science of Reading Spotlight Schools (list below)

Next SBOE Meeting and Work Session:

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

Ada Katherine van Wyhe, MPA
Director of Governmental Relations