The State Board of Education (SBOE) approved the recommendation for a 3rd-grade reading cut score of 435 Thursday, as proposed by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The resolution passed with a 5-3 vote, with board members Jackie Ziegler (District 1), Stephanie Bell (District 3) and Wayne Reynolds (District 8) opposing it. The SBOE committed to revisiting the cut core next August.

• State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey hinted last month at considering the cut score for a two-year span. However, after in-depth discussions with board members and other concerned parties, he made the score a one-year recommendation. 
• Adjustments in the cut scores are necessary with the 2023 ACAP reading assessment undergoing modifications to mirror the Science of Reading (SOR) updates in the new ELA Course of Study, Mackey said.  
• Yvette Richardson (District 4), in favor of the cut score, remarked, "We have previously accepted TAC's recommendation. They are the experts, and we should heed their advice again." Marie Manning (District 6), also supported the cut score, noting the ACAP is a more challenging test. 
• Mackey voiced his support last month of the 435 cut score due to its 90% reliability at a -2 standard deviation. He expressed concerns about retaining a 3rd grader based on a test with potential reliability issues after just one year of data. Modifying the cut score boosts its reliability from 70% to 90%.

In opposing the recommendation, state board members voiced reservations about decreasing the cut score.

• Ziegler said this score doesn't truly represent grade-level proficiency for our students. 
• Reynolds shared Ziegler's apprehension, highlighting potential challenges for 4th-grade teachers who might inherit students who aren't on grade level and would not receive the support available to 3rd-graders.

Defending the score, Mackey articulated the need for a conservative start, especially in an initial year with potential student retentions. 

• Emphasizing a gradual and informed approach, he assured the board that data from the 2023 Summer Reading Camps and the 2024 ACAP assessment would play a pivotal role in future cut score decisions.
• Mackey said he remains optimistic about elevating the score in subsequent years. 

Board Continues Budget Discussions on FY25 Requests

Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Brandon Payne continued the budget discussion from last month's state board retreat, emphasizing a $55 million increase in requests made by the SBOE and ALSDE since that meeting. (For more information, see AASB’s initial recap of budget requests discussed at the August retreat.) 

Budget adjustment highlights include:

• School Safety, Security, and Climate: SBOE is now proposing an $18.6 million increase. After a one-time $40 million allocation in the 2023 supplemental appropriation and ESSER funds that could be used for school safety expiring in 2024, the SBOE intends to request $20 million annually for ongoing safety measures.
• Mental Health Coordinators: SBOE updated its Mental Health Coordinator request to include a $4.5 million increase to offset cost-of-living adjustments with an additional $10,000 for each school system. The amount also will support hiring eight regional administrators to assist mental health coordinators in implementing best practices.
• Struggling Readers Beyond Grade 3: The ALSDE initially proposed $2 million in funding for a pilot program targeting challenged middle school readers. Board Members asked Mackey to increase this amount and have ALSDE staff identify struggling readers in grades 4-6, a shift from grades 4-12,  to determine the amount needed. The SBOE plans to include these figures in the Alabama Reading Initiative funding and request an expansion of ARI's coverage beyond 3rd grade.
• Special Education Teacher Incentive Stipend: The ALSDE has increased its funding request from $6.8 million discussed at the Board retreat to *$34 million for special education stipends. This ensures every special education teacher gets a $5,000 stipend with benefits, regardless of their funding source (local, state and federal). 

The budget is scheduled for a vote in October, and will be presented it to Gov. Kay Ivey before November 1.  

Board Meeting Updates

• Approved ALSDE FY24 Operating Budget
• Announced intent to Repeal Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-3-3-.60, pertaining to alternative teacher preparation organizations, and adopt new Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-3-3-.60, pertaining to alternative teacher preparation organizations
• The SBOE voted unanimously to announce the Intent to Adopt Amended Alabama Administrative Code language on charter schools. The Legislature passed updates this session to Alabama’s 2015 charter law. The intended changes include adding a definition of charter operator, which applies only to conversion charter schools, and new guidelines for local charter authorizers, now required to reapply five years.

Other approvals from the board meeting included: 

• A resolution proclaiming October as Statewide Parent Engagement Month.
• A resolution proclaiming September as Statewide Attendance Awareness Month
• A resolution commending Serena Owsley, Athens City Schools CSFO, as the recipient of the 2023 Robert L. Morton Award, State School Board District 8. 

Other work session discussion:

Alabama Accountability Act (AAA): The board also discussed announcing its intent to adopt amendments to the Alabama Administrative Code concerning education accountability at next month’s board meeting. This follows the Legislature's 2023 update to the 2013 Alabama Accountability Act. These revisions aim to align administrative code with the updated law. Notably, the term "failing school" is now replaced with "priority schools." Additionally, the criteria for identifying schools has shifted from "schools in the bottom 6%" based on statewide assessments to schools with D and F grades on the state report card.

Next SBOE Meeting 

The board’s next meeting will take place Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.  

Editor's Note: * AASB reported the incorrect amount for local and federal special education units last week in the Special Education Incentive Stipend line item as part of the retreat discussion.