Education News in Alabama

March 5, 2004 (archive)

It was a Good Week for:
Revenue projections, as the numbers for February confirmed a positive trend in increasing revenue in the Education Trust Fund. However, the future still looks bleak for Medicaid, prisons, and other General Fund items, as state financial analysts are still predicting a hefty shortfall in these critical areas.

Bipartisanship, as members of the Government Reform and Revenues Committee of the Alabama State Legislature pledged to study commonalities between the accountability package proposed by Governor Riley and the package proposed by the Democratic leadership in hopes of bringing a resolution to the myriad arguments occurring in both chambers. Members of the committee include: Speaker of the House Seth Hammett (D), Rep. John Knight (D), Rep. Ron Johnson (R), Rep. Jeff McLaughlin (D), Rep. Jim Carns (R), Rep. Richard Lindsey (D), Rep. Robert Bentley (R), Rep. Marcel Black (D), Rep. Mac Gipson (R), Senate President Pro Tem Lowell Barron (D), Sen. Hank Sanders (D), Sen. Jeff Enfinger (D), Sen. Bradley Byrne (R), Sen. Steve French (R), Sen. Bobby Denton (D), Sen. Jim Preuitt (D), Sen. Tom Butler (D), and Sen. Wendell Mitchell (D).

It was a Bad Week for:
Achievement gaps, as the State Department of Education released the annual report cards for every school in Alabama. The aggregate data on the state report card shows students in grades 3 - 8 are close to the national average in Reading, Language, and Mathematics (based on SAT-10 scores with the national average being the 50th percentile). However, when those scores are broken down by gender, race, ethnicity and economic status, large achievement gaps begin to emerge between black and white students, poor and non-poor students, and special education and general education students.

The GOOD NEWS is that those gaps are closing in schools where the Alabama Reading initiative is in place. "We are at a crossroads in this state," said Interim State Superintendent Joe Morton. "Not one item is more important than fully funding the Alabama Reading Initiative in all K-3 schools. If we do this, we will fundamentally change the academic landscape of Alabama."

State Board of Education: Work Session Report
On February 26, the State Board of Education held its monthly work session. Items discussed included:

Proposed Change in Alabama High School Graduation Requirements for Special Education Students -- Mabry Whetstone, director of Special Education for the State Department of Education, presented a proposal for an emergency rule that would make it possible for students with disabilities to receive a diploma even if they fail to pass one subject-area test of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. In such cases, alternative documentation (obtained all required course credits, documented disability(s) in the area where a subject-area test was not passed, participation in remediation, meeting attendance requirements, and holding a cumulative C average) will be used to confer a diploma.

Whetstone assured board members that this does not weaken the Alabama High School diploma. Instead, he advised, it provides flexibility for those students who have exhibited hard work and success in school -- and who will go on to a successful college and/or work career -- but whose disability prohibits them from passing a section of the AHSGE. If the emergency rule is adopted in March, it will go into effect immediately and will be retroactive to first-time ninth graders in the 1997-1998 school year (Class of 2001).

Social Studies State Course of Study Committee Report -- A thoughtful discussion occurred after lunch as the board heard a report from the Social Studies State Course of Study Committee, a minority report from a dissenting member, and a report from an Ad Hoc Committee composed of University of Alabama professors, history teachers and representatives of the Alabama Eagle Forum. The Ad Hoc Committee proposed a list of additions and corrections that could strengthen the social studies standards.

A+ commends the members of the Social Studies State Course of Study Committee for their hard work and commitment to the process of developing the course of study. The setting of standards always enriched by thoughtful discussion and by the suggestion of such constructive ideas as those offered by the Ad Hoc Committee. We hope the board will carefully consider any additions or substitutions to the proposed course of study with a goal of preserving the committee's intent: to provide Alabama students with a comprehensive, balanced curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking skills and factual knowledge.

The proposed Social Studies Course of Study is available on the State Department of Education's website.

Powerful Conversations in Wilcox County
On March 2, 2004, the Alabama Best Practices Center (BPC) and Alabama Teacher Quality Enhancement Project expanded their successful "Powerful Conversations about Professional Development" project to rural Wilcox County. Trained facilitators, including BPC President Cathy Gassenheimer, conducted self-assessments in J.E. Hobbs Elementary School and Camden School of Arts and Technology.

The conversations focused on the professional development efforts of the faculty in both schools and how focused, effective ongoing training for teachers can and does impact student learning. Participants noted that the participation of the Hobbs Elementary staff in the Alabama Reading Initiative has already focused their professional development activities on raising student achievement with documented results.

IN THE NEWS
No Parent Left Behind?
Achievement numbers by race, teacher qualifications, test explanations, offers to transfer students from struggling or dangerous schools -- the No Child Left Behind education law requires all of it and more be provided to parents. Now more than ever, parents need to engaged and informed when it comes to the education of their children. This article by Ben Feller of the Associated Press emphasizes the dire need for parents to understand the benefits and options provided by No Child Left Behind in order to ensure their children are receiving an excellent education.
View 'No Parent Left Behind'

Fighting NCLB’s Failure Label
For educational leaders and advocates, No Child Left Behind presents a massive communication challenge. The issues are complex, confusing and impossible to explain in a 10-second sound bite. Making matters worse, last year many districts and states were seemingly caught by surprise by the adequate yearly progress (AYP) announcements and accompanying media coverage. This article by Adam Kernan-Schloss, president of KSA-Plus Communications, offers tips on how best to communicate the details of AYP and other NCLB-related issues.
http://www.aasa.org/publications/sa/2004_03/kernan-schloss.htm

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Gannett Foundation
The Gannett Foundation, a corporate foundation sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc., serves local organizations in those communities in which Gannett Co., Inc. has a local daily newspaper or television station. The program makes contributions through grants and a matching gifts program to qualified nonprofit organizations to improve the education, health and advancement of the people who live in Gannett communities. The Foundation values projects which take a creative approach to such fundamental issues as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment. Next application deadlines: May 15 and August 15, 2004. For more information, please visit http://gannettfoundation.org/

Spread the Word!
Please forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues interested in public education, and encourage them to subscribe via our website at http://www.aplusala.org/signups/edunews.asp.

Factoids:

• In 2003, 342,817 Alabama students in grades 3 - 8 took the SAT-10 reading test. Results show that forty percent of them cannot read on grade level.
• The Montgomery Public Schools Reading Initiative, based on the Alabama Reading Initiative, is having a dramatic effect on reading scores at the K-3 level. At the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, more than 40 percent of first graders were at risk of reading failure. At mid-year, only six percent were still at risk of failing in reading.

Words of Wisdom:
Editor's note: This quote was borrowed from the PEN Weekly Newsblast, Friday, February 27, 2004. It is particularly appropriate in light of the rhetoric surrounding the state and national politics of public education.

"In science it often happens that scientists say, ‘You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,’ and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion."

- Carl Sagan (astronomer/author)

 

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Education News in Alabama is published bi-weekly by the A+ Education Foundation and is distributed to A+ board members, the media, and list serve subscribers. View archived newsletters.

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