Education News in Alabama

January 25, 2006 (archive)

QUALITY COUNTS 2006

Education Week issued its 10th annual "Quality Counts" for the year 2006. This annual report card on education in the nation contains a state-by-state review on the progress made in standards-based education. It grades states on a core set of policy indicators that are related to standards-based
education: standards and accountability, efforts to improve teacher quality, school climate, and resources.

Alabama received: "B" for standards and accountability; "B" for efforts to improve teacher quality; "C-" for school climate; and "C+" for resource equity. Alabama's scores match up favorably when compared with the national average of "C+" and with other states in the region. In the areas of teacher quality and resource equity, Alabama's scores exceeded those of neighboring states Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi. Alabama's report card has improved in every area since 2004, with the exception of standards and accountability, which remained constant.

The report also provides a review of gains in student achievement as measured by the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics tests in grades 4 and 8 from 1996 to 2005. Overall, the report found that the achievement gap has narrowed and that student achievement has improved, particularly in mathematics.

This year, the report examined the relationship between the progress states have made in education policy and the gains in student learning. The report notes that much work remains to be done in order to understand the relationship between policy and student achievement but found that some of the earliest and most ardent supporters of standards-based accountability systems appear to be making the most progress in student achievement. The report highlights the efforts of Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Texas. The full report can be found through the Education Week website: www.edweek.org <http://www.edweek.org/> . The website also provides a way to compare state-by-state data.

RMC REPORTS ON ALABAMA'S READING SUCCESS

The Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) continues to receive state, regional, and national attention. Because the ARI has proven to be one of the most effective initiatives in the country, the US Department of Education has appointed RMC Research Corporation to develop a case study about the ARI and its federally funded counterpart, the Alabama Reading First Initiative (ARFI). RMC Research will profile Alabama's success in implementing, expanding, and fine-tuning a research-based approach to reading instruction. The project will focus on how the federally funded ARFI program has complemented and expanded ARI¹s reach throughout the state by focusing exclusively on high-poverty, low-performing schools. In exploring the many contributors to the work of ARFI and ARI, the project will help the US Department of Education inform other states about how to implement a comprehensive and effective reading initiative.

RMC is a private professional services and consulting firm that specializes in research, evaluation, training, product development, and technical assistance for both public and private agencies.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
January 12, 2006

LEE v. MACON

The imminent resolution of the Lee v. Macon case closes a historic chapter of education equity in Alabama. In 1964, the State Board of Education, State Superintendent, and the Governor of Alabama were added as defendants in the desegregation case against the Macon County Board of Education. The imminent submission of a final consent decree to the federal court marks the resolution to this 41-year cycle. The case has highlighted the importance of public education in ending segregation in Alabama.

The final closure of the case will be resolved through the implementation of a consent decree agreed upon by all parties. The two remaining issues following a 1998 agreement, in which all other issues were considered settled, were special education and facilities. Since that time, the state has successfully implemented a strategy in which students are not over- or under-identified to either gifted or special education programs based on race. This final consent decree will ensure the quality of school facilities. The three main components that will be implemented are a training program for all school systems on the history of desegregation; the ongoing maintenance of a database providing information on the status of education facilities; and a system of analysis and approval for construction projects.

The consent decree must be approved by both the State Board and the federal court. All three components will be in place within one year; the decree will be in place for two years starting from the date of this implementation. While the decree resolves the involvement of the state in the Lee v. Macon case, local court orders and injunctions will remain in effect.

Recognition of Alabama Reading Initiative Demonstration Sites

The SDE honored the service of the principals, reading coaches, and teachers in the fifteen School Demonstration Sites for the Alabama Reading Initiative for the 2005-06 academic year. The ARI Demonstration Sites are schools that have successfully implemented the ARI at the highest level. These sites host educators from ARI schools from other districts and schools in order to share their expertise and best practices. These schools were recognized for their commitment to sustaining school improvement efforts and for the dedication of their time to the success of ARI.

These schools are: St. Elmo Elementary (Mobile County), Mt. Olive Elementary (Russell County), Pine Level Elementary (Autauga County), Moody Elementary (Saint Clair County), Moundville Elementary (Hale County), Lipscomb Elementary (Jefferson County), Troy Elementary (Troy), Warrior Elementary (Jefferson County), Kate D. Smith DAR Elementary (Marshall County), Phil Campbell Elementary (Franklin County), West Jasper Elementary (Jasper), Verner Elementary (Tuscaloosa), Ivalee Elementary (Etowah County), John Jones Elementary (Etowah County), and Endeavor Elementary (Madison County).

Recognition of 2005 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching Finalists

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the nation's highest honor granted to teachers in the areas of math and science. The award was established in 1983 by an Act of Congress and are administered by the White House through the National Science Foundation. The award honors individual achievement and also highlights excellence in the practice of math and science teaching. Teachers are evaluated based on their application, which includes a videotaped lesson and written responses to questions about instructional practice. In 2005, secondary school teachers (7-12) could be nominated for the award.

Several of Alabama's teachers were honored as finalists for the award. Finalists for the Science Presidential Award are Mark Jones from Drake Middle School (Auburn), Phillip Holley from Mountain Brook Junior High School (Mountain Brook), and Cinda Preuit from Speake High School (Lawrence County). Finalists for the Mathematics Presidential Award are Karen Watts from Douglas High School (Marshall County) and Mary Hand from Liberty Middle School (Madison City).

The award is given to secondary teachers (7-12) in odd years and to elementary teachers (K-6) in even years. In 2006, elementary teachers (K-6) can be nominated for the award. Nominations are due by May 1st and may be completed online at www.paemst.org.

IN OTHER NEWS

Betsy Rogers' Teaching Blog

For the past two years, A+ Board member Betsy Rogers, the former National Teacher of the Year and chair of the Governor¹s Commission on Quality Teaching, has published a web-log (blog) in which she periodically comments on her work as intervention specialist at Brighton Elementary School in Jefferson County. We have found Betsy¹s comments to be most insightful and recommend her blog-site to you. You can access her blog at: http://tln.typepad.com/tln_betsyrogers/.

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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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