Education News in Alabama

May 30, 2007 (archive)

By Sallie Owen

BEST HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS:
Tough AP, IB classes build 'academic muscle'

As we congratulate one Alabama school for ranking in the top five of Newsweek's annual list of best high schools, we can also learn from the criteria used.

Rankings are based on numbers of students taking tough, college-level courses and the corresponding tough, college-level exams. Most often these are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The rankings do not consider how students score on the exams.

How can that be? It turns out that taking the rigorous course and exam builds "academic muscle." Teenagers get a real picture of what will be expected of them in college, including what Jay Mathews (who invented the criteria) calls "the trauma of heavy college reading lists and long, analytical college examinations."

Plus, the exams are graded by outside experts, making it hard for anyone to game the system.

That kind of academic strength-training should not be reserved for the very best students. Mathews says this is especially important for poor and minority students. And in Alabama, half of all public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Mathews explains his reasoning (supported by a fascinating anecdote about four slacker AP students that their teacher dubs "Sleepy," "Grumpy," "Sweetie," and "Angry") in "Why AP and IB schools soar," http://snipurl.com/besths1. Full Newsweek coverage is available from http://snipurl.com/besths2.

Congratulations again to Jefferson County's International Baccalaureate School, which for the third consecutive year placed in the top five of the top 5 percent of public high schools.

The following Alabama schools also charted this year: Loveless Academic Magnet Program (Montgomery County) at No. 134, Mountain Brook (Mountain Brook City) at No. 209, Auburn (Auburn City) at No. 293, Grissom (Huntsville City) at No. 594, Bob Jones (Madison City) at No. 1070 and Spain Park (Hoover City) at No. 1249.

LEADERSHIP IS KEY INGREDIENT

When Newsweek's writers and researchers looked at the nation's best high schools, they found an amazing group of principals. Leadership clearly matters, and "The Principal Principle" explores the role of leadership in some of America's best high schools. http://snipurl.com/hsprincipals

ALABAMA MAKES CUT FOR AP GRANT

A+ is a partner in Alabama's bid for a multi-million dollar grant to boost student success in Advanced Placement, or AP, courses. Alabama was among the 21 states selected to apply for one of 10 grants to be awarded in August. The sponsor is the National Math & Science Initiative (www.nationalmathandscience.org), which focuses on strengthening math and science education to keep our nation competitive in the global marketplace.

WHAT'S YOUR VOTE ON PERFORMANCE PAY FOR TEACHERS?

You can let state education leaders know what you think through the unscientific online poll at http://snipurl.com/paypoll.

Performance-based pay was recommended by the Governor's Commission on Quality Teaching. Find commission info under the resources tab @ www.aplusala.org. Performance pay ranks No. 6 on A+'s "Top 10 for 2007: Investments in Teaching and Learning," also @ www.aplusala.org.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE:
ENGINEERING ACADEMIES, VENDING MACHINES & SPECIAL ED

The Alabama State Board of Education met May 24 for a work session. Such meetings are designed to prepare for upcoming meetings, and no votes are taken. The governor was absent.

During an update on the state's new Engineering Academy Initiative, department officials announced the 16 high school sites selected for the initiative. They are (with system name in parentheses):

• Athens (Athens City)
• Austin and Decatur (Decatur City)
• Benjamin Russell (Alexander City)
• Bob Jones (Madison City)
• Buckhorn, Hazel Green and Sparkman (Madison County)
• Davidson (Mobile County)
• Foley (Baldwin County)
• Gardendale (Jefferson County)
• Lee (Huntsville City)
• partnership of Livingston and Sumter County (Sumter County)
• Opelika (Opelika City)
• Tallassee (Tallassee City)
• Troy Pike Center for Technology (Pike County and Troy City)

The initiative is designed to increase the number of students choosing engineering careers through high school experiences that prepare them for college.

Board members were also briefed on a proposal to further limit the sale of high-calorie and carbonated beverages in school vending machines, as well as changes to proposed special education rules after recent public hearings. Info on the special ed revisions can be found at http://snipurl.com/speced (fourth document).

EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCE

• This year's top middle school teacher in the nation hails from J. Larry Newton School in Fairhope. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education honored Emily Pharez, who recently earned national board certification.
• Twenty-five of Alabama's 131 school systems received the What Parents Want Award this year, based on the characteristics sought by families moving to a new area. Find the list at http://snipurl.com/parentswant.
• Character education has boosted academic achievement and reduced discipline problems at Opelika High School. Read "Students, administrators give character ed A+" at http://snipurl.com/ohscharacter.

WORTH REPEATING

"One of the greatest creations has been the public school system that allows any individual an education, regardless of economic status ... No person should experience deprivation of the most precious gift given to humanity -- education."

— Kimberly Nettles of Mobile, one of Ebony magazine's 2007 Top High School Seniors. Read more at http://snipurl.com/knettles.

GOOD READ: 'GIVE STUDENTS SKILLS FOR WORLD OF WORK'

This editorial from the Press-Register connects the continued health of Alabama's economy to the strength of its education system. http://snipurl.com/prMay22

WHAT'S UP @ A+?

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, a Virginia-based digital learning consultant, designed the online curriculum for the Alabama Best Practices Center's 21st Century Learning Project. Her blog is "21st Century Collaborative," and here's what she posted about a recent ABPC event: http://snipurl.com/snbshowcase.

The staff bids a fond farewell to Skye Borden, a postgraduate intern who has been invaluable part of the Powerful Conversations Network this year. She also researched and wrote a policy report, "The Top 10 for 2007: Investments in Teaching and Learning." She is pursuing a doctorate in public policy.

A+ is delighted to welcome two new faces. Program Coordinator Virginia Christian is a Mobile native who earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University in Human Development and Family Studies. Communications Intern Hendrix Storey is an Auburn University Montgomery senior majoring in mass communications.

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The A+ Education Foundation, based in Montgomery, publishes Education News in Alabama twice a month. A+ is a nonprofit organization that advances policies, programs and initiatives in Alabama's K-12 education system that result in high achievement by every child.

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