Education News in Alabama

December 19, 2009 (archive)

By Sallie Owen Gowan

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A+ needs your support
The current economic downturn threatens Alabama’s hard-won momentum to improve our schools and ultimately our workforce and quality of life.

These gains have been possible because of hardworking educators and strategic initiatives, such as the Alabama Reading Initiative.

We need your donation to keep pushing to make sure every child graduates ready to succeed in workforce training, in college and in civic life.

Mail your check to A+, P.O. Box 4433, Montgomery, AL 36103; or

Click on "Donate" in the upper right corner of the A+ homepage

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Alabama Best Practices Center consultant's new book
"Leading Through Quality Questioning" is the new book co-written by Jackie Walsh, a primary consultant to the Alabama Best Practices Center. Walsh designs much of the professional development provided to members of the Powerful Conversations network and other ABPC programs.

Quality questioning is a process for engaging individuals in reflection, critical thinking, and collaboration. The authors demonstrate how questions, not answers, drive school improvement and growth for a learning community.

Leading Through Quality Questioning
By Jackie A. Walsh and Beth D. Sattes

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RESEARCH FINDING
Both 21st century skills AND basics are essential
This research synthesis says there is no "either or" when it comes to preparing students to succeed in the modern job market.

Students need it all:

• Traditional academic knowledge and skills
• Ability to apply knowledge to real-world challenges
• Broader competencies, i.e. problem-solving, critical thinking, strong interpersonal skills for communication and collaboration

"Defining a 21st Century Education"
By Craig D. Jerald
The Center for Public Education

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Time for public charter schools in Alabama
"A+ was organized almost 20 years ago when citizens across the state agreed that students' access to top-notch public schools shouldn't be determined by their zip codes.

"While good progress has been made, far too many Alabama students still don't have the opportunity they deserve. That's why A+ believes it is time for charter schools in Alabama."

– Caroline Novak in a newspaper opinion piece

Public charter schools are public schools that:

• Are free from many rules about hiring, curriculum and other requirements
• Follow the same course of study as other schools
• Must meet the higher accountability standards than other public schools
• Can be closed if students don't succeed

Creating Effective Public Charter Schools in Alabama: A Strong Case
By Caroline Novak for the Montgomery Advertiser

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STATE SCHOOL BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
Budget request & charter school briefing
State Superintendent Joe Morton calls fiscal year 2011 "the most difficult yet." He says the only way K-12 schools can survive is for benefits to be level funded, tax receipts to show some growth and for K-12's share of education dollars to grow to at least 70 percent. (Historically the K-12's share has ranged as high as about 80 percent.)

The board adopted a budget request and heard a briefing about public charter schools. The change that makes the biggest difference for students is the way the school's faculty is selected – the principal recruits teachers who feel a calling to serve children facing the most challenges.

All members but the governor attended the 12-10-09 meetings.

Extra work session scheduled on charter school legislation

A special work session has been called for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, to get board input on charter school legislation that is in development. The session will be in room Plaza 104 of the Gordon Persons Building, 50 N. Ripley St., Montgomery.

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State school board podcasts
Listen to meetings of the State Board of Education to keep up with new developments.

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Alabama Best Practices Center – Be a Facebook fan
Check out the Alabama Best Practices Center's new page on Facebook. You can see what we are reading, and connect with other "whatever it takes" educators.

Alabama Best Practices Center

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Tax-deductible donations can be made online,
or you can send a check to P.O. Box 4433, Montgomery, AL 36103.