Education News in Alabama

July 2, 2008 (archive)

By Sallie Owen

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1. Research Finding: Students learning more since NCLB, Achievement gaps shrinking
   • Alabama shows progress in elementary, middle grades
   • What Alabama is doing
2. National survey shows strong support for pre-k
3. SREB says Alabama makes progress on education goals
4. Examples of Excellence:
   • West Blocton's international prize
   •  High school technology teacher of the year
5. Employers, higher ed can build case for demanding high school classes
6. State Board of Education Update: More details on new budget
7. What's Up @ A+
   • AP enrollment doubles at A+ College Ready program schools
   • National organization quotes Novak on Alabama's stronger graduation requirements
   • Birmingham Business Journal features A+

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1. RESEARCH FINDING:
STUDENTS LEARNING MORE SINCE NCLB, ACHIEVEMENT GAPS SHRINKING

Student scores on state tests of reading and mathematics have risen since 2002, and achievement gaps between various groups of students have narrowed more often than they have widened, according to the most comprehensive and rigorous recent analysis of state test scores. This analysis was done by the nonpartisan Center on Education Policy in Washington, D.C.

These improvements have occurred during a period when the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), state education reforms, and local efforts have focused on raising test scores and narrowing achievement gaps.

Get the report
"Has Student Achievement Increased Since 2002? State Test Score Trends Through 2006-07"
from the Center on Education Policy http://snipurl.com/ceptrends

ALABAMA SHOWS PROGRESS IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE GRADES
The report's findings for Alabama show:

• In reading, the percentage of students who scored proficient grew at a "moderate-to-large" rate in the elementary and middle grades.
• In math, the percentage of students who scored proficient grew at a "moderate-to-large" rate across all grade levels.
• Achievement gaps for low-income and African American students narrowed in math and reading. The exception was high school reading for both groups of students.

WHAT ALABAMA IS DOING

The nationally acclaimed Alabama Reading Initiative is starting to reach more students in upper grades. At present, the initiative, which gets credit for students' historic improvements in reading, reaches every K-3 school in the state and some secondary schools. The ARI's Project for Adolescent Literacy provides intensive support for middle and upper grade teachers. It has been successfully piloted, and it is expected to reach at least 30 schools during the upcoming school year.

Download a booklet about the Alabama Reading Initiative's Project for Adolescent Literacy here:  http://snipurl.com/aripalbook

2. NATIONAL SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR PRE-K

Seven in 10 Americans indicated that they support a new federal grant to help states increase the quality and availability of their voluntary pre-k programs, according to a newly released national survey conducted for Pre-K Now.

Almost as many Americans (67 percent) said state and local governments should make voluntary, high-quality pre-k available to all families who choose to participate.

Read more: http://www.preknow.org/media/pressreleases/nationalsurvey2008.cfm

"The results show that Americans of diverse backgrounds, incomes and political beliefs recognize the importance of ensuring that all families have access to affordable, quality pre-k so that our nation's children can start school ready to learn and thrive," said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now. "If I were a candidate in a competitive Congressional race, this is a poll I'd pay attention to."

Alabama-specific research found even stronger support for pre-K. A full 76 percent of Alabama voters said the state should fund voluntary pre-k for all families who choose to participate.

3. SREB SAYS ALABAMA MAKES PROGRESS ON EDUCATION GOALS

A new in-depth report from the Southern Regional Education Board finds that Alabama is among the nation's leaders in raising students' reading achievement in the early grades, and it goes on to note that Alabama's stronger graduation requirements are a good step toward improving college readiness.

Researchers say Alabama should work harder to improve graduation rates and other measures of education progress.

Get the report:
http://www.sreb.org/Goals/State_Goals_Report_2008.asp

4. EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCE

*WEST BLOCTON'S INTERNATIONAL PRIZE – Students from West Blocton Elementary in Bibb County teamed up with students from Brazil to win 2nd place in the ThinkQuest International 2008 website building contest. Through the contest, students work in teams to build innovative and educational websites to share with the world. Along the way, they learn research, writing, teamwork, and technology skills and compete for prizes. Take a look at "Color Our World With Kindness," http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00085/.

*HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY TEACHER OF THE YEAR – Jennifer Barnett of Fayetteville School in Talladega County won the 2008 Marbury Technology Innovation Award for the high school level. The award recognizes innovative work in educational technology. Barnett teaches history and English. Check out her classroom wiki at http://fhswolvesden.wikispaces.com/.

5. EMPLOYERS, HIGHER ED CAN BUILD CASE FOR DEMANDING HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES

Employers and higher education can play an important role in helping students, parents and the public understand why students need to take tough classes in high school, according to Achieve, a national education advocacy group.

"Only the postsecondary and business communities can articulate what they expect of high school graduates and what it means to be prepared for credit bearing postsecondary course work or a good job," Achieve says. "When they talk, people listen."

Achieve was founded by U.S. governors and business leaders to help states raise academic standards and achievement so that all students graduate ready for college, careers and citizenship.

Read more http://www.achieve.org/files/Summer2008.pdf (PDF 104 Kb)

6. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE:

More details on new budget
State Superintendent Joe Morton and staff briefed the State Board of Education on additional details in the state education budget for fiscal year 2009 and other recent legislation action.

"We avoided a catastrophe, even though we have cuts," Morton said of the new budget.

Highlights:

• Local school boards gained flexibility on certain line items.
• Local school boards gained flexibility to carry money over from one year to the next.
• Key items in classroom instruction support (such as classroom materials, technology, professional development and others) were cut but not as drastically as they were in the 2004 budget.

The board met in a work session on June 26. All members were present except Ella Bell and the governor. In other business, the board reviewed proposed changes to regulations on special education, teacher certification and the Early College Enrollment  Program, which will become permanent.

7. WHAT'S UP @ A+

• AP ENROLLMENT DOUBLES AT A+ COLLEGE READY PROGRAM SCHOOLS – For the 08-09 school year, enrollment in Advanced Placement** courses has doubled in the 12 high schools working with A+ College Ready. A+ College Ready is a training and incentive program to strengthen Advanced Placement programs around the state. To learn more: http://www.aplusala.org/collegeready/college-ready.asp.
• NATIONAL ORGANIZATION QUOTES NOVAK ON ALABAMA'S STRONGER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS –  Achieve, a national education advocacy group, quotes A+ President Caroline Novak about Alabama's new stronger graduation requirements. Alabama became the 19th state to make this change. Read more http://www.achieve.org/files/Summer2008.pdf (PDF 104 Kb)
• BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL FEATURES A+ – "Evidence suggests that vouchers would not be sufficient to trigger the vibrant education marketplace that students need," said A+ President Caroline Novak in the June 20 edition. "There is evidence that when a community comes together - as in Yes We Can! Birmingham - to demand and work for better schools, citizens can bring about innovative solutions, including meaningful choice options." Read more: http://snipurl.com/bbj062008  [birmingham_bizjournals_com] (subscription required)

**Advanced Placement Programs is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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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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