Recapping important State Board of Education policy decisions for you
Here are our key takeaways from the October 10th State Board of Education meeting – and what they mean for Alabama’s students. All board members were present. Click here to see the full meeting and work session agendas.
Of note, the Board voted to recognize October as Dyslexia Awareness Month. As part of the Alabama Literacy Act, students in Alabama are now being screened earlier for dyslexia, ensuring they receive the interventions they need to learn to read in early grades. We look forward to seeing the progress this legislation continues to make in supporting struggling readers.
Top 4 Takeaways
1. ACAP Reading Cut Scores
Today, the Board voted to approve the reading cut score plan recommended by Dr. Eric Mackey after a short discussion on the subject.
As a reminder, the plan proposes gradually adjusting the cut score over the next three years. It proposes moving to a 444 cut score (-1.5 SEM) this coming Spring 2025, remaining at that score for two school years, and then transitioning to 454 cut score (-1 SEM) by spring of 2027.
Board members Jackie Zeigler and Stephanie Bell both voted no. Zeigler cited her reason being that she felt the score needed to be pushed higher now instead of waiting for two years. Dr. Yvette Richardson said she is voting yes to this change, because “we will stay at that level for two years and systems will have the opportunity to make progress during that time.” We outlined previous discussions board members had on this subject in our August board retreat overview and in our recap of the September meeting.
A+ supports raising score over time to accurately reflect grade-level reading and ensure that all struggling students get the extra support they need. This is similar to the approach taken in Mississippi and other states that have laws similar to the Alabama Literacy Act.
2. FY 2026 Proposed Foundation Program Appropriation
The Board unanimously voted to approve their budget request for the FY 2026 Education Budget. This request will now be sent to Governor Ivey for her consideration as she crafts her FY 2026 Education Trust Fund budget, which she will present to the Legislature in February. The Board discussed their budget request at last month’s work session and board retreat. The request includes increases for the Alabama Literacy Act, Struggling Readers beyond Grade 3, the Alabama Numeracy Act, and other priorities.
3. New Graduate Diploma Administrative Code Change
The board voted to approve the new graduate diploma administrative code change, which approved a new diploma pathway. This change will outline the rules for two pathways to an Alabama diploma:
- Pathway Option A: This option maintains the diploma requirements already in place for all students.
- Pathway Option B: This is the new diploma pathway. This pathway reduces the math and science course requirement from 4 to 2. Additionally, students would have to take 3 CTE courses in a sequence to qualify for this option. Elective courses increase from 2.5 to 6 credits. Under this pathway, if a student earns 4 CTE credits, they will earn a workforce pathway seal.
Students will earn an Alabama high school diploma, regardless of pathway, and the diploma won’t indicate which pathway they selected. Additionally, several minor adjustments were made to clean up this administrative code, including adding charter school boards to the boards that can issue diplomas and cutting distance learning from the requirements.
4. Science of Reading Spotlight Schools
The Board also voted to name this year’s Science of Reading Spotlight Schools. These schools are being highlighted for their commitment to fully implementing the science of reading within their schools and have shown growth on the ACAP reading assessment that outpaced the state’s average. Congratulations to these schools for their hard work and impact for students!
- Corley Elementary School
- Chilton County School System (district spotlight)
- Isabella High School
- Demopolis City School System (district spotlight)
- Pinedale Elementary School
- Little Ridge Intermediate School
- Tharptown Elementary School
- Bryan Elementary School
- Bryant Park Elementary
- Spencer-Westlawn Elementary School
- Carver Elementary School
- Oneonta Elementary School
- Piedmont Elementary School
- Tallassee Elementary School
- Buhl Elementary School
Coming Next Month
During the work session, Dr. Mackey told the board that both the Social Studies Course of Study Committee and the Science Textbook Committee will present at the November work session.
The Alabama State Board of Education usually meets on the second Thursday of each month, with the exception of the July meeting, to discuss important policies, procedures, and changes for Alabama’s K-12 public schools. The Board takes official action during their monthly meeting and then follows up with a Work Session to get updates and discuss future action that will be voted on at the next board meeting. You can watch them live and see old meetings here.
Contact Your Board Member:
Have feedback on any of the above items – or anything else? Contact your state school board member using the resources below:
-To contact your State Board of Education Member, click here.
-To find out which district you live and/or teach in, click here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter your address in the “Polling Place Search” box. Once entered, it will take you to a page that shows your polling place and the districts you live in.
-To view a map of the state school board districts, click here.
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