Across the Board April 2025: Key Takeaways from the ALBOE Board Meeting

Recapping important State Board of Education policy decisions for you

Here are our key takeaways from the April 10th State Board of Education meeting – and what they mean for Alabama’s students. Representatives Wayne Reynolds was not present, but all other board members were present. Click here to see the agenda for the full meeting and work session.

Top 5 Takeaways

1. Dr. Mackey’s Update on the U.S. Department of Education (USED)

During the work session, Dr. Mackey gave an update on recent communications from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) to state education officials. He shared that on March 28, the USED announced that any unspent funds from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) III, also known as ESSER ARP (American Rescue Plan), would be canceled, effective immediately. This was a departure from an earlier USED commitment to allow states and districts to apply for an extension, which would allow them to spend down their ESSER ARP funds through March 2026.

Regarding the immediate cancellation of ESSER ARP funds on March 28, there is an appeals process. Dr. Mackey will be submitting two appeals requests to the USED in the coming weeks.

• Selma City Schools will be appealing for the remaining funds allocated to their current school construction project. Dr. Mackey shared that Selma was slated to receive about $9 million from the USED through ESSER III.
• The Alabama State Department of Education will be appealing for the remaining funds previously allocated to the Struggling Readers Beyond Grade 3 initiative. They were slated to receive about $5 million from USED, which would supplement the $10 million in the current FY2026 Education Trust Fund budget. Read more about the budget here.

2. Revised Regulations for Educator Preparation Programs Approved

During the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the adjustment in the Praxis assessment cut scores for teacher certification on three Praxis assessments. The Social Studies Content Knowledge, Technology Education, and Family and Consumer Science Praxis exams were recently updated by the Education Testing Service (ETS). When the ETS updates a Praxis test, it may also change the score scale. Today, the Board aligned Alabama’s cut scores with the national standards outlined by the Education Testing Service. Teachers must achieve this cut score to receive their certification.

3. Textbook Committees Approved for Arts and Social Studies

During the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the textbook committees for Arts and Social Studies. Last year, the Board approved new courses of study standards for the Arts and Social Studies, and now members have been appointed to the related textbook committees. Mackey explained that this was the culmination of the process for nominating textbook committee members; the members approved today have been recommended by school superintendents and deans of higher education. Additional members of the textbook committees will be appointed by the Governor and Mackey.

4. Extension to Dr. Mackey’s contract through 2029

During the meeting, the Board approved an extension of Superintendent Mackey’s contract through 2029. Dr. Mackey’s new contract sets his salary at $325,000, which is a decrease from the draft contract circulated among the Board prior to the March 13 board meeting. Representative Jackie Ziegler voted against the contract extension because of the short notice of the changes, and due to the calls and emails she received from her constituents. During the work session, Dr. Tonya Chestnut shared that she would like the board to consider creating guidelines for future contract renewal processes. The extension passed with all other board members voting for the extension.

5. Recognitions

During the meeting today, the Board recognized Superintendent Walter B. Gonoulin Jr. of Jefferson County Schools at today’s meeting. Gonoulin was recently honored as the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year, and is the first to receive this recognition from Alabama. The Board also recognized Mary Travis, an educator at Dr. Robert W. Gilliard Elementary School in Mobile, who recently received the National Milken Educator Award.

Additionally, the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program 16 finalists were recognized. This award goes to educators for their outstanding commitment to student learning, exemplary service in schools, and the positive difference they have made in the lives of their students. The Board commends the finalists, who will all be considered for the award:

• Angela Kirby, Gulf Shores Middle School
• Kristen Madsen, Gulf Shores High School
• Amy Garrett, Center for Advanced Academics and Accelerated Learning at Pike County
• Joshua Wine, Auburn Junior High School
• Katie Collins, Bluff Park Elementary School
• Kristin Bundren, Spain Park High School
• Dr. Katherine A. Thomas, Edgewood Elementary School
• Aubrey Bennett, G.W. Carver High School
• Lindsey Norris, Forest Avenue Elementary School
• Roseann Byrd, Citronelle High School
• Andrea Dade Horn, Locust Fork Elementary School
• Heather Oden Pettit, Arab High School
• Deidra Brewer, Highland Park and Webster Elementary School
• Andrew Lee Mills, Florence Middle School
• Catherine Megan Hockey, Rainbow Elementary School
• Amanda J. Gudmundsson, Athens High School

The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 10 am in the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium. The work session will follow at 11 am.

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.