Recapping important State Board of Education policy decisions for you
Here are our key takeaways from the June 12th State Board of Education meeting – and what they mean for Alabama’s students. All board members were present. Click here to see the agenda for the full meeting and work session.
The A+ Student VOICES team were recognized at the board meeting and joined the work session. The application for the next program year is open. Click here to apply.
Top 5 Takeaways
1. 2024-2025 Third Grade Reading Scores Released
Under the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama has set the goal of having all students reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Third-grade students scoring below the cut score on the state’s ACAP reading test are at risk of being held back to ensure that they have the reading skills they need to succeed prior to 4th grade. However, they will receive additional support through summer reading camps and have the opportunity to take another assessment and have their reading portfolio reviewed before being retained.
Last year, the board rightly committed to raising the cut score over time to better reflect grade level reading and ensure struggling students are receiving the support they need. This year, the board voted to increase the cut score from 435 to 444. With this change, Dr. Mackey announced today that 11.6% of third graders scored below the cut score this year. They will now move on to summer reading camps this month.
For context, last year, with a cut score of 435, only 9% of third graders scored below grade level. If the cut score had been 444 last year, 13.7% of third graders would have scored below the cut score. This means that third grade reading is improving over time when you compare apples to apples, which reflects the importance of continuing the strong implementation of the Alabama Literacy Act.
2. College and Career Readiness (CCR) and Graduation Rate Data Discussion
During the work session, Dr. Mackey shared the newest data on Alabama’s high school graduation rates. In 2024, Alabama’s graduation rate was 91.56%. This is a 1.52 percentage point increase from the graduation rate in 2023, which was 90.04%.
- Alabama’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) were also released today. The CCR indicators include the following:
- Benchmark score on an ACT college entrance exam
- Qualifying score on an Advanced Placement exam
- Qualifying score on an International Baccalaureate exam
- Earning a college credit
- Earning a silver or gold level on the ACT WorkKeys Exam
- Completing an in-school youth apprenticeship program
- Earning a career technical industry credential
- Enlisting in the military
- Attaining CTE completer status
In 2024, 87.88% of students completed at least one CCR indicator. This is a 3.68 percentage point increase from the CCR rate in 2023, which was 84.2%. Starting in 2030, students will need to complete one CCR to graduate high school.
3. Rules on the new Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025
During the board meeting, the board adopted an Emergency Rule on paid parental leave. This rule will be open for a 35-day public comment period soon, and after that the board will vote to make the Rule permanent. The board needed to pass an Emergency Rule today because the new Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 will go into effect on July 1.
While the language of the Rule isn’t available yet, it will align with the new law. Under the law:
Female employees will receive eight weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, stillbirth or miscarriage of her child.
Male employees will receive two weeks of paid parental leave in those same circumstances.
Adoptive parents of a child aged three or younger will also be eligible for parental leave – eight weeks for one parent and two weeks for the other at the choice of the parents, if both are eligible employees.
During the work session, Dr. Mackey shared that teachers are required to present a plan to their superintendent and that plan must be approved before they take leave. More information will be available on June 23.
For more information, check out the Across the Board post from May or read the Act here.
4. Superintendent Updates on State Legislation
During the work session, Dr. Mackey shared a number of updates on state-level legislation. The ALSDE is working on rules and guidelines for the following Acts, passed by the legislature this session.
Renewing Alabama’s Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Act: The RAISE Act modernized Alabama’s school funding formula by adding funding that targets student needs on top of the funding that districts currently receive from the Foundation Program. A memo on guidance for the RAISE Act funds and the spreadsheet of funding levels for each school district were shared with superintendents this week (Read Dr. Mackey’s memo here). While the RAISE Act gives districts flexibility over their funds, the guidance adds a requirement that local school systems get approval from the State Superintendent if they move more than 10% of the funds between categories. To learn more about the RAISE Act, click here.
Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act: This law bans the use of electronic communication devices in schools for students. Dr. Mackey shared that districts are required to create policies that align with this law, and that many district officials are asking questions about this requirement.
Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act: This law allows for students who are considering dropping out of high school to pursue a 2-year junior college technical certificate or degree instead. If the student completes the program, they will receive their high school diploma. Dr. Mackey shared that the ALSDE has allowed students to pursue this path since 2016, and that now it has been codified in law.
Move on When Ready: This law allows juniors and seniors in high school to move on to a 2-year or 4-year college degree program. These students would receive their college and high school diplomas at the same time upon completion of the college degree.
CHOOSE Act: This law, passed in 2024 and going into effect for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, creates education savings accounts (ESA) for students who apply and are eligible for the program. ESAs can only be used on tuition or educational materials, and will typically be used for private school or homeschool programs. Due to changes made this legislative session, Dr. Mackey shared that in future years, CHOOSE funds will be taken from the tax revenues before the tax revenues are deposited into the ETF. Dr. Mackey also shared that to qualify for this program, students’ families must make less than 300% of the federal poverty line, and that this cap would remain in place for the first three years of the program. For reference, in 2025 the federal poverty level for a family of four is $32,150.
Teacher Paperwork Reduction Act: This law initiates the process for the ALSDE to reduce paperwork teachers are required to complete. Dr. Mackey shared that they are in the process of creating an application for teachers who would like to be on a committee to spearhead this initiative. He also shared that he believes the majority of paperwork is federally required, and that at the state level there may not be much that can be reduced.
For more information, check out our post “Which Education Bills Passed and Which Didn’t?” and the 2025 Budget Watch.
5. Mid-Year Update on the 2025 Alabama Course of Study: Digital Literacy and Computer Science
During the work session, Dr. Michele Collier, Superintendent of Escambia County Schools, and Dr. Blake Busbin, Social Studies Education Specialist at the ALSDE, presented updates on the Digital Literacy and Computer Science Course of Study committee. The task force shared that they are reviewing the 2018 Course of Study, other states’ standards for similar topics, and national guidelines. The task force is specifically discussing how to incorporate the rapid changes in the online world, including how the Course of Study should consider artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital citizenship, social media, and using technology appropriately in the classroom.
The task force has four more meetings scheduled in 2025, during which they will draft the Course of Study and share it with over 90 experts from the K-12 and higher education settings for further review. The board will review and vote on the committee’s recommended Course of Study in early 2026.
4. College and Career Readiness (CCR) and Graduation Rate Data Discussion
During the work session, Dr. Mackey shared the newest data on Alabama’s high school graduation rates. In 2024, Alabama’s graduation rate was 91.56%. This is a 1.52 percentage point increase from the graduation rate in 2023, which was 90.04%.
- Alabama’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) were also released today. The CCR indicators include the following:
- Benchmark score on an ACT college entrance exam
- Qualifying score on an Advanced Placement exam
- Qualifying score on an International Baccalaureate exam
- Earning a college credit
- Earning a silver or gold level on the ACT WorkKeys Exam
- Completing an in-school youth apprenticeship program
- Earning a career technical industry credential
- Enlisting in the military
- Attaining CTE completer status
In 2024, 87.88% of students completed at least one CCR indicator. This is a 3.68 percentage point increase from the CCR rate in 2023, which was 84.2%. Starting in 2030, students will need to complete one CCR to graduate high school.
5. 2024-2025 Third Grade Reading Scores Released
Under the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama has set the goal of having all students reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Third-grade students scoring below the cut score on the state’s ACAP reading test are at risk of being held back to ensure that they have the reading skills they need to succeed prior to 4th grade. However, they will receive additional support through summer reading camps and have the opportunity to take another assessment and have their reading portfolio reviewed before being retained.
Last year, the board rightly committed to raising the cut score over time to better reflect grade level reading and ensure struggling students are receiving the support they need. This year, the board voted to increase the cut score from 435 to 444. With this change, Dr. Mackey announced today that 11.6% of third graders scored below the cut score this year. They will now move on to summer reading camps this month.
For context, last year, with a cut score of 435, only 9% of third graders scored below grade level. If the cut score had been 444 last year, 13.7% of third graders would have scored below the cut score. This means that third grade reading is improving over time when you compare apples to apples, which reflects the importance of continuing the strong implementation of the Alabama Literacy Act.
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.
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