Across the Board July 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 July 8th 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.

During the meeting, the board held their annual elections for positions within the Board of Education. Congratulations to Marie Manning (District 3) for her election to President Pro Tem, and Kelly Mooney (District 6) for her election to Vice President.

Top 5 Takeaways

1. Annual State ACAP Scores Released for English, Math, and Science

Each year, students in grades 2 through 8, take the ACAP summative assessment to monitor our students’ progress and inform our state’s report card. During the work session, Dr. Mackey shared the state-level ACAP scores and their comparisons to last year. Most groups increased their percentage of students scoring “proficient” in English, Math, and Science from 2024 to 2025, which is good news for students.

Scores improved significantly in many grades, while proficiency rates remain low in some areas, especially in middle grade math. Continued support of the Alabama Literacy Act and Alabama Numeracy Act, as well as focusing on our struggling readers beyond grade 3, will continue to improve outcomes for Alabama students.

While English Language Learners are assessed, they take the ACCESS exam rather than the ACAP while they receive ELL services. Since 2023, the number of students taking the ACCESS exam has increased by about 9,000 students. While Alabama’s ELL population is increasing, the number of students succeeding on the ACCESS exam has also increased. In 2024, 4.6% of students who took the ACCESS exam tested out of ELL services. In 2025, about 5.3% of students tested out. These students will take the ACAP next year.

2. Annual ACT with Writing and ACT Workkeys Data

Each year, all 11th grade students must take the ACT as part of our state’s accountability system. During the work session, Dr. Mackey shared the state-level ACT and ACT Workkeys proficiency rates and their comparisons to last year. This includes all test takers for each school year, not just 11th graders. Alabama’s state composite ACT score was 17.3, and in 2023 and 2024 the state’s composite score was 17.4. When you break that down by subject, English proficiency increased by 2 percentage points to 30%, Math remained the same at 23%, and Science decreased by 3 percentage points to 32%.

ACT Workkeys are similar to the ACT, but focus on workforce skills like applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents. The workkeys are one way students can receive their College and Career Readiness credit, which will be required starting this upcoming school year. While the total number of students taking the workkeys has decreased over the past few years, the percentage of students receiving a passing score of Silver, Gold, or Platinum has increased from 59% to 85%.

3. Rules on appropriation of RAISE Act funds

During the board meeting, the board discussed the proposed administrative rules for RAISE Act funds. 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. Funding levels for each student group in each district were released in June (see Dr. Mackey’s memo). The administrative rules mirror the RAISE Act’s requirements. In addition, it adds a requirement that districts must apply for approval to move over 10% of the funds from one student group to another.

For more information, see our 2026 Budget Watch and the RAISE Act legislation.

4. Dr. Mackey’s Update on the U.S. Department of Education

Dr. Mackey provided updates on two specific funding streams from the U.S. Department of Education to Alabama. The first relates to ESSER funds, which were frozen on March 28. In April, Dr. Mackey explained the majority of Alabama’s ESSER funds had already been spent, and that the only funds that were frozen were for Selma City’s ongoing school construction, and the ALSDE’s Struggling Readers Beyond Grade 3 program. Today, Dr. Mackey shared that the USED has reversed the decision to freeze those funds, and that applications that had previously been approved were likely going to be re-approved. While this means that funds for these programs totaling about $8 million will likely be granted, Dr. Mackey did not provide a timeline.

Dr. Mackey also shared information about the recent freeze for education funds. Dr. Mackey shared that about $68 million has been withheld and is in review for Alabama specifically. He is not sure when more information will be available. Typically, the USED sends emails about funding levels to state superintendents on July 1. While most funding levels were released, the USED is holding and reviewing some programs that affect education. These programs include Migrant Education, Supporting Effective Instruction, English Learner Acquisition, Student Support and Academic Enrichment, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. In Alabama, these funds support programs like educator professional development and afterschool programs. 

To stay up to date on the actions of the U.S. Department of Education and how they might impact Alabama, we have created a Federal Updates blog and a Special Edition of the Budget Watch.

5. More Legislation-related Regulations: Paperwork Streamlining and Vaping Awareness

During the work session, Dr. Mackey highlighted the Paperwork Streamlining Act of 2025. The legislation requires the board to create a committee of teachers and education leaders to review the state and local paperwork that must be completed by teachers on a regular basis (annual, monthly, or more frequently). Thus far, the board has created an application and has opened that application up to teachers and leaders who may be interested in serving. The goal of the committee will be to make recommendations to the board and legislature on where paperwork can be streamlined.

Dr. Mackey also presented a model policy created by the Department of Education for the board’s approval on anti-vaping curriculum. The creation of the model policy, curriculum, and guidelines for districts was required by the legislature.

The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 10 am in the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium. The work session will follow at 11 am. The annual board retreat will be on August 27, 2025, at the American Village in Birmingham.

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.