Across the Board November: Key Takeaways from the ALBOE Board Meeting

Recapping important State Board of Education policy decisions for you

Here are our key takeaways from the November 13th State Board of Education meeting – and what they mean for Alabama’s students. Board members Wayne Reynolds and Allen Long were not present at the board meeting. Click here to see the agenda for the full meeting and work session.

A+ College Ready’s 2025 Schools of Excellence, Schools of Distinction, and Mary D. Boehm Schools of Achievement were honored at today’s board meeting. Congratulations to our schools!

Schools of Excellence:

Southeastern School

Cullman High School

Citronelle High School

Francis Marion School

Pike Road Junior High School 

Russellville Middle School

Northridge High School

Northridge Middle School

Schools of Distinction:

Benjamin Russell High School

John Herbert Phillips Academy

J. Christian School

Fort Payne Middle School

Hartselle Junior High School

Hokes Bluff Middle School

Jasper Junior High School

Moody High School

Bankhead Middle School

Schools of Achievement:

Denton Magnet School of Technology

Top 4 Takeaways

1.Alabama Report Card Data and Accountability for 2024-2025

During the work session, the board received the Fall 2025 Accountability data. Alabama scored an 87, or a B, on both the Federal and state-level report cards. This is a 2-point increase from last year’s score of 85. Several indicators are incorporated into this overall score, including academic achievement, academic growth, progress in English Language Proficiency, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. The report card data for schools and districts for the 2024-2025 school year are now available and can be found here.

2. Course of Study: Digital Literacy and Computer Science

During the work session, the board listened to a presentation from the task force developing the Digital Literacy and Computer Science Course of Study. This new course of study will outline standards for grades K-12 that focus on technical skills, problem-solving, digital citizenship, and preparing for a rapidly changing world. The board emphasized the need for online safety, understanding the prevalence of misinformation, and the importance of incorporating these standards into schools quickly. This requirement was passed by the board of education in August 2024 and will go into effect for the graduating class of 2032.

3. School Safety Updates

During the work session, the board listened to a presentation from Dr. Autumn M. Jeter and Dr. Johnny H. Whaley on the School Security Act. This Act, passed in 2024, requires schools to undergo a safety inspection process every five years. Based on the inspections, local boards of education will receive recommendations and evaluations of their schools’ safety measures. Additionally, the board heard about school mapping, district safety coordinators, and the drills each school is required to practice. Since the passage of the law in 2024, 25% of schools have been inspected.

4. Course of Study: World Languages

During the work session, the board discussed the upcoming World Languages Course of Study committee appointments. Dr. John Moore, superintendent of Leeds City School System, has been asked to chair the committee. The board discussed the importance of offering more languages, including Spanish, German, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic, and increasing access for students. The committee will be approved at the December board meeting, and the committee will work on World Language standards in the upcoming year. 

The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, December 11, 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.