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

Recapping important State Board of Education policy decisions for you

Here are our key takeaways from the December 11th State Board of Education meeting – and what they mean for Alabama’s students. Click here to see the agenda for the full meeting and work session.

Top 5 Takeaways

1.Teacher Paperwork Streamlining Act Updates

During the work session, the board heard from the Teacher Paperwork Streamlining Committee on the recent Teacher Paperwork Streamlining Act. The committee, chaired by Heather Hurt, has met three times this fall and will meet three more times this spring. Over 75% of the committee members are classroom teachers, representing all grades and subjects. So far, the committee has discussed areas where paperwork is duplicative, the importance of using data effectively, and how technology has changed the documentation landscape.

Last month, the committee administered a survey to better understand the paperwork burden teachers are facing. 653 educators responded. The committee was mainly interested in the time burden teachers faced when filling out paperwork, as compared to the benefits the paperwork had on student achievement. The committee will continue to analyze the survey results, learn about federal, state, and local requirements, and suggest ways that the ALSDE can communicate the power of digital tools classroom teachers already use. More information will be shared with the board and the legislature in the spring.

2. Educator Preparation Higher Education Report Card

During the work session, the board reviewed the new Educator Preparation Program report card system. This system provides data on Alabama’s higher education teacher preparation programs, including information on the teacher shortage, certificate completion rates, how many times prospective teachers take the Praxis exam, and how the mentorship program in the first two years of teaching is going.

In the past, the EPP report card was a PDF. This year, the report card has been shifted to an online and interactive dashboard. The new format lets viewers compare schools to Alabama state overall, filter the information, and view the datainformation in dynamic graphics. Explore the new report card here.

3. Course of Study: Digital Literacy and Computer Science

During the board meeting, the SBOE approved the Digital Literacy and Computer Science Course of Study. The Course of Study committee presented to the board in the November work session, and shared the Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards for grades K-12. This Course of Study focuses on technical skills, problem-solvingproblem solving, digital citizenship, and preparing for a rapidly changing world. Beginning with the class of 2032, high school students will be required to take a Computer Science course to graduate. Voluntary implementation of the Course of Study will begin in 6 months, with required implementation beginning a year after that.

4. Course of Study: World Languages

During the board meeting, the board voted to appoint a World Languages Course of Study committee. This committee will be tasked with developing the new World Languages standards, beginning in the 2026 school year. Dr. Mackey shared that the Course of Study will focus on Spanish, which is the most prominent second language being taught by Alabama schools, as well as other critical languages like Korean and Chinese, which schools across the state have shown interest in.

5. SBOE Dates for 2026

During the work board meeting, Dr. Mackey shared that the cadence for board meetings for 2026 will be similar to 2025. The next regular meeting will be in Mobile rather than in Montgomery, and the Board Retreat will follow the work session.

The next In January, the board will meet in Mobile for their regular meeting and the board retreat will be i

The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10 am at the USA Faculty Club in Mobile, Alabama. The board retreat will be on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 8 am at Baldwin Prep Academy.

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.