FROM THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION |
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Alabama Students Show Increase in All Content Areas on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) Results |
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Students Show Gains in English Language Arts, Math, and Science from 2021 to 2022
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The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) has released the outcome of the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) assessments in English Language Arts, Math, and Science given to students across the state this past spring. Overall, Spring 2022 saw increases in the percentage of students scoring as proficient for all three contents areas, with math showing the greatest increase at 6 percentage points.
Math scores improved from 2021 to 2022 in all grades tested with 30% of Alabama students meeting proficiency expectations in math. This is up 5 to 8 points across all racial groups, as well as for English language learners (up 4%) and students with disabilities (up 2%). The math proficiency rate is highest for second and third graders (44% and 40% respectively) and lowest for seventh and eighth graders at 18%. Second and third graders show the greatest increase in proficiency from 2021 with a 9-point increase for Grade 2 and a 10-point increase for Grade 3. Overall, 95% (138) of Alabama school districts improved their proficiency percentage in Math from 2021 to 2022.
In English Language Arts (ELA), overall proficiency increased by 3 percentage points from spring 2021. Overall, 50% of Alabama students met proficiency expectation in ELA. This includes 36% of economically disadvantaged students meeting proficiency expectations. The proficiency rates of ELA students increased from 2 to 3 points across all racial groups except the “mixed race” category, which saw no change from 2021 to 2022. English language learners and students with disabilities improved by 2% and 1% respectively.
The ELA proficiency rate is highest for third graders at 55% and lowest for seventh graders at 45%. In terms of the greatest gains from 2021 to 2022, second and third graders show the largest increase in proficiency with a 5-point increase for Grade 2 and a 4-point increase for Grade 3. Across the state, 108 of Alabama’s 145 school districts improved their percentage in ELA proficiency from 2021 to 2022.
In Science, the overall proficiency rate for the state increased by 4 percentage points from spring 2021. A total of 36% of Alabama students met proficiency expectation in science. Among students considered economically disadvantaged, 25% met proficiency expectations in science. Ultimately, Alabama tested 377,620 students in English Language Arts (ELA); 378,213 in math, and 163,248 in science.
Dr. Eric G. Mackey, State Superintendent of Education, said while increases in academic achievement are celebrated, and the state is heading in the right direction, it is understood that there is much more work ahead for education in Alabama.
“Our legislature, governor, educators, parents, and communities have truly invested in education in Alabama, and it is crucial that we provide a positive return on that investment in the form of a highly educated citizenry that is prepared to excel in college, the workforce, and business,” Mackey said. “Our trajectory is positive, but we continue to stay focused on making sure every student in Alabama receives a quality education that truly prepares them for life after high school.”
Major educational initiatives such as the Alabama Literacy Act and the Alabama Numeracy Act have funneled unprecedented resources, and expectations into school systems around the state in an effort to bolster the state’s academic performance. Mackey said he expects the impact of these initiatives, and many others, will yield positive results over the coming years. Now that Alabama has the ACAP as a high-quality, consistent assessment tool, we can more clearly see the progress and areas of need to better prepare Alabama students for the future.
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Making a Difference for the Future |
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by Reggie LeDon White
2022-2023 Alabama Teacher of the Year
Summer break has ended, and a new school year has begun. As you face your classroom full of scholars, I want you to remember you are appreciated and that what you do matters. Teachers play a big part in the lives of the children in and out of the classroom. The work you do helps to prepare them for life. In May, I received the distinguished honor to represent teachers in Alabama. What an honor! I have had an opportunity to visit many classrooms and observe so many commonalities.
Teachers go above and beyond. You are only contracted for 40 hours a week, but you do that and more. You take your personal time to do planning for classes. Even when shopping for yourself, you find special ways to purchase things that will benefit your students. You take calls and answer parents’ emails on weekends, putting aside your own wants to look after your students. You do this in spite of the fact that you have your own lives to live. I watch as you go above and beyond the call of duty time and time again, finding new ways to help your students think at high levels. Your friends say you are underpaid, yet you invest your salary into creating a professional environment and keeping it supplied with materials to make it a home away from home. You go far above the basics. Without your efforts, some students would not experience the joy that your classroom brings.
So many times, I see you do what is best, not what is easiest. You get to work early and go home late. You refuse to give up on the children and help them work through their challenges; believe me, you are their extended family. Your part in their social and emotional development is undeniable, and it helps students thrive. You give them ways to learn about growing up and taking responsibility for their own actions and emotions. Because of your guidance, our students are more likely to experience success.
I see the way you partner with families and demonstrate compassion in their concerns. No matter the situation, you do what is best for the child. Moreover, your ability to nurture parental involvement will allow them to become powerful drivers to help you achieve the goals and visions of your school as well as the goals and dreams of the students.
Some days you are not feeling your best, but you still show up for your students. You make sure they know you care. You take time out of the day to talk to them at lunch or at recess, to coach them after school, to mentor them, and make sure they know you are there for them. What you do is inspiring. Wear the title “Teacher” proudly because you really make a difference.
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For his service and advocacy for Alabama Art students, Mr. Andy Meadows was recently recognized by the Alabama Arts Alliance as the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Arts Advocate Award! Way to go!
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New Options for Teacher Testing Requirements
Nationally, we are experiencing a critical shortage of teachers in some of the most vulnerable school systems and in some of the most needed areas of education. In Alabama, we are adjusting to help meet the needs of our school systems, without diluting the quality of the professionals charged with the most noble task of educating our children.
Recently, the Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE) approved an expansion of current testing requirement options that allows aspiring classroom teachers to begin their careers as educators if all certification requirements have been met, except the required score on the Praxis subject-area test(s).
These additional options, which began on July 12, 2022, are for newcomers into the teaching profession, and they do not apply unilaterally for anyone seeking a teaching certificate. The options apply to teachers who are completing initial certification programs at an Alabama college or university and for non-traditional teachers who did not complete an Educator Preparation Program and are seeking certification through an alternate route. The options cannot be used to add additional teaching fields to an existing certificate. Additionally, these options do not modify the required scores for the Foundations of Reading test or the edTPA. These modifications only apply to Praxis subject-area tests.
Initial Certification Programs at an Alabama College or University
One new option allows individuals who are within one standard error of measure of the required Praxis score to receive their teaching certificate if all other requirements have been met. One may ask, “how is one standard error of measure determined?” Well, it is not a number that the casual observer can calculate. It is different for every teaching field. It is based on the number of people who have taken a particular test, and that number is applied to a statistical formula to determine what equals one standard error of measure.
The adjustment allows those who score within one standard error of measure of the required Praxis score to obtain a teaching certificate, without diminishing the quality of educators going into Alabama classrooms. Those taking advantage of this modification must achieve a higher teaching field grade-point average (GPA) to demonstrate adequate content knowledge and offset the lower Praxis score. This option requires a 2.75 teaching field GPA, as opposed to the 2.5 teaching field GPA required with the current Praxis score. If the 2.75 teaching field GPA is not attained, the individual may be employed on a Non-Professional Temporary Certificate while working towards attaining a passing Praxis score or completing 100 hours of high-quality professional development in the content area.
Non-Traditional Teachers and Certification Through an Alternate Route
There is also an option for non-traditional teachers who did not complete an Educator Preparation Program and are seeking certification through an alternate route. These individuals may score within one standard error of measure on the required Praxis subject area test if their overall bachelor’s degree GPA is 2.5 or higher and they have at least 15 semester hours of college coursework with a grade of B or above in the content area they will teach.
Extraordinary Critical Need Staffing Waiver
Lastly, in an effort to assist school systems in Alabama that are experiencing critical shortages in the number of teacher applicants, the SBOE approved an Extraordinary Critical Need Staffing Waiver specifically for individuals who have completed an initial certification program at an Alabama college or university. If all additional certification requirements are met and the waiver is approved by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), an individual who scores within two standard errors of measure of the required Praxis score may be granted a Non-Professional Temporary Certificate. With the support of the employing LEA and a high-quality mentor, to transition to a Professional Educator Certificate, the individual must earn the required Praxis score(s) for the specific content area OR score within one standard error of measure of the required Praxis score AND complete 100 hours of high-quality professional development in the content area.
These additional options are available for the next two school years. Although Alabama is beginning to see improvements in some school systems, much of the state is still struggling to find educators. Education is still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the current teacher shortage is not unique to Alabama. These new options represent the efforts of the ALSDE and the SBOE to fill vacancies with qualified individuals who are close to completing current certification requirements. They provide options to place individuals who are committed to the field of education and desire a professional career as an educator in vacant classrooms and/or classrooms that are currently experiencing a revolving door of substitute teachers.
As we continue moving toward normalcy, we must recruit dedicated, hard-working professionals into the field of education to meet the challenge of preparing every child, every chance, every day, for life after high school. Our hope is that these additional options, along with several other undertakings by the ALSDE, will help ensure Alabama students have high-quality educators in their classes every day.
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Bonnie Garrett Named 2022 Lowell Milken Center Fellow |
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes recently awarded Bonnie Garrett, 2007 Alabama Milken Educator, its prestigious Fellowship.
The Lowell Milken Center Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. Exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world are selected to collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Garrett is a 7th and 8th grade master teacher at Morris Middle School in the Huntsville City School System. She is described as one who strives to make Science, Technology, Engineering and Math real and relevant for her students through creative learning experiences and experiential connections.
Norm Conrad, Executive Director, Lowell Milken Center, stated, “Bonnie is an outstanding educator who provides the leadership necessary to make education relevant in our world today. Her work in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math will make her an invaluable asset to our team of Fellows.”
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September is School Attendance Awareness Month – State Focuses on Connectedness through School Attendance in 2022 |
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Alabama State Department of Education
QUICK LINKS AND INFORMATION
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Alabama State Board of Education Members |
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September Board Meeting Agenda |
- Call to Order
- Invocation, Reverend Shane Isner, Pastor, First Christian Church, Montgomery Alabama, and Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag
- Roll Call – Establishment of a Quorum
- Approval of the Agenda
- Approval of the Minutes for the August 11, 2022, Meeting
- Public Hearings
- Action Items
- Unfinished Business
- New Business
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Resolution of Distinguished Recognition, 2021 Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction, Amanda Blake and Sheniqua Roberson, School Counselors, Daphne Middle School, Baldwin County School System, State School Board District One
- Resolution of Distinguished Recognition, 2021 Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction, Summer Davis, Kristy Elderkin, and Katryna Kinn, School Counselors, E. R. Dickson Elementary School, Mobile County School System, State School Board District One
- Resolution of Distinguished Recognition, 2021 Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction, Carissa Davis and Janie Evans, School Counselors, J. Larry Newton Elementary School, Baldwin County School System, State School Board District One
- Resolution of Distinguished Recognition, 2021 Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction, Shannon Parker, School Counselor, Malachi Wilkerson Middle School, Birmingham City School System, State School Board District Four
- Resolution of Distinguished Recognition, 2021 Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction, Brandi Shanklin, Latonya Jemison, And Emily Woodroof, School Counselors, Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa County School System, State School Board District Four
- Resolution in Recognition of Alabama 2022 Inaugural Purple Star Schools
- Resolution Proclaiming October 2022 as Statewide Parent Engagement Month in Alabama
- Resolution to Approve an Educator Preparation Program, University of Montevallo
- Approval of Alabama State Department of Education Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget
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Adopt Amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-2-4-.06, Pertaining to Local Mechanic Certification
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Adopt Amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-2-1-.01, Pertaining to Annual Apportionment of Foundation Program Funds
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lAdopt Amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-040-040-.02, Pertaining to Certain Teaching Techniques
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Adopt New Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-4-5-.05, Pertaining to Mental Health Service Coordinator
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Announce Intent to Adopt Amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-3-1-.02, Pertaining to Regulations Governing Public Schools
- Alabama Public Charter School Commission Nominees
- Executive (includes Legal and Public Information)
- State Superintendent’s Report
- Date and Time of Next Elementary/Secondary Education Meeting, Thursday, October 13, 2022, 10 a.m., Auditorium, Gordon Persons Building, Montgomery, Alabama; Work Session, 11 a.m. or Immediately Following the State Board Meeting, Plaza 103 Gordon Persons Building
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September Board Meeting Agenda |
Superintendent Updates
a. 2021-2022 Assessment Results and Accountability (ACAP, ACT, etc.)
b. Literacy Task Force
c. Special Education Services Updates
d. Board Retreat Follow Up (Charter Schools, Expanded ALSDE Work Schedule)
Board Questions
Fiscal Year 2024 Foundation Program Appropriation Request
Announce Intent to Adopt a New Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-3-3-.60, Pertaining to Alternative Teacher Preparation Organizations
Resolution in Recognition of Kyle Futral, Holtville High School, Elmore County School System, 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year, State School Board District Three
Resolution in Recognition of Ashley Bowling, Florence Middle School, Florence City School System, 2022 Alabama Assistant Principal of the Year, State School Board District Seven
Resolution in Recognition of Dr. Larry Haynes, Oak Mountain Middle School, Shelby County School System, 2022 Middle School Principal of the Year, State School Board District Three
Resolution in Recognition of Mrs. Brigett Stewart, Principal Piedmont Elementary School, Piedmont City School System, as the Alabama NAESP National Distinguished Principal for 2022, State School Board District Six
Resolution in Recognition of Dr. Andrea Datson, Assistant Principal at Riverton Elementary School in Madison County School System, as the Alabama Assistant Principal of the Year for 2022, State School Board District Eight
Resolution in Recognition of Caitlin Halperin, Auburn High School, Auburn City School System, as Alabama’s 2022 History Teacher of the Year, State School Board District Two
Alabama State Board of Education Resolution Declaring the Critical Importance of Teacher and Student Attendance
Resolution in Recognition of October 2022 as Dyslexia Awareness Month
Resolution Proclaiming October 1-31, 2022, as Manufacturing Month
Resolution in Recognition of October 10-14, 2022, as “School Lunch Week” in Alabama Schools
Resolution Endorsing Alabama School Bus Safety Week, October 17-21, 2022
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AENN QUESTION OF THE MONTH
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Which Social Media platform are you MOST involved in?
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AENN CONTACT INFORMATION
334-694-4688 · 334-694-4990 (f)
Alabama Education News & Notes
P.O. Box 302101
Montgomery, AL 36130-2101
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ALSDE COMMUNICATION STAFF
Director: Dr. Michael O. Sibley
Administrative Assistant: Rita Smith
Public Information Officer: Ed Crenshaw
Recognition Program Coordinator: Ann Starks
Videographer: Shane Gillis
Graphic Artist: Charles Creel
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Alabama Education News & Notes – Sept 2022 |
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Alabama State Department of Education, Eric G. Mackey, State Superintendent of Education
The Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama State Department of Education do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, or age in their programs, activities, or employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person is responsible for handling inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator, Alabama State Department of Education, P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36130-2101, telephone (334) 694-4717.
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