Education

News / Education / State

FBI, DOE investigating potential fraud in Alabama virtual schools

The investigation of the virtual schools, and the allegations of improperly boosting enrollment figures to generate more tax dollars, would be similar to federal investigations of virtual schools in other states. As in those investigations, the alleged wrongdoing in Alabama involves tens of millions of dollars in tax money.

Josh Moon

August 11, 2020

Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program gets more national attention

The article analyzed a recent study that found that students who attended the program were “statistically significantly more likely” to be proficient in both math and reading than those who did not.

Micah Danney

August 7, 2020

Selma residents will discuss renaming Edmund Pettus Bridge at Aug. 7 virtual event

A group of Selma residents, in response to the latest push to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge, has organized and will host a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the proposal. The forum can be viewed live on the Facebook page of the Selma Matters Campaign on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. The group encouraged … Continued

Micah Danney

August 4, 2020

Exposure notification app for college students launches pilot phase

College students across Alabama and anyone with a .edu email address are being invited to participate in an anonymous Exposure Notification System app for iPhone and Android users. The app launched in a closed pilot phase on Monday that will allow up to 10,000 downloads for each phone type. The app is part of the … Continued

Micah Danney

August 3, 2020

Governor announces $100 million internet voucher program for students

The governor has allocated for the program $100 million of the state’s $435 million in federal CARES act funds to help the state safeguard schools amid the growing spread of COVID-19.

Eddie Burkhalter

August 3, 2020

Jones urges USDA to extend waiver program for school meals amid COVID-19

Unless the U.S. Department of Agriculture extends a waiver program, set to expire at the start of school, thousands of Alabama’s schoolchildren without transportation to school and who are learning remotely could miss out on school meals. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, and dozens of other senators on Wednesday urged the USDA to extend vouchers … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

August 1, 2020

Jones: Not enough funding in GOP COVID-19 relief package for schools

Alabama Sen. Doug Jones is worried that what’s in Senate Republicans’ plan for a fifth round of coronavirus relief bills won’t provide enough to keep students, teachers, staff and families safe once schools begin reopening soon, while COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise. Jones said during a press briefing Thursday that proposed bills coming … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 30, 2020

Opinion

Parents are being asked to gamble their family’s safety over reopening schools. Don’t.

The only reason we’re in this boat is because weak politicians, bowing to the ignorance of selfish people over the expertise and knowledge of doctors and scientists, refused to take hard, necessary steps for the proper lengths of time.

Josh Moon

July 30, 2020

ALSDE: Accreditation issues with virtual school provider won’t affect Alabama delivery

SchoolsPLP’s claims of accreditation on their website — by Cognia, AdvancED, California A-G and the NCAA — all appear to be bogus.

Josh Moon

July 27, 2020

About half of Alabama students will start the year with virtual learning, superintendent says

As much as 50 percent of Alabama’s public school students will be learning virtually when school starts back, said Alabama’s State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey on Friday. Mackey discussed the restart of school amid COVID-19 at a press briefing hosted by Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, and said that while he prefers that students get … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 24, 2020