Education

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Several Alabama schools significantly improve ACT scores

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama published ACT results for Alabama’s graduating high school class of 2018, showing large improvement from several schools. Pike County School System, Montevallo High School, Opp High School and Homewood High School and System showed some of the largest improvement in average ACT scores among Alabama schools between 2015 … Continued

Gabby Dance

June 4, 2019

Ivey, Marsh praise Legislature for passing bill to end elected state school board

Friday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 397, which replaces the elected state school board with an appointed commission. The Senate had already passed the bill. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) praised the Legislature’s decision. “Today, because of strong, bipartisan efforts, the future for Alabama’s education system is extremely promising,” Ivey said. “Every … Continued

Brandon Moseley

June 3, 2019

Legislature passes constitutional amendment to abolish elected school board

The Alabama Legislature passed a state constitutional amendment Friday that would replace Alabama’s State Board of Education with an appointed commission on education and change the education standards for the state. Senate Bill 397 was sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston. The bill was carried in the House by State Rep. Bill … Continued

Brandon Moseley

June 3, 2019

Bill updating sex education curriculum fails on the last day of session

The Alabama House of Representatives ended the 2019 Legislative Session Friday without addressing legislation to remove language from the Alabama public schools sex education curriculum that the LGBTQ+ community finds objectionable. Sponsors said the bill would have also made the curriculum more scientifically and medically accurate. Senate Bill 140 was sponsored by State Sen. Tom … Continued

Brandon Moseley

June 3, 2019

Bill to abolish elected county superintendents stalled in Alabama House

The Alabama House of Representatives rejected a proposal Friday to force all Alabama counties to adopt a system where the county board of education hires a school superintendent. In many Alabama counties, the county school superintendent is an elected official over the schools analogous to the Sheriff with law enforcement. City systems already have appointed … Continued

Brandon Moseley

June 3, 2019

House Democrats discuss new education budget, successes, shortcomings

On Wednesday, State Reps. Pebblin Warren, D-Birmingham, and Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, led a discussion about the Education Trust Fund budget that was passed on Tuesday. “Our future is only as strong as our education system is today,” Warren said at the Democrats’ weekly press conference. The education budget, Senate Bill 199, is marked at $7.1 … Continued

Evan Mealins

May 30, 2019

ACLU stands against bill allowing Bible studies courses in public schools

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama Executive Director Randall Marshall commented against SB14, a bill that would allow public schools to teach Bible studies as an elective course, calling it a waste of money and potentially unconstitutional. “While Alabama’s schools continue to struggle, we have to wonder why legislators are spending valuable time in … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 30, 2019

Opinion

We already know the danger of an appointed state school board

So, you want to appoint the state school board? According to Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, all of the voting we’ve been doing to elect state school board members is one of the biggest problems with public education in Alabama, and he wants to stop it. The stupid voters have screwed this up enough … Continued

Josh Moon

May 29, 2019

House passes $7.1 billion education budget

The Alabama House of Representatives passed the education trust fund budget Tuesday. Senate Bill 199 is sponsored by State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur. The bill was carried on the House floor by State Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, who chairs the House Ways and Means Education Committee. Poole’s committee substituted the budget that came down from … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 29, 2019

Legislature votes to allow longer emergency teaching certificates

The Alabama House of Representative voted Tuesday to concur with Senate changes to legislation that would allow the state school superintendent at the request of a local superintendent to issue a two-year emergency alternative teaching certificate. House Bill 502 is sponsored by state Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield. Estes said the emergency certificate could be renewed … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 29, 2019