Skip to content

Education

News / Education / State

Hindu statesman objects to Alabama’s yoga ban in schools

A noted Hindu statesman released a statement Monday continuing his objection to the continued “prohibition” of yoga in Alabama’s public schools. Hindu Statesman Rajan Zed said the prohibition of yoga was doing a “disservice” to the school children of Alabama and urged Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Alabama Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey and Alabama State … Continued
August 13, 2019

Charter Commission appointments could restore some faith

The Alabama Charter School Commission is changing.  On Thursday, the Alabama State School Board voted to appoint five new members to the board. Those appointments came from nominees provided by Gov. Kay Ivey, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon and Senate President Del Marsh.  Only one incumbent survived on a board that has drawn considerable … Continued
August 9, 2019

Alabama picked for World Vision distribution center

Evangelist Scott Dawson doesn’t want to see teachers spend their own money to make sure their students don’t go without, so he’s doing something about it.  During the month of August more than 4,000 low-income public school children across central Alabama will be getting school supplies donated through a partnership between local churches and the … Continued
August 7, 2019

Public trust in scientists rises, according to poll

The number of Americans who think scientists act in the public’s best interest is up from 2016, but the public is divided along party lines over views on scientific objectivity, research quality and trust of the scientific method.   While 57 percent of Americans say they have mostly positive views of environmental research scientists there are … Continued
August 6, 2019

Troy chancellor praises Dial’s tenure as trustee president

Gerald Dial has presided over his last board of trustees meeting at Troy University.  The longtime Troy trustee and former state senator has turned the gavel over to Beasley Allen partner Gibson Vance after eight years as board president that saw substantial growth for the university.  “He has served the university well and demonstrated through … Continued
August 6, 2019

Former Auburn president Steven Leath’s turbulent tenures

Steven Leath’s term as president of Auburn University came crashing to an end in June, but the hard-charging academic will glide back to the earth underneath a $4.5 million parachute, thanks to the university.  Leath signed a separation agreement on June 28, putting an end to his run leading the university since he was hired … Continued
August 2, 2019

Alabama Education Association files lawsuit against Soner Tarim

The Alabama Education Association has filed a lawsuit through its members and affiliate in Washington County against Soner Tarim, a Texas-based man seeking to open a charter school in rural southwest Alabama. Tarim is the CEO of Unity School Services and was the founder of Harmony Schools, a charter school network in Texas.  The lawsuit … Continued
August 2, 2019

Alabama’s charter school law has a number of problems

The Alabama charter school law is an absolute mess, filled with loopholes and nonexistent instructions that make it possible, if not likely, that the state will endure countless bad charter schools that rob taxpayers and leave Alabama school children worse off.  Those were not the words of Alabama superintendent Eric Mackey.  But you could draw … Continued
July 30, 2019

Ivey moves to revamp failing education system with “Strong Start, Strong Finish”

Unencumbered by the political temerity that immobilizes many leaders in Montgomery, Gov. Kay Ivey is rapidly moving forward on a few big agenda items, including rebuilding the state’s aging infrastructure and reforming its barbaric prison system. But nowhere has Ivey shown more laser-like focus than on Alabama’s underperforming education system. Over the last two years, … Continued
July 29, 2019

Pre-K program lowers discipline rates for students’ middle and high school years

New research suggests students who have participated in Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program, a voluntary, public early education program, are about half as likely to have disciplinary problems throughout their school careers than students who didn’t participate in the program.  The analysis was conducted by the First Class Pre-K Research Evaluation Team, a multi-disciplinary group … Continued
July 29, 2019