Larry Lee

Did The Tea Party Get Beat At Their Own Game?

Education Matters By Larry Lee My friends involved with Tea Party politics in Alabama decidedly favored either Michael Sentance of Massachusetts or Bill Evers of California as the next school superintendent. The reason? They said both were against Common Core standards. Sentance was selected. On Aug. 10 board member Matt Brown sent an email across … Continued

Larry Lee

August 16, 2016

Online Petition Demands Stop to Non-Educator Hiring

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—A growing number of individuals are banding together to stop the hiring of a non-educator, who has been chosen to lead Alabama schools. The online petition is a reaction to the August 11 decision, made by the Alabama Board of Education, to hire Michael Sentance, a former Massachusetts bureaucrat-turned … Continued

Bill Britt

August 15, 2016

Opinion

Accountability Act Transfers Over $73 Million for 4000 Students

By Larry Lee The most recent quarterly reports from scholarship granting organizations participating in the Alabama Accountability Act are now posted on the web site of the Alabama Department of Revenue. These cover the period from April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016. While there are currently six SGOs approved to operate in the state, … Continued

Larry Lee

August 3, 2016

Opinion

Terri Collins Just Gonna Meddle

By Larry Lee Education Matters In a strange twist of logic, apparently the chair of the House Education policy committee thinks it a crime for someone to speak out in support of public schools and said so in an email to some members of the State Board of Education. Rep. Terri Collins of Decatur chairs … Continued

Larry Lee

June 20, 2016

Opinion

In Remembrance of Vernon Ingram

By Larry Lee Not a soul moved as the plaintive notes of Taps hung over this little spit of south Alabama that was now wrapping its earthy arms around one of its own. It was late April when Vernon Ingram made his last trip to the Oakey Streak Methodist Church which he joined as a … Continued

Larry Lee

May 9, 2016

Opinion

Accountability Act Leading to Resegregation

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee As soon as the Alabama Accountability Act was passed by the legislature in February 2013 educators knew it was fatally flawed. It was not supported by research. Vouchers have never been shown to bring about significant change in education outcomes. And the promise it would improve failing schools and help … Continued

Larry Lee

November 16, 2015

Opinion

No Accountability in Accountability Act

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee The Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) has made public the latest reports of scholarship granting organizations (SGO) participating in the Alabama Accountability Act. And once again we see how little accountability there really is in this law. There are currently nine SGOs listed by ADOR. All were supposed to make … Continued

Larry Lee

October 27, 2015

Opinion

“AAA the gift that keeps on giving,” maybe not

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee Legend has it that the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving,” was used to describe early versions of the phonograph in the 1920’s. Just 31 months ago the legislature gave us an act that they promised would also, “keep on giving.” It was the Alabama Accountability Act. But as … Continued

Larry Lee

October 2, 2015

Opinion

Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee Circles really do have a beginning and an end. But you cannot be in a rush to find them. This particular circle began one Christmas years ago and ended recently at the cemetery across the road from Liberty Baptist Church in the southwest part of Bulloch County. About 15 years … Continued

Larry Lee

October 1, 2015

Matthew Brown Announces State Board of Education Candidacy

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, September 15, 2015, Matthew Brown announced his candidacy for the District 1 seat on the State Board of Education. Mr. Brown was appointed by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) to the vacant seat in July and will seek the Republican Party nomination for the first district seat in … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 16, 2015