State Department of Education

Governor says there will be no special session before August

Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) told legislators that there will be no special session prior to August because the state’s budget numbers will not be in before July 15. The Governor told the legislators in a video conference that all options are on the table on whether or not there will be a special … Continued

June 11, 2020

State leaders briefed on efforts to combat coronavirus

State leaders held a conference call Monday led by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on the coronavirus that is sweeping the state of Alabama and state efforts to fight the spread of the deadly virus. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said that he appreciated Governor Ivey’s statewide shelter in place order that was issued through … Continued

April 7, 2020

Finance and Taxation Education Committee briefed on state program to improve literacy

Alabama Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey spoke to the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. Mackey addressed the committee on the state department of education’s efforts on improving literacy. We have a literacy task force,” Mackey said. “We are very proud and happy to have the Literacy Act.” “A task force is meeting,” Mackey … Continued

February 13, 2020

2018 Alabama high school graduation rates released early

According to an early report, Alabama’s high school graduation rate for 2018 has increased. The State Department of Education had planned to the public release of the 2018 graduation rates in October but the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, a nonpartisan research group based at Samford University, released the 2017-18 high school graduation rates … Continued

September 25, 2019

Ivey announces Alabama Bicentennial Schools of Excellence

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the twenty-one schools selected as Alabama Bicentennial Schools of Excellence. The announcement was made at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH), where Governor Ivey was joined by superintendents, principals, and teachers from the selected schools, along with legislators and other dignitaries from across the state. Each school also … Continued

September 4, 2019

Senate Bill 222 takes away voters right to elect school superintendents

Tuesday, the Alabama Legislative Watchdogs and the Shelby County Republican Women issued a statement urging members to contact their state representatives to oppose Senate Bill 222, which takes away voters rights to elect their own school superintendents. Elected county school superintendents would be replaced by appointed superintendents answerable only to the politicians on the local … Continued

April 18, 2019

Why aren’t Montgomery’s charter schools following the rules?

There is a process in place to approve charter schools in Alabama. When the Alabama Legislature passed the law allowing charters in the state, they spent some time putting together a written plan with steps that must be followed. Things like: any organization wishing to start a charter school must submit an application that includes … Continued

January 30, 2019

Department of Education makes budget request

Alabama Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey addressed the budget committees Tuesday for both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate. Mackey appeared to be asking for more funds for almost every area. “There is nothing more important that we can do beyond getting the best prepared five year old that we can,” Mackey said of … Continued

January 30, 2019

There’s a reason the state legislature has no oversight of the AHSAA

Kyle South is the reason that the Alabama Legislature has no authority over the Alabama High School Athletic Association. South, a Republican state representative from Fayette, announced on Wednesday that he would be filing legislation that, if passed, would give the state legislature and the Alabama Department of Education some oversight of AHSAA rulings and … Continued

January 10, 2019

State Dept. of Education seeks more than a $1 million in outside contracts

The Alabama State Department of Education will request approvals this morning for contracts totaling more than $1 million, almost all of which will be spent on legal services. While the majority of the contracts before the state’s Legislative Contract Review Committee are routine — mostly dealing with issues related to students with special needs — … Continued

September 13, 2018