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House committee debates school prayer amendment, holds bill

The House Education Policy Committee delayed the proposed constitutional amendment on school prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance after lawmakers raised funding and implementation concerns.
February 26, 2026

Legislators briefed on coronavirus crisis

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and her team on Thursday briefed state legislators on the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis that has gripped the state for the last ten weeks. State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris told legislators that the state has 13,058 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection. 528 Alabamians have died from COVID-19 … Continued
May 22, 2020

Finally, state superintendent reverses course, weighs in on Washington County charter debacle

For months, state superintendent Eric Mackey has said he has no jurisdiction over the state charter school commission. However, as we have pointed out numerous times, the charter law of 2015 clearly says, “The department shall oversee the performance and effectiveness of all authorizers established under this act.” Furthermore, the guidelines written to govern the charter … Continued
June 6, 2019

Washington Post digs into Washington County charter fiasco

When a newspaper with the national impact of The Washington Post covers a story out of tiny Washington County, AL, you immediately know there is something serious afoot.  In this case, it is the Washington County charter fiasco that got the attention of veteran education reporter Valerie Strauss, who has worked for this newspaper for nearly 30 years. Because … Continued
May 6, 2019

AEA/MPS agreement with state was best possible outcome

Sometimes, a win is a less devastating loss. That was the case this week for the Alabama Education Association and a group of Montgomery Public Schools parents and employees who filed suit to block the sale of historic Georgia Washington Middle School to the Pike Road School system. After the Alabama Supreme Court last week … Continued
May 25, 2018

The revenge of the BCA

A terminated position, a transfer, a well-financed primary opponent and a ballot challenge.   Over the last several weeks, some of the major players who exposed a scheme to smear a state superintendent candidate and hand the job to an outsider have fallen on hard times. And the source of their problems isn’t much of … Continued
May 21, 2018
Alabama Superintendent Michael Sentance

Sentance cuts to ALSDE staff start with popular deputy superintendent

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter State Superintendent Michael Sentance has begun the process of cutting costs to offset a potential $8 million budget shortfall, and the first cut was popular Deputy Superintendent Jeff Langham, several sources confirmed to APR. Sources said Langham, the former Elmore County Schools superintendent, was informed by Sentance on Thursday … Continued
September 1, 2017

In praise of doing what’s right

By Larry Lee Education Matters Ain’t no way 11 months ago I would ever write what I am now writing. That’s because I had just watched state school board member Stephanie Bell raise her hand on Aug. 11 as one of five votes to hire Mike Sentance as State Superintendent. I thought then–and still do—it was one … Continued
July 31, 2017

No one is safe: Lawyer who uncovered Pouncey smear is now a target of similar campaign

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a scheme to derail the candidacy of Dr. Craig Pouncey for the job of State Superintendent, now threatens to crush the man tasked with investigating the smear campaign. Apparently, corruption is written into the DNA of the Department of Education. Every … Continued
June 29, 2017