Virginia Martin

Shooting for the A — Birmingham Schools principal succeeded at one school. Now he’s aiming to redirect another that is facing significant challenges.

As 2020 rolls in, BirminghamWatch looks back at its biggest stories of 2019, highlighting a different one each day. When Dr. Terrell Brown took over as principal at Birmingham City’s Minor Elementary School, the school had a failing “F” grade. By the time he left three years later, Minor had improved to a “C.” Over at W.E. Putnam Middle School, where Brown is now, the goal is to do a repeat. Brown is taking his best practices from Minor and his time at Midfield City Schools and is applying them to his efforts to turn Putnam around from its “F” report card grade and five-time appearance on the AAA failing schools list. Read more. Read the rest of BirminghamWatch’s special report on Birmingham schools:

Making the Grade? How Birmingham City Schools Are Doing Depends on Which Measure You Choose.

An Introduction to Birmingham Schools, From A to F

The Numbers

The History of the Birmingham City Schools

Many Questions About Birmingham City Schools Remain After Three Months of Trying to Understand the State of Education

Questions submitted to the Birmingham City Schools

The History of the Birmingham City Schools

Birmingham Schools’ Superintendent Talks About Facing Competition for Students, Being Accountable and Building Relationships.

Alabama Site for Detained Immigrants Has History of Abuse Charges, Efforts to Close It

First Class in More Than Name Only: Why Alabama’s Preschool Program Is Best in the Country on National Standards

From Buses to Libraries, 2020 Education Has More for K-12 Schools

MONTGOMERY — An additional $318 million for K-12 schools is in Alabama’s 2020 education budget, and lawmakers and education leaders say that money will make tangible differences in local schools. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the record-setting education budget into law Thursday. “This budget represents significantly more resources for education,” Senate education budget committee chairman Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said. Here’s what some of the new money will mean to K-12 schools. There’s nearly $190 million more for the K-12 Foundation Program that supports schools’ basic functions. The 2020 total is $3.9 billion. There’s also an additional $27.8 million for transportation. Read more.

New Incentives Law Targets Rural and Struggling Urban Areas

MONTGOMERY — A recently-passed bill aimed to spur job growth in rural and urban areas of the state has been signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, House Bill 540, dubbed the Alabama Incentives Modernization Act, is a set of tax incentives designed to enhance development in counties that are experiencing slow economic conditions and to help bring new technology companies to the state. Proponents of the legislation say it enhances current incentives, encourages investments in designated opportunity zones and offers a capital gains tax cut for tech companies moving to Alabama. Read more.

BW Special Report: An Introduction to Birmingham Schools, From A to F

The quality of education in Birmingham city schools varies across the city. Some schools, such as Phillips Academy, are rated “A” by the state Department of Education, while the report cards for other schools are not as promising. Read profiles of some of Birmingham’s lower and highest performing schools.

Phillips Academy

Students: 703 Teachers: 41 Education Report Card 2017-2018: A (92) Failing Schools List: None Read more.

Wenonah High School

Students: 661 Teachers: 52 Education Report Card 2017-2018: D (64) Failing Schools List: 2019; 2018; 2017. Read more.

Hayes K-8

Students: 797 Teachers: 28 Education Report Card 2017-2018: F (51) Failing Schools List: 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015; 2014. Read more.

W.E. Putnam Middle School

Students: 327 Teachers: 22 Education Report Card 2017-2018: F (58) Failing Schools List: 2019; 2016; 2015; 2014; 2013 Read more.

Jones Valley Middle School

Students: 372 Teachers: 21 Education Report Card 2017-2018: D (62) Failing Schools List: 2019 Read more.

Universities See Significant Increases; ‘Peer-Gap’ Formula to Continue

Alabama’s public four-year universities will receive funding increases of between about 6% and more than 12% under the 2020 education budget recently approved by lawmakers. “I think all of higher education is happy with where we ended up,” Alabama Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Jim Purcell said Wednesday. During the budgeting process, some university officials and lawmakers expressed frustration over this year's proposed budget including additional money for a few institutions that had previously been underfunded. Purcell said ACHE was attempting to fix “egregious inequities in funding.” Read more.