Education

Bill to Delay Rules That Would Fail Third Graders Who Don’t Read Well Enough Advances

A bill that would delay by three years a provision to require holding back third graders who don’t read at a sufficient level received unanimous support in the Senate Education Policy Committee on Wednesday. The provision is in the Alabama Literacy Act, which was approved by lawmakers in 2019. It aims to increase reading skills in young students. The act currently requires that, starting at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, third grade students demonstrate specific reading skills before being promoted to fourth grade. Smitherman’s bill delays that retention requirement until the 2024-2025 school year. He said the delay is needed because the COVID-19 pandemic led to remote learning for many students, and they’re not getting the educational support they need. He also said teachers haven’t been able to get the training they need. Read more. More from the Legislature This Week: Bill to Close ABC Stores Gets Committee Approval Concealed Carry, Law Enforcement Checks, Jail Issues Taken Up Thursday by Legislature Ban on Curbside Voting Passes, Special Session Bill Dies Monuments Bill Killed; Lawmaker Calls Members Racist House Passes Business-Friendly State Emergency Bill Read complete legislative coverage.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Some Parents Worry About In-Person Standardized Testing During the Pandemic

Education leaders in Alabama say there will be no virtual option despite COVID-19. Read more.

by Andrew Yeager, WBHM

COVID-19 Makes Kindergarten Requirement Bill ‘Priority’

MONTGOMERY — A bill to require Alabama public school students to attend kindergarten or take an assessment to go directly to first grade received its first vote of approval, passing the House Education Policy Committee Wednesday. Bill sponsor Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said her goal is to offer a complete education to students. "Pre-K is not available for every child in the state of Alabama, so if there is a child who misses pre-K and kindergarten, that child is not ready for the first grade," Warren said. "So my whole thing is in support of the student being completely ready to go into the first grade when they get there." Read more. Also in the Legislature Thursday House Approves Improved Benefits for Newer Teachers Legislative Briefs: Alcohol Delivery, License Plate Data Among Bills Gaining Approval Earlier This Week Tax Reform, Economic Development Bills Sent to Ivey Broadband Expansion Bill Passes First Vote in Legislature AI in Crime Fighting, Wine Shipments, Memorial Preservation, Other Topics Discussed in the Legislature Wednesday School Funding Change on the Move in the Legislature PTSD Coverage for First Responders, Wiretapping Bill Passes House Read more on the legislative session.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

House Approves Improved Benefits for Newer Teachers

The Alabama House on Thursday approved a bill to modify retirement benefits for newer teachers in the state. Advocates say more attractive benefits, including the ability to roll over sick leave and collect retirement after 30 years, will help with the state’s teacher shortage. The bill is a scaled-back version of legislation that has previously passed the House and died in the Senate. Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, told Alabama Daily News that House Bill 93 will reduce disparity between the older Tier I and newer Tier II retirement tracks and help keep young teachers in the state. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

School Funding Change on the Move in the Legislature

Between the fall of 2019 and fall 2020, 59 public school systems’ enrollment grew by nearly 6,500 students. But under the state’s current funding structure, systems have to fund most of that growth, including hiring the needed teachers, out of their local tax revenue, and state funding is slow to catch up, if it ever does, educators say. For some of the systems with the largest growth, that’s hundreds of students and millions of dollars. Senate Bill 9 would amend the state’s Foundation Program to calculate growth so systems don’t have to wait a year for per-student funding, which this year is about $6,271. It would estimate non-virtual enrollment based on the previous years’ growth. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

AEA Selects New Executive Director

Amy Hubbard Marlowe is the new executive director of the Alabama Education Association, the organization’s board of directors announced this week. Marlowe has served as interim executive director for two years and previously worked in the association’s governmental relations, public relations and research and technology branches. The AEA’s primary legislative goal this session is a significant pay raise for educators, the press release said. Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to request in the proposed budget she sends lawmakers this week a 2% increase, ADN reported last week. Read more.

by Alabama Daily News

Fultondale High School Too Badly Damaged by Tornado to Use Again

The end came earlier than expected for the Fultondale High School facility. After the school suffered heavy damage from this week’s EF-3 tornado, Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin announced Friday that the building would no longer be used for in-school education. “We have been assessing the damage since Monday night. At this point, it does not appear the building will be able to be occupied again. The damage is that extensive,” Gonsoulin said in a statement sent by email and Facebook to parents and staff. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Mental Health Services in Schools Improving, More Help Needed

Mental health support in Alabama schools has improved since the Alabama Legislatures appropriated $4.5 million toward the effort last year, but education leaders say more help is needed. Education and mental health leaders held a joint press conference in the State House Wednesday, announcing a renewed push for more funding from the Legislature.  “I think we have made major impacts, particularly under the situation right now with COVID, but I think there is still a dire need for services, collaboratives, as well as tools for these people to have,” Kay Warfield, the Alabama State Department of Education’s education administrator, said.   Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily New

Lawmakers Discuss Education Pay Raises, a Focus on Literacy and Learning Loss

MONTGOMERY — Pay raises for teachers are possible in next year’s state education budget, as are more school nurses, a greater focus on literacy and catching students up from learning loss left over from the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to spending proposals discussed by state education leaders and lawmakers at budget hearings in the State House Tuesday. Read more.

by Caroline Beck and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

How Are Schools Handling Spring Semester Classes Amid COVID Fears?

The continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout the state of Alabama has raised questions about how schools plan to go into this 2021 spring semester, which begins Tuesday. Several schools have altered their plans from their fall semester operations, while some are continuing with the same conditions they had before the holiday. Particularly given the new, more infectious strain of COVID-19 that has made its way into the United States, safety precautions and social distancing measures are a top priority. Read more and see list of school systems.

by Michelle Love