Education

Education Researchers Publish Study Showing Effects of Pre-K are Long-Term

Alabama researchers recently have been acknowledged for their work showing that gains made while children are in Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program continue into the students’ elementary years. Their peer-reviewed article on the topic was published in the July edition of the International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy. It was written by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, ThinkData and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. The paper counters some recent studies of long-term impacts that have shown that advantages from pre-K learning diminish of “fadeout” over time. But the Alabama researchers found no statistical evidence of fadeout through the 7th grade. Read more. BirminghamWatch took a deeper look at the pre-K program. You can read it here: First Class in More Than Name Only: Why Alabama’s Preschool Program Is Best in the Country on National Standards

by BirminghamWatch

Birmingham-Area Schools Nail Down Reopening Plans

As the beginning of schools’ fall term creeps nearer, school officials are nailing down their plans for educating students during the coronavirus pandemic. Those plans vary across the Birmingham area, and some school leaders emphasize that they still could change, depending on the severity of the outbreak. All schools will offer a virtual learning option. Some schools are only doing virtual learning for the first nine weeks, while other schools also have an option to attend school in person. Start dates also vary widely, from Fairfield’s Aug. 10 opening to Jefferson County’s Sept. 1 opening. See the current plans for Birmingham-area schools to open in the fall term. More stories on local school openings: Birmingham Schools Announce Online-Only Learning for First 9 Weeks Jefferson County Schools to Go Virtual-Only for First Nine Weeks; Some Student Athletes and Staff Have Tested Positive for COVID

by Jackson Sharman

Students With Disabilities Face Significant Challenges as Schools Plan to Reopen

For more than 96,000 students with special needs across Alabama, the loss of in-person services could mean a decline in learning, communication or functional skills. It also takes a toll on family members. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Jefferson County Schools to Go Virtual-Only for First Nine Weeks; Some Student Athletes and Staff Have Tested Positive for COVID

UPDATED — The Jefferson County Board of Education voted Tuesday to begin the 2020-2021 school year Sept. 1 with nine weeks of online education only and no option for traditional classroom learning, as educators and parents continue to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. The recommendation came from Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin after weeks of town hall meetings with parents, faculty, staff and other stakeholders, as well as an online survey in which Gonsoulin said 80% of JefCoEd families responded. In that survey, 56% were in favor of online learning, and 44% wanted traditional face-to-face classroom learning. The board approved the recommendation by a 4-1 vote in Tuesday’s online meeting. Gonsoulin in a later press conference said that some student athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, as have some faculty and staff members, as the schools gear up to reopen. He said no employees will be furloughed because of the return to virtual learning. Read more.

by Robert Carter

UAB Launches COVID Testing for More Than 200,000 College Students

Alabama university and health officials are hopeful that a statewide monitoring platform will lower the spread of COVID-19 on campuses this fall. The program, called GuideSafe, officially launched Monday and includes free testing, symptom monitoring and contact tracing via mobile applications. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Health Officer Recommends Virtual Classes for Middle and High Schools, No Contact Sports for Now

The Jefferson County health officer is recommending that boards of education in the county "strongly consider" setting up virtual learning for middle and high school students this coming school year and cancelling or postponing contact sports. "With the current level of viral spread and disease in the community, there is a considerable chance" that the virus will occur among students and school staff, Dr. Mark Wilson said in a letter to school officials. "If classes are not stringently isolated from one another, whole schools may end up having to close." Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Jefferson County Board of Education Unanimously Approves ‘School Roadmap’

Parents can choose between traditional in-person classes, remote learning with Jefferson County teachers, or virtual learning with outsourced teachers. Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Birmingham-Area Schools’ Plans for Reopening

Schools across the state are deciding when and how to reopen schools in the fall. The state Department of Education set out several options for systems to consider, including in-person learning, virtual learning and blended plans, and said all parents have the option to enroll their children in a virtual learning program. Here is where Birmingham-area schools stand on planning for the start of school. Read more.

by Jackson Sharman

Birmingham Schools Announce Online-Only Learning for First 9 Weeks

UPDATED — Dr. Mark Sullivan announced in a Wednesday press conference that all Birmingham City Schools would be starting the school year virtually on Aug. 24. Sullivan, the interim superintendent for BCS, made the announcement with Birmingham Board of Education members. All learning will be online for the first nine-week grading period. BCS will evaluate the safety of returning to in-person learning after that. “This decision was not made lightly, but at this juncture I believe it is our best option to assure the quality of education that we have for our students and to maintain a safe, nurturing environment for all of our students,” Sullivan said. Read more.

by Jackson Sharman

Birmingham Schools Discuss Plans to Reopen Aug. 24

The Birmingham Board of Education has formed a plan for students to start the new school year, but many questions remain about how learning will look. The interim superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, Dr. Mark Sullivan, said in a press conference Friday that BCS is in the process of figuring out how to start school while keeping students, parents and teachers healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, school officials are looking at four options. Read more.

by Jackson Sharman