Education

Kids Count: Alabama 46th in Child Well-Being

Alabama leads the nation in graduating high school students on time, but middle school students’ math and reading scores are near last in the country, according to a new report. Alabama ranked 46th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2022 Kids Count Data Book released today. That ranking is up from 47th in 2021. The annual report looks at 16 indicators of child well-being related to education, health care, economic factors and community and family. Data points come from 2016 through 2020. Alabama did improve in 10 of the indicators but in four of them the state fell behind the rest of the nation, according to a written statement today. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Birmingham Awards Diplomas to Students Who Died Before Graduation

Not every student who starts school lives to graduate. It’s estimated nearly 2,000 children and teens die from gun violence every year in the United States. This week Birmingham City Schools awarded diplomas to the families of some of those lost students. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

How Birmingham-Area High Schools Placed in the Best High School Rankings

Mountain Brook High School has been ranked the No. 1 high school in the Birmingham area as part of U.S. News and World Reports’ annual Best High Schools rankings. The school’s scores placed it in the 200th spot nationwide. The top-ranked schools in the state was Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery, which also was ranked No. 17 in the nation. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

New Report Shows Math Proficiency Continues to Lag in Alabama

This week, officials released an update to the annual Kids Count Data Book that measures the well-being of kids in Alabama. Advocates are hopeful spending on children's healthcare and education recently approved by state lawmakers will improve indicators. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Alabama’s ‘Ultimate School Choice’ Bill Gets Complicated When Considering Race and Poverty

Parents could get about $5,600 per kid in state money to use for other schooling options. The proposal is currently in a legislative study committee. But experts told WBHM school choice brings up concerns around equity. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Mississippi’s Plan to Stop Alabama From Stealing Its Teachers? Pay Them Thousands More

WBHM As Mississippi lawmakers plot how to keep more teachers in the state, educators warn the state’s bill targeting critical race theory could drive them away. Read more.

by Stephen Bisaha, WBHM/Gulf States Newsroom

Jewish Family Faces Death Threats After Complaining About Nazi Salute Performed in Class

A teacher at Mountain Brook High School allegedly led students in a salute that mimics how Nazis raised their arms in World War II.The one Jewish student in the class complained and his family says they’re now receiving death and arson threats. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Birmingham Teachers Stage Sickout Due to COVID Frustrations

Some Birmingham City Schools employees staged a sickout this week to bring attention to their concerns with how COVID-19 is being dealt with in their schools. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Critical Race Theory Divides Educators and State Leaders

Every time Annemarie Gray begins teaching a new unit in her history class, she changes the posters on the walls of her classroom at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. They currently feature Andrew Jackson and maps showing what’s known as the Trail of Tears. For the next lesson, she’ll put up photos of abolitionists who fought for the end of slavery. Gray, who is white, says telling the whole story has always been important in her lessons. “I’ve always sort of said that when it comes to teaching American history, I teach the good, the bad and the ugly,” Gray said. “Frankly, I would challenge anyone to come into my classroom and tell me that I’m teaching anything that isn’t the truth.” But in Alabama, Mississippi and other parts of the country, the truth of American history is being challenged because of a concept that’s becoming a political football across the country — critical race theory. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Some Parents Express Frustration With Schools’ Responses to the Omicron Surge

WBHM As students across Birmingham return to classrooms after the winter break, schools must contend with the COVID-19 omicron variant. With cases surging, some parents are frustrated with the response from school leaders. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM