State Board News - Jan. 24, 2008
GRADUATION OPTIONS
Alabama’s often-scrutinized graduation rate was the impetus behind several proposals presented to the state Board of Education Thursday at its K-12 work session. One proposition Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Ruth Ash discussed was redefining the state’s high school graduation options. Under the proposal, students would be required to complete at least one distance-learning course, beginning with the 2008-09 freshman class. The proposal calls for replacing the Alternate Adult diploma with a credit-based endorsement to the Alabama High School Diploma. Learn more...
State Board May Consider Redefining Graduation Options
Alabama’s often-scrutinized graduation rate was the impetus behind several proposals presented to the state Board of Education Thursday at its K-12 work session.
One proposition Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Ruth Ash discussed was redefining the state’s high school graduation options.
Under the proposal, students would be required to complete at least one distance-learning course, beginning with the 2008-09 freshman class. There would be exceptions for students with an individualized education program.
High school graduates now earn one of three diplomas: an Alabama High School Diploma, which has a variety of endorsements; an Alabama Occupational Diploma; and an Alternate Adult High School Diploma.
The proposal calls for replacing the Alternate Adult diploma with a credit-based endorsement to the Alabama High School Diploma. To receive this endorsement, general education students and those with disabilities would need to complete the required core curriculum credits and earn one additional career/technical education credit.
Students must pass the Alabama High School Graduation Exam to earn an Alabama High School Diploma with the advanced academic endorsement. For a credit-based endorsement, students would have to take the exam each time it’s offered through 12th grade but would be only required to pass three of the five sections.
Unless parents/guardians opt their children out, every Alabama high school student would – by default – work toward the Alabama High School Diploma with the advanced academic endorsement. Eleven other states offer such an opt-out measure. In Alabama, 39 percent of graduates earn the advanced diploma.
The other diploma endorsements — besides the proposed credit-based — are career technical and advanced career technical. Local school boards could adopt other diploma options, such as honors and international baccalaureate.
The high school diploma, regardless of endorsement, and the occupational diploma require four credits each of English, math, science and social studies. The advanced endorsement requires higher level math and science in addition to a computer applications half-credit and two foreign language credits.
Other proposals would create alternatives to the 140 hours of “seat time” in one subject student must have to earn one unit of high school credit. Students could instead demonstrate mastery of a particular skill through testing, taking online courses or getting remedial assistance when they’ve failed a segment of a course rather than repeating the entire class.
The proposals are designed to raise Alabama’s graduation rate, which is an accountability measure under No Child Left Behind. The state’s graduation rate under NCLB is now 82 percent, but its goal rate is 90 percent.
National rankings also use graduation rates — based on a variety of formulas, which frequently rank Alabama near the bottom — to compare states. Until the National Governors Association introduced its method, there was no national graduation rate standard. Alabama is set to implement the NGA method for counting graduates in 2009.
When that happens, state Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton expects the state’s rate to drop. He also said programs launched last year should help boost the numbers back up. Graduation coaches are in 25 pilot high schools, and 38 Preparing Alabama Students for Success sites use grant money to prevent at-risk students from dropping out of school.
“As a state, we’ve shot too low for too long, but there were reasons,” he said. “We had to get the reading initiative moving, the math-science initiative and distance ed, but all of those have meshed into a set of progressive programs that now can sustain this next step.”
Also discussed Thursday was an Early College Enrollment Program that would allow students to earn college credit toward a technical or health credential, certificate or degree.
At the Feb. 28 work session the board will discuss the technology education and career/tech courses of study proposals. Prior to that, the board will meet Feb. 14 in Montgomery.
AASB’S District 6 Meeting Now Scheduled for Feb. 21 in Anniston
Inclement weather caused AASB to reschedule its District 6 meeting, the final of the nine meetings this winter on E-Discovery: What it Means for How We Communicate, When We Communicate & What We Say. The meeting is now slated for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Classic on Noble in Anniston. The only cost is the meal. Registration is free and may be done online.
2008 Resolutions and Bylaws
Now Available Online
AASB has posted its 2008 Resolutions and Bylaws online. The information is now electronic for easier access.
AASB Bids Best Wishes & Farewell to 12-Year Director Susan Salter
 AASB has some big shoes to fill now that Susan Salter, AASB’s director of membership services, has decided to take on new challenges as Auburn University Montgomery’s university relations director.
“We’ll genuinely miss Susan and her keen knowledge of school boards and K-12 public education. We wish her the best of luck,” said Sally Howell, executive director. Salter began working at the association as public relations director in 1995 and has been membership services director since 2005.
Prior to joining AASB, she had been Montgomery County schools’ public information officer and a newspaper reporter. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Auburn University and is a former president of the Council of School Board Association Communicators.
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