Vol. 20, No. 4, February 29, 2008

47 Percent Answer Teaching Conditions Survey, Graduation Options May Change This Fall

Eric Hirsch of the University of California at Santa Cruz's New Teacher Center presented an early synopsis of findings from the state's first teaching and learning conditions survey at Thursday's K-12 state Board of Education meeting. The Alabama Take 20 Survey generated 28,485 responses (47 percent) from Alabama educators, including about 700 principals and data from 88 of the state's 132 school districts.

Hirsch will share more in-depth Alabama Take 20 survey results with the governor's commission in April and with school board members at the March 14-15 AASB conference.

In Thursday's report, he told the state board the survey is an important tool to improve teacher working conditions and also student learning conditions. Hirsch stressed the survey is not an accountability tool meant to single out any individual or school. Among the preliminary findings:

• 68 percent agree there is an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect in their school.
• 77 percent agree that their school is a good place to work and learn.
• 77 percent believe their school leadership is effective.
• 84 percent agree that teachers and staff work in a school environment that is safe.
• 85 percent agree that school leadership facilitates the use of data to improve student learning.
• 79 percent report having sufficient access to appropriate instructional materials and resources.

The survey was a collaborative effort of the Governor's Commission on Teacher Quality, including the Alabama Association of School Boards, state Department of Education, Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, School Superintendents of Alabama, Alabama Education Association, A+ Education Foundation, Alabama Best Practices Center and the Alabama Supercomputer Authority.

Another hot topic at Thursday’s work session was Alabama's graduation options, which could be modified and implemented on a voluntary basis this fall before being required in 2009-2010 if the state Board of Education approves.

When the state board met Thursday, Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Ruth Ash and Dr. Mabrey Whetstone, director of special education services, discussed the proposal and fielded questions, including those raised by members Sandra Ray, Randy McKinney and Dr. Mary Jane Caylor. The proposal would:

• Require students to complete at least one distance-learning course, beginning with the 2008-09 freshman class unless an exception is necessary based on the student's individualized education program.
• Create alternatives to the 140 hours of "seat time" in one subject a student must have to earn one unit of high school credit. Students could instead demonstrate mastery of a particular skill through testing or taking online courses.
• Allow a credit recovery program that provides opportunities for students who have failed a segment of a course to receive remedial assistance to master that section rather than repeating the entire class.
• Automatically put students on a path of earning the Alabama High School Diploma with the advanced academic endorsement unless there is an IEP committee recommendation not to or parents/guardians opt their children out.
• Replace the Alternate Adult diploma (awarded to eligible students who pass the GED) with a credit-based endorsement to the Alabama High School Diploma. That endorsement would require students to pass three of the state graduation exam's five sections, including reading and math.

High school graduates now earn one of three diplomas: the Alabama High School Diploma with or without endorsements, Alabama Occupational Diploma or Alternate Adult High School Diploma. Under the proposed changes, students' diploma options would be the:

• Alabama High School Diploma with no endorsement.
• Alabama High School Diploma with the advanced academic, career technical and advanced career technical endorsements.
• Alabama High School Diploma with the proposed credit-based endorsement.
• Alabama Occupational Diploma.

To receive the credit-based 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. These students would have to take the exam each time it's offered through 12th grade, but would only need to pass reading, math and a third section of the five sections.

The high school diploma, regardless of endorsement, and the occupational diploma require four years 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.

All other endorsements would continue to require students to pass all sections of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. It would be up to local school boards to adopt other diploma options such as honors and international baccalaureate.

In other business, the board was presented details of the Alabama Teacher Recruitment Incentive Program. The deadline to apply for $20,000 future teacher scholarships is March 31 (www.atrip.alabama.gov).

The board's regular K-12 meeting is March 13.