A Recap of the State Board Of Education's
March 2007 Meeting

State Board of Education Extends its Support to Enterprise

Thursday’s K-12 meeting of the state Board of Education began with 30 seconds of silence to reflect on the devastation tornado-ravaged Enterprise suffered recently. The board also unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Enterprise school system and in memory of the eight Enterprise High School students lost in the March 1 tragedy that destroyed the high school and heavily damaged nearby Hillcrest Elementary School.

“The Enterprise administration and faculty members did everything within their power to protect every student from the wrath of the oncoming storm and are to be commended for their quick thinking and courage,” board member Betty Peters read from the resolution. The board praised the outpouring of generosity from around the nation and pledged its “support, encouragement and assistance to the Enterprise City School System as it recovers and rebuilds.”

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton reported the high school students will resume classes at the local Enterprise-Ozark Community College campus, and Hillcrest Elementary School students will attend classes at Holly Hill Elementary, which will adjust the hours of attendance for its current students.

After a racial bias lawsuit ended teacher testing 20 years ago, the state board approved the final three minimum teacher test scores Thursday. The 40 other Praxis II pass scores were adopted by the board last year. The teacher tests will be used for initial teacher certification and to document highly qualified status under No Child Left Behind. The cut scores for driver education, English to speakers of other languages and the school psychologist subject matter tests will be effective June 1.

Also on Thursday, the board adopted new standards that change how educators are formally prepared to teach in Alabama’s classrooms. The new Alabama Quality Teaching Standards, which replace the Standards for Professional Studies component of Class B teacher education, emphasize content knowledge, teaching and learning, literacy, diversity and professionalism based on the recommendation of the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching. The goal is to improve student learning, increase student achievement and guide the professional conduct of Alabama’s public school teachers.

In other business, the board recognized April 2-8 at Public Health Week; issued a resolution commending Sylacauga communities for being named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance; approved teacher education programs at Troy University; and named Ella Bell as the board’s Alabama Teacher of the Year Program representative. The board’s March work session is on the 22nd at 10:30 a.m. in Montgomery.

—Denise L. Berkhalter