When the state Board of Education meets May 8, it will decide if the current high school diploma with advanced academic endorsement becomes the automatic standard for students. Only students who are opted out by their parents or their individualized education program committees would be exempted.

At the board’s K-12 work session at Hoover’s Spain Park High School, state Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton discussed two committees associated with the state Department of Education’s plan to boost graduation rates.

Morton announced a committee to design the framework for a state Middle School Initiative, which is in addition to the committee charged with guiding the implementation of the First Choice Graduation Plan for Alabama Public High Schools.

Both committees would be made up of board member appointees and SDE appointees and will make recommendations to the board this fall.

Here is a summary of the proposed revisions to state graduation requirements:

• The two diploma options would be the Alabama High School Diploma, with its variety of endorsements, and the occupational diploma. High school students would automatically work toward the advanced academic endorsement that requires two foreign language credits and Algebra II with trigonometry, unless there are IEP concerns or a parent opts the student out. Adding honors and other special diploma options above and beyond the 24-credit “first choice” diploma is up to local boards. This would start with the 2009-10 ninth-grade class.

• The alternate diploma available to eligible GED students would be replaced by the credit-based endorsement that allows eligible students to pass the reading, math and one other section of the five-section graduation exam. All other diploma endorsements require passing all sections of the grad exam. This would go into effect voluntarily for the class of 2008 and would be mandated for 2009.

• Local boards could decide if they wish to implement credit recovery and/or academic flexibility as an option to 140 hours of classroom instruction or having students repeat an entire course. Boards could choose to begin in summer 2008.

• Beginning with the class of 2009-10, students would be required to pass one online/technology-enhanced course. Waivers would be available for justifiable reasons.

Under the proposal, local boards facing extenuating circumstances could apply for a one-year delay if they aren’t ready to implement the new requirements.

The board also received an update on the proposed Instructional Leader (Principal) Certification. If the board approves the new certification process, principals who complete the program would receive an instructional leader certificate rather than one in educational administration.

In conjunction with this effort, certain Alabama universities would design master’s degree programs that meet the new standards for preparing instructional leaders to be principals, assistant principals, superintendents or to fill other central office instructional roles. The update presented by the SDE’s Dr. Eddie Johnson, Dr. Jayne Meyer and John Bell included the selection of three universities to lead this project – Auburn University, Samford University and the University of South Alabama.

The plan doesn’t affect principals who wish to continue to earn the state’s renewable, five-year certification, whether taking the educational administration or the instructional leader route. Also, if the Legislature makes dollars available, the state would fund principal leaders to act as mentors and to support strong instructional leadership statewide. There would be a two-year mentoring program for new principals.

The state board also heard a report on the latest Pride Survey results. Alabama has five years of data on student drug, tobacco and alcohol use – more than any state, according to Marcus Vandiver of the SDE’s Prevention & Support Services.

Survey data are available in the booklet, “Alabama Student Survey of Grades 6-12: 2002-03 thru 2006-07 Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drugs and Related Behaviors.” The publication’s executive summary states that compared to 2003-04: 5,600 fewer students use alcohol; 6,400 fewer students use tobacco; and 3,500 fewer students use marijuana.

AASB Presents Workshops on Progressive Discipline June 4-5

AASB is hosting two workshops on “Progressive Discipline: Disciplining and Dismissing Employees in Today’s Legal Climate” from 9:30 a.m. until noon in Montgomery on June 4 and in the Birmingham area on June 5.

At both events, veteran school board attorney R. Kent Henslee will explain how progressive discipline can be used to give employees an opportunity to change unacceptable behavior and strengthen the board’s legal position should dismissal become necessary. You will learn what arbiters expect to see in an employee’s personnel record in order to uphold termination, how to make a termination case stick and how the case will be analyzed. Call AASB at 800/562-0601 for additional details and registration information.

Nominations for Magna Awards 2009 Accepted Until Oct. 15

Now through Oct. 15, nominations are being accepted for the Magna Awards 2009, a program the American School Board Journal initiated in 1995 to recognize school boards willing to take bold innovative steps to improve educational programs.
A $3,500 cash prize will be awarded to three grand prize winners, who will be formally recognized at the National School Boards Association’s annual conference. Nomination forms are available online at http://www.asbj.com/magna2/ or call 703/838-6739.

Ethics Seminar for
Public Officials May 12

In an effort to inform and educate state public officials and employees, the Ethics Commission is offering its semi-annual ethics seminar May 12 from 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. at no cost, though seating is limited. To reserve a place, call 334/242-2997. Supervisors are asked to encourage their employees to attend to ensure they understand Alabama Ethics Law. Organizers remind public officials that ignorance of the law is NOT a viable defense. The Ethics Commission's seminars also travel to local areas with at least 25 attendees.