For Your Information
Vol. 21, No. 9
May 15, 2009
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
Board Votes to Streamline Testing & Teacher Evaluations
Ever heard complaints about the amount of student testing? Get ready for change.
At Thursday's K-12 meeting, the state Board of Education unanimously approved a plan that drops a week of the two weeks of testing students face in grades 3-8.
Starting in 2009-2010, school systems will test students in reading and math using the 10th edition Stanford Achievement Test as part of the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test (ARMT).
Other subtests that had been used for state accountability purpose under the No Child Left Behind federal law - language, science, and social science - will be optional but still provided to school systems at no cost. The same goes for the OLSAT.
State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton told the board this is the first step in a long-range plan to ultimately replace a patchwork of the Alabama Reading and Math Test and the SAT-10 with the state's own criterion-referenced test. He has also said the reduction in student assessments may result in earlier availability of statewide testing results.
Adequate yearly progress results for NCLB will be presented Aug. 3 this year to the state board.
Board business continued with a unanimous vote to revamp the state's teacher evaluation system. Officials say the new version is less burdensome than the 20-year-old Alabama Professional Education Personnel Evaluation program.
State Department of Education officials have also described the new system, EDUCATEAlabama, as a user-friendly, formative evaluation system that measures teacher performance against the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards.
In other business, recommendations of the Mathematics Course of Study Committee were adopted with one change - memorizing the times tables up to 12 times 12, rather than nine times nine.
Board member Betty Peters of District II was the lone no-vote on state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton's recommendation that Alabama participate in a state-led initiative to develop common core standards for English and mathematics. Peters said there's a possibility that participation opens the door to federal encroachment.
"States would lead that effort, and it would not be led by the federal government," Morton explained. "That way, you would have a lot of input, a lot of give and take. At the end, there will probably be a document. At that point, any state would decide whether to adopt that, adopt part of that or adopt none of that."
Morton ended the meeting with comments on the education budget for the 2010 fiscal year that was signed earlier this month by the governor. He said the timing allowed local boards of education to make key personnel and other budgetary decisions. He briefly mentioned two other legislative wins: revisions to the school nurse law and a strengthened background check law that extends to student teachers.
Morton also reminded the board of the 9 percent cut to the education budget and the state Department of Education's hiring and pay raise freeze. He rehashed north Alabama schools' brush with swine flu and expressed relief that the H1N1 virus wasn't as serious as initially feared.
A work session for K-12 is set for May 28, and a regular state board meeting will be June 11. Both will be in Montgomery.
Montgomery County Boasts
2009 Alabama Teacher of the Year
The state Board of Education honored Alabama's new Teacher of the Year Yung Thi Bui-Kincer of Booker T. Washington Magnet High School, Montgomery County, at Thursday's K-12 meeting. Bui-Kincer competed with 140 other teachers for the honor.
An anatomy and environmental science teacher, Bui-Kincer took refuge in the United States during the Vietnam War era. Despite an unhappy family life, she was able to succeed because of encouraging teachers, she said.
Shannon Finley, Elementary Teacher of the Year and an alternate to the state teacher of the year award, also shared words of gratitude at the board meeting. Finley teaches at Alexandria Elementary School in Calhoun County.
The 16 district level teachers of the year - an elementary and a secondary teacher from each state board district - were also recognized by the board.
Registration Now Open for
AASB's July 26-28 Summer Conference
Register now for AASB's July 26-28 Summer Conference, "Navigating Rough Waters, Seeking Student Success." The event includes many highlights, including a bonus session on education law issues 1:30-3 p.m. July 27.
July 25-26, prior to the conference, education leaders with two years or less experience - and veterans in need of a refresher - are urged to take advantage of AASB's leadership orientation.
And, if you're an education law buff or a member of the Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys, you'll want to sign up for the July 26-27 school law conference.
All events will be at the Perdido Hotel (800/634-8001, mention AASB) in Orange Beach. Contact us at 800/562-0601 for details.
June 15 is Deadline for
AASB Officer Candidates
If you are interested in serving as AASB vice president or president-elect, complete this nomination form and notify Nominating Committee Chairman Jim Methvin in writing at 448 Crest Drive, Homewood, AL 35209 by June 15.
Please send a copy of your letter of interest to AASB Executive Director Sally Howell, J.D. (P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488). President-elect Florence Bellamy will become president at the close of AASB's convention in December, and Vice President Steve Foster has served the one term allowed under AASB bylaws in his current position.
Calling All Secretaries!
This Training is for You!
School board secretaries juggle important tasks each day, such as dealing with difficult people, taking efficient minutes and notifying the public about meetings. AASB's Secretaries Workshop will help guide you on the path to success. If you're a new secretary who wants to polish your skills or a veteran secretary interested in learning more, don't miss the Alabama Association of School Boards Secretaries Workshop Wednesday, June 17, at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham for only $90. Register now for this event. For details, call 800/562-0601.
Southern Region Conference July 8-10
The Arkansas School Boards Association is hosting the 2009 NSBA Southern Region Conference July 8-10 at the Peabody Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Ark. Visit www.arsba.org for conference registration.
Another Edition of Leg-Alert
is Coming Soon
The Alabama Legislature will end its Regular Legislative Session today, May 15. Because the session may run as late as midnight, AASB's next edition of Leg-Alert will be mailed Monday, May 18. The listing of enactments will be published in mid-June.
— Denise L. Berkhalter
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
Alabama Association of School Boards: Celebrating 60 years
of helping local education leaders improve student achievement.
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