For Your Information
Vol. 20, No. 16
August 5, 2008
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
83 PERCENT OF THE STATE’S SCHOOLS
MET NCLB ACCOUNTABILITY GOALS
More than 83 percent of the state’s schools made adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind, and there was an 18 percent drop in the number of Title I schools — high-poverty schools that receive federal funding — targeted for improvement.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Education recently approved a school choice waiver that applies to six schools this year. Year-one improvement schools would continue to offer student transfers to schools that made AYP, but they can now provide supplemental educational services such as tutoring a year earlier than specified under NCLB. Less than 1 percent of Alabama’s students eligible for school choice in 2006-07 actually took advantage of it.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton made these announcements during the state Board of Education’s K-12 meeting and a related media conference Monday. AYP data based on the 2007-08 academic year was released on 131 of the state’s school systems.
Alabama has 1,367 public schools, and of those, 857 are Title I schools. More than 83 percent or 1,140 schools met every one of their accountability goals — achieving the federal education law’s all-or-nothing standard. Last year 82 percent or 1,117 schools made adequate yearly progress.
Not only are “all” students evaluated, but subgroups based on race, ethnicity, disability as well as poverty and English language learner status are also evaluated.
In all, 137 schools didn’t hit their performance benchmarks and are now in “school improvement,” which compares to 153 schools last year. There are 150 schools that missed AYP by one goal. Of the schools in improvement, 73 are Title I schools.
The pace for meeting the national goal of 100 percent proficiency in reading and mathematics by 2014 is about to pick up. Alabama had been raising the bar every two years, aiming at a steadily increasing percentage of proficient students. Starting with this school year, statewide AYP goals will go up annually.
Only two school systems, Sumter and Butler County, did not hit their goals. A third system, Macon County, made AYP but must do so again next year to come out of improvement.
Accountability measures include state assessments, the rate of student participation in these assessments, attendance rates in elementary and middle schools and graduation rates for high schools.
Accountability information by system and school can be found online at www.alsde.edu. The state board meets in its monthly K-12 work session Aug. 28 in Montgomery. The next regular meeting is Sept. 11.
BELLAMY, FOSTER ELECTED TO
NSBA/SOUTHERN REGION POSTS
AASB President-elect Florence Bellamy of Phenix City was elected an alternate representing the National School Boards Association’s Southern Region on the National Nominating Committee. AASB Vice President Steve Foster of Lowndes County was selected by the region as an alternate on the National Resolutions Committee.
Bellamy is a former AASB vice president and District 4 director. She has also served as president and vice president of the Phenix City school board. She has earned the Master’s Honor Roll in AASB’s School Board Member Academy and was named an All State School Board Member in 2001.
Foster formerly served as AASB’s District 2 director and has also served as his local board’s president and vice president. He has completed all four levels of the School Board Member Academy and served on numerous AASB committees.
MEDIA HONOR ROLL DEADLINE OCT. 17
AASB is accepting nominations through Oct. 17 for its annual Education Media Honor Roll. School boards can name as many reporters, editors, editorial writers and entire news organizations as they wish to the roll. A board resolution must be passed and submitted along with the application. For details, contact Donna Norris.
REGISTER NOW FOR DISTRICT MEETINGS
AASB’s Fall 2008 District Meetings will feature a discussion on “Cyberspace in Our Schools: Student Issues in a Digital Environment.” The meetings are a valuable training and networking opportunity for members. In addition, the President’s Award will be presented to school boards that have had at least 60 percent of their members attend three or more major academy events.
Attendees will learn about Web 2.0 terms and tools; how to control social networking; questions boards should ask; and policies that address these issues. Earn one hour of School Board Member Academy credit for participating.
Mark your calendar for this valuable training and networking opportunity. The meetings will be:
▪ District 2 – Sept. 15, Ramada Inn, Selma.
▪ District 1 – Sept. 16, Creek Family Restaurant at Best Western, Atmore.
▪ District 5 – Sept. 18, location TBA.
▪ District 8 – Sept. 22, Decatur Holiday Inn, Decatur.
▪ District 9 – Sept. 23, location TBA.
▪ District 7 – Sept. 25, Sheraton Capstone, Tuscaloosa.
▪ District 3 – Sept. 29, Straughn High School, Andalusia.
▪ District 6 – Sept. 30, Classic on Noble, Anniston.
▪ District 4 – Oct. 2, Taliaferro’s Restaurant, Tuskegee.
Everyone attending the conference must register. Online pre-registration is recommended. Register online at www.alabamaschoolboards.org or by calling 334/277-9700 or 800/562-0601.
AASB DISTRICT DIRECTOR ELECTIONS
You should have received in the mail information about AASB’s procedure for district director elections. The association’s revised bylaws state any active member can self-nominate or nominate another active member for district director by writing the executive director by Sept. 1. AASB will inform the district membership of nominees.
Ballots listing the eligible nominees will be mailed by Oct. 1. Each board within a district gets one vote. The board president will certify that action was taken at a board meeting to choose a nominee, and the ballot must be returned to AASB by Oct. 31. If only one person is nominated, he or she automatically becomes district director. The district will be notified of the election results as soon as they are calculated.
This year’s elections will be in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Current district directors Patsy Black, District 1; Jeff Bailey, District 3; Susan Harris, District 7; and Laura Casey, District 9, are ineligible for reelection because they have served their two-term limit under AASB bylaws. District 5 Director Jennifer Parsons is eligible for reelection.
SUBMIT PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS FOR
DELEGATE ASSEMBLY BY AUG. 15
School board members who wish to propose a resolution for consideration by AASB’s Delegate Assembly in December should submit their proposals in writing by Friday, Aug. 15. Send submissions to AASB at 334/270-0000, fax; P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488; or e-mail Sally Howell. Resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly at AASB’s annual convention provide direction for the association’s positions on major education issues.
CONGRATS TO WINNERS OF
FREE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Congratulations to Perry County board member the Rev. Eulas Kirtdoll who won a free event registration. His name was chosen randomly from summer conference attendees who completed evaluations. He may choose between the October 2008 or March 2009 conferences.
Also winning free registration to an upcoming AASB conference are Cindy Railey of Tallapoosa, Dr. Udo F. Ufomadu of Selma and Maria Bladorn of Saraland. They were chosen among those who completed the recent AASB Membership Survey.
DID YOU KNOW?
The updated AASB School Policy Reference Guide CD mailed to superintendents earlier this summer includes a sample record retention policy that AASB members requested. Superintendents are authorized to make copies of the CDs for school board members and attorneys.
— Denise L. Berkhalter
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
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