The State Board of Education discussed findings from an operational review of the Alabama State Department of Education during its virtual work session Thursday. The review was commissioned last year by the Alabama Legislature, which provided $750,000 from the FY20 Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget to the State Examiners of Public Accounts along with a charge to launch an RFP for the work.Through the RFP process, the Public Consulting Group (PCG) was engaged to conduct the review.

PCG project leaders provided the board with an overview of the work they conducted between October 2019 and March 2020, including stakeholder interviews and document reviews. PCG's final report outlines a host of recommendations to improve ALSDE policies, functions, programs, funding and organizational structure. The work session overview focused on the five key recommendations included in PCG's executive summary:

• Take the lead: The ALSDE must take full ownership and accountability for student progress in its proper role as the state educational authority; and the ALSDE must engage in a collaborative effort to move state forward.
• Develop and implement a strategy-to-action plan: A clear plan of action is needed to move from a reactive stance with inconsistent decision-making to a comprehensive, detailed and transparent action plan.
• Focus first on the priorities: The core focus in the next year should be adoption of a reading and mathematics course of study at the local level, with a detailed plan of supports. Also key will be the rollout of the pending PowerSchool student information system.
• Hold schools and districts accountable: Revise the accountability structure to emphasize urgency at the local level and strengthen the ALSDE's ability to provide targeted, coordinated and deep technical assistance for those schools and districts in need.
• Significantly reorganize the ALSDE: Substantial structural changes are needed to align with the action plan so each program has a core function to improve student outcomes. Focus on professionalization of staff and investments in staff training. Replace outdated internal systems and procedures to streamline work and implement electronic systems to improve efficiencies.

Board members asked several questions to clarify the board's role and next steps. 

Chief Examiner Rachel Riddle said while the PCG contract has been extended, the firm's work is not an attack on the board but rather a first step for all stakeholders to share a unified focus to advance education. The next phase will be to guide the ALSDE in developing measurable change through focused planning and to include greater involvement and discussion with board members. A plan of action is expected to be completed by June 30.

Representatives from PCG emphasized that the state board remains in charge and explained that PCG will help the board implement the recommendations by providing a timeline, deliverables and check points. The board’s role to develop and adopt policies will be critical to implementing necessary changes. For example, the recommendations include instituting performance contracts with “achievable but ambitious” benchmarks as well as improved project management and processes for the department. PCG representatives said the plan will require all state leaders to work together, as one clear finding from the review is a sense of urgency. See the PCG final report.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey said the project leader for this effort will continue to be Deputy State Superintendent Andy Craig. He added that the leadership team plans to hold a two-hour meeting every Friday to facilitate the ongoing work. Board members requested a summary of the weekly meetings.

FY21 Budget

Mackey reviewed the FY21 budget which has not yet been signed by Governor Kay Ivey. Craig presented a budget spreadsheet to reflect initial ALSDE budget requests and final appropriations. He noted the initial requests were based on pre-pandemic numbers and explained that although the final appropriated amounts are not as generous, the budget is very strong. The ALSDE spreadsheet (INSERT LINK) demonstrates most line-items are level funded with the following increases for ALSDE priorities:

• Foundation Program: + $21.3 million
• At-Risk: +$50,000
• School Nurses: + $1 million
• Alabama Reading Initiative: + $8.4 million 
• Alabama Literacy Act provisions: + $18.67 million 
• Professional Development for Science of Reading: + $9.8 million (one-time funding)
• AMSTI Regional Math Coaches/Training: + $2.7 million
• English Language Learners: + $6.8 million 
• Computer Science for Alabama program: + $1 million
• Teach for America: + $75,000 
• Career Tech Initiative: + $215,000
• Gifted Students: + $75,000
• Alabama Teacher Mentor Program: + $1 million

The budget also includes the following new funding:

• Regional Safety Training Specialists: $1 million
• Mental Health Collaborative: $250,000
• Mental Health Service Coordinators Program: $4.5 million
• Marketing Campaign for Teachers: $300,000
• High Needs Special Education Grants Program: $9.8 million (replaces catastrophic SPED support)
• Coach Safely Initiative: $400,000

The governor also is expected to sign a supplemental appropriation bill to provide an estimated $14 million in increased funding for current fiscal year ALSDE programs. The following funds must be spent or encumbered by September 30 of this year:

• $9,835,735 shall be expended for expansion of the science of reading training in support of initial implementations of the Alabama Literacy Act;
• $2.7 million shall be expended for additional regional math coaches and trainers to expand early mathematics improvement efforts and AMSTI, NUMBERS, and OGAP training opportunities;
• $250,000 shall be expended to be paired with existing resources of the department to continue the provision of one school safety liaison per ALEA region to assist schools across the state;
• $1 million shall be expended for a marketing campaign for teachers; and
• $300,000 shall be expended for teacher and parent online teaching assistance grants.

COVID 19 Relief: Federal Funding

Mackey responded to questions about the federal dollars appropriated to the state as emergency responses to COVID 19. The ALSDE will release application forms for school systems to apply for the federal funding next Wednesday. Craig said once applications have been submitted and approved and federal dollars are drawn down, the turnaround to get the money to schools will be a matter of days. 

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund provides $216 million to Alabama K-12 schools. Of that, $195 million goes to directly to school systems based on the Title I formula. Congress included broad guidelines about how those funds may be spent. The remaining 10 percent may be withheld by the ALSDE, and board members asked for those plans. Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd said the plan is to focus on virtual learning platforms should a second wave of the pandemic force additional school closures in the fall. Board members stressed the urgency to prepare school nurses and medical supplies for the return to school.

Mackey also said $48.9 million is available to public education through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. That fund provides emergency block grants at the governor’s discretion to best meet needs of students and schools in K-12 and higher education. This funding is separate and apart from the $1.8 billion CARES Act funding that has been the subject of a general fund budget dispute between the legislature and governor. The CARES Act funds could possibly be used for items such as PPE supplies and other equipment for schools.

Additional Discussion

• ACT Benchmarks: Mackey updated the board about the federal high school assessment accountability peer review process. A Technical Advisory Committee recommended the new ACT benchmarks that do not require a board vote. 
• AMSTI Online Resource: Mackey presented online resources available to teachers, parents and students that are directly linked to math and science subject standards. The board applauded the high-quality and user-friendly information as a valuable resource. 
• State Board Retreat: The State Board will reschedule its retreat to August.
• Quarterly SDE Budget Reports: Board members requested the ALSDE provide a quarterly report about the department's budget and expenses moving forward. 

The next scheduled board meeting and work session will be held June 11.