Volume 27, Issue 4 - April 10, 2015 | Archives | AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

State board discusses role in executing charter schools law

At Thursday’s K-12 work session, the state Board of Education — strong opinions of some members notwithstanding — discussed the state board’s role in complying with the 2015 Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act. As state Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice said, Alabama is now the 43rd state to allow charter schools and the state board and state Department of Education must quickly implement the law.

    One of the state board’s duties under the law is to appoint 10 members of the yet-to-be-formed, 11-member Alabama Public Charter School Commission. The commission has to be appointed no later than June 1. Bice said the SDE has to notify those who recommend nominees quickly – in a letter expected to go out next week.

Since the act specifies how the commission nominees are to be recommended and the state board has no expressed ability in the act to reject a nominee, state board member Stephanie Bell said there is a better word for the state board’s role. “Really the word is confirm," Bell said. "We don’t really appoint.” 

    The act notes, “No commission member can be appointed unless he or she has been recommended by the governor, lieutenant governor, president pro tempore of the Senate or the speaker of the House of Representatives.” It also necessitates a list of no fewer than two nominees for each appointment be recommended to the state board. The commission hears appeals of charters denied by local boards of education. Therefore the 11th commission member will be appointed by the local school system where the charter application was denied.

    The department has hit the ground running, Bice said, because of another imminent deadline. The legislative requirement is for the SDE to develop by mid-June rules and regulations for implementing charter schools in the state, but Bice said he expects a draft to be ready by then. He said a team to provide administrative support to the charter commission is being created, estimates effective implementation of the act could take half a million dollars. He is hoping that figure is considered in legislative budget talks. (Read more about the education budget in the Advocate for Schools newsletter.)

     The state board will soon announce its intent to adopt new science standards that represent the rigor today's students need. An overview was given at the work session but the approval process will take a couple years. Bice said the standards have "an Alabama stamp" on them, but it's important to be deliberate in the process to "do this right."
    Another item of discussion at the work session was the state's Elementary Secondary Education Act update, which has been delayed a month to allow more time for public review. Also, requirements for healthier, nutritious snacks and food sold as fundraisers are under development.
    Alabama's teacher preparation institutions are gearing up for full scale launch of a performance assessment for teacher candidates on Sept. 1, 2018. The edTPA assessment requires beginning teachers to demonstrate teacher effectiveness and is being piloted until then. An official likened the Praxis II content test to the "drivers license exam" and the edTPA to the "road test." Wednesday’s K-12 meeting, as emphasized by several state board members in their comments, featured several examples of how the K-12 and postsecondary oversight of the board works well. For three years, the state has participated in the ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign to underscore the value of college and career readiness and celebrate achievement as students, schools and postsecondary institutions work toward that goal. The state board has nominated Joshua Abreo of Madison’s James Clemens High School for the national ACT College and Career Readiness student award, Huntsville’s New Century Technology High School for the school award and Calhoun Community College for the postsecondary education award. Also among the state winners is East Alabama Healthcare Authority for, among other efforts, its School at Work program that results in ACT Work Keys certificates for students who graduate from the eight-month program.
    The links between the board’s K-12 and postsecondary roles were highlighted as state lawmakers debate a bill that would strip the board of its postsecondary oversight.
The addition of 30 Alabama high schools to the SDE/A+ College Ready Program was heralded as another example of why it’s helpful to have one state board looking at the spectrum of K-12 to postsecondary issues. The 2015-2016 cohort includes 15 schools ready to forge ahead with new Advanced Placement opportunities for students and 15 other schools in the pipeline to ultimately gain full benefit of AP options. This eighth cohort means there are now 148 schools in the A+ College Ready Program. Officials say if parents had to pay for the college credit AP students have earned from the tests they have taken, the price tag would be $36 million. “That’s a 7-to-1 return on investment,” said Bice.
    The state board meeting included several resolutions, including one passed in support of expanding wireless Internet access to more Alabama schools and another setting in regulations a multi-tiered approach to assisting dyslexic students. 

     The state board’s next regular K-12 meeting is May 13 at 1 p.m., and its next work session is at 8:30 a.m. May 14 in Montgomery.

Register for Summer Conference & Orientation; hear from Apple VP

AASB is excited to announce John Couch, vice president of education for Apple, will be the opening session speaker for the 2015 AASB Summer Conference.

School board members will earn 7 training hours for the June 19-21 Conference. Featuring three days of learning and networking among education leaders from around the state. The host hotel, the Perdido, is sold out, but housing is still available at the nearby Phoenix Condominiums (800/221-0258, group code: 718068), Island House Hotel (800/264-2642, group code: 2369537), Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach (800/445-8667, group code: ASB) and Fairfield Inn & Suites (800/228-2800, group code: ASBR).

The AASB School Board Member Academy will also present its Roles & Responsibilities and Effective Boards and Relationships orientation courses for new school board members (refresher for veteran members) on June 18 and 19. Attend the orientations and earn 14 training hours that meet state training requirements and count toward advancement in the AASB School Board Member Academy.

Board attorneys to meet for summer seminar June 20 & 21

Does your board attorney know about the 2015 summer seminar? Members of the Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys will have their annual summer seminar June 20 and 21 at The Perdido in Orange Beach. ACSBA provides members with the specialized information they need to keep pace with developments in education law and to protect and defend school boards. Attendees may earn CLE credits. For details, contact acsba@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

Administrative assistants conference planned for June 22-24

Members of the Alabama Association of Administrative Assistants will have their annual conference June 22-24 at The Perdido in Orange Beach. Enjoy the opportunity to learn about agendas, meetings and other topics designed to enhance the work of administrative assistants, secretaries and other office professionals whose contributions help make it possible for school boards to successfully carry out their duties. Registration is now open. For more details, contact AAAA@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

Join us for AASB Advocacy Days

Advocacy is an important aspect of school board service. Communities chose you to be their voice. Add your voice to those across the state who advocate on behalf of public education students. The AASB Advocacy Program enables board members to experience the Alabama legislative process and explore advocacy strategies for impacting public policy.

School board members can receive up to 2 training hours for participating in the AASB Advocacy Day program April 29, May 19 or 20. There is no cost to participate and lunch is provided.

Education advocates are also reminded of AASB’s two key sources of advocacy and legislative information: the Advocate for Schools newsletter and our Legislative Insider e-blast. Both are distributed by email, so please make sure we have your current email address. You can also track bills during the 2015 Regular Legislative Session online. Don’t forget to visit AASB’s advocacy webpage. To learn more, contact Advocacy@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

Register for free April 14 webinar

Join us for the Religion in Alabama's Schools webinar to learn how to protect the religious freedom of students while maintaining appropriate school discipline and avoiding costly litigation. Co-sponsored by AASB and the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, boards of education are also encouraged to invite their staff to participate in this webinar to gain a sense of comfort when confronted with this issue.

The April 14 teleconference/webinar begins at 11:30 a.m. central time and ends at 1 p.m. School board members will earn 1.5 hours in the AASB School Board Member Academy.

Congrats to free registration winner

Congratulations to Troy Board of Education member Jason Thomas. His name was chosen randomly from those who completed AASB’s evaluation of the March 6 and 7 Leadership for Academic Achievement Conference in Montgomery. Thomas wins free registration for either the October 2015 or March 2016 AASB School Board Member Academy conferences. 

Showcase student talent at AASB’s Annual Convention in December

Do you have the best student color guard, thespians, musicians, singers, dancers and the like? Are your students' talents unique and mesmerizing? Showcase student talent and your board's dedication to the arts. AASB is seeking talented student performers and an exceptional ROTC color guard for the 2015 Alabama Association of School Boards Convention in Birmingham. Performances will be Dec. 4 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel. All applications are due into the AASB office by Aug. 28. Apply today.

AASB convention clinic proposals due May 29

Have a governance best practice or innovative program you'd like to share with school board peers? Present a clinic session during the Dec. 3-5 AASB Convention at Hyatt Regency Birmingham -The Wynfrey Hotel. Topics may include effective board leadership and governance practices, navigating legal issues, technology that engages students, programs proven to improve student achievement and more! Submit a clinic proposal by May 29.

National Teacher Appreciation Week

The National Parent Teacher Association encourages your participation in the 2015 Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8. Plan to host a teacher appreciation event in your school or community. National Teacher Day is May 5. Download activity ideas, posters, timelines and other resources at PTA.org.

Innovation Zone applications

It’s a date!

April 16 (1.5 hours)

Religion in Schools, Webinar

May 7 (1.5 hours)

Legal Hot Topics, Webinar

June 18-21

AASB Orientation & Summer Conference,

Orange Beach

—info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

Denise Berkhalter and Emily Maxwell

contributed to this report.)

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