Alabama and many other states have implemented a cell phone ban in public schools, and some people are not happy.
This is being done in order to get discipline under control and bring the focus back to schoolwork; it seems to be working.
Students and some parents are not happy, but teachers are seeing the benefits of the cell phone ban early in the school year.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.
Many of the roles education employees perform each day go far beyond teaching math, science, or social studies in the classroom. In fact, most days teachers are juggling a dozen other duties – like managing carpool lines, bus duty, field trips, sporting-related events on school property, and calming student disagreements – that can put us in physical danger. These may seem like routine responsibilities, but education employees will volunteer for them because of our dedication to the students we see every day.
Last year, on a day like any other, I was on car rider duty. There was a split second between assisting students to their cars and lying on the ground, injured and in agonizing pain. The accident was crippling, and I am still dealing with the injury. But what shocked me most was discovering that as an Alabama public school employee, I have no protections and support from the state to help me recover from this accident. In addition, Alabama is the only public school system in the United States that has denied our public school employees workers comp. This includes: teachers, administrators, maintenance, custodial staff, and cafeteria workers.
The physical and financial toll was immediate and debilitating. I suffered five fractures in my foot, ruptured and retracted tendons, and was left with a host of permanent, untreatable injuries. With no workers’ compensation in place for education employees, I was left scrambling to cover medical expenses of copays, deductibles, and medical equipment needed in order to care for myself. A burden I still deal with to this day. I dipped into personal savings to frontload all my medical-related expenses and relied on friends to help me navigate this process. The stress of medical bills compounded my physical pain, and I was left wondering: How could a system that depends on educators’ dedication fail to protect us when we’re hurt on the job? There are many stories like mine that have suffered on-the-job injuries that shattered their wellness and left them with a permanent disability, financial loss, and job loss.
Fortunately, there is a solution: one that legislators from both sides of the aisle are taking seriously. Senator Sam Givhan has introduced SB1, a bill that would provide workers’ compensation coverage for full-time public school employees. SB1 would finally give educators and educational staff the same protections as other public employees, ensuring that when we are hurt supporting and educating our students, choosing between our health and financial stability is no longer a requirement. Teachers take care of Alabama’s future, our students, and now is the time for Alabama to take care of its teachers.
Unlike other state public employees, full-time public school educators in Alabama are not covered by workers’ compensation. If a firefighter is injured in the line of duty, their medical bills and lost wages are covered. If a police officer is hurt while protecting the community, they receive the support they need to recover. But when a teacher is injured performing school duties and supporting the children of Alabama, we are forced to shoulder the burden alone. This is not just unfair—it’s a cruel failure of the system to recognize and protect the very people who dedicate their lives to educating our children.
Support for SB1 has been widespread and bipartisan, with the Alabama Education Association advocating for workers compensation for years, but there is still work to be done. To parents, students, and community members: your voices matter. Contact your representatives and let them know that education employees deserve the same protections as other public and private sector employees. If we expect them to continue going above and beyond for our students, we must ensure that they are protected when they do.
Working in education is more than a job, it’s a calling. But that calling should not come with the risk of financial ruin from a workplace injury. Alabama’s education professionals deserve better. It’s time to pass SB1.
On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed bills of the education budget package combined, which allocated over $11 billion to k-12 schools, the two-year college system, specialty schools, state four-year colleges and universities, and other state agencies.
Most of the bills of the education budget package were carried by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) who chairs the House Ways and Means Education Committee. Garrett’s committee is tasked with preparing the House version of the budget.
“I’m proud that the House has advanced a record-breaking Education Trust Fund Budget for the sixth straight year,” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said following passage.
“At over $9.3 billion, this historic appropriation meets critical needs in our K-12 system, fully funds the Literacy and Numeracy Acts and provides a well-deserved pay increase for teachers. Additionally, we are funding reading coaches, career coaches and mental health coordinators in every school system. By investing in our students’ education today, we are ensuring a brighter Alabama of tomorrow,” Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said.
The first bill in the package was House Bill 147. This is a supplemental appropriation from Advancement in Technology Fund – the education budget’s rolling reserve fund. Since there was no proration in the 2024 budget there are excess funds in the reserve.
“The governor has offered a budget of $700 million,” for this supplemental appropriation explained Garrett. “I will offer a sub that will take that up to one billion dollars.”
Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) told Garrett, “You have done an excellent job. The Speaker made an excellent decision when he appointed you as budget chair.”
“I am a proud graduate of Tuskegee Institute. How do we increase our appropriation,” asked Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham).
“We need to talk about that,” answered Garrett. “We do increase Tuskegee $5 million in the supplemental.”
Garrett explained that the state has $1.75 billion in the reserve and he proposes spending $1 billion of that this year.
“We did not release any of that Advancement in Technology Fund last year,” Garrett continued. “The governor asked for $700 million, We are increasing that by $300 million to $1 billion.”
“Tomorrow I am bringing a bill to end the Distressed (Institutions of Hight Education) Loan Program. Are you addressing that money in this budget?” asked Givan.
“We are addressing it in an amendment,” Garrett explained.
The Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Loan Program was intended to save failing private Birmingham Southern College (BSC). State Treasurer Young Boozer determined that the loan would be a financial risk for the state so the college announced that it will close on May 31.
RELATED: Record education budget advances Alabama House committee
“Every year we are doing more to help our children stay competitive in the state of Alabama,” said Rep. Mary Moore.
HB147 passed 102 to 0 as amended.
HB144 is the supplemental appropriation from budget surplus funds held over from 2023 due to revenues being in excess of what the Legislature had estimated. The state has carried over budget surpluses every year for the last five years.
Garrett explained that the committee accepted the governor’s request for $651 million — but that the Committee has reallocated some money from the governor’s request and added some projects.
Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) brought an amendment to fund a summer feeding program for students for $30 million. Garrett explained that this was originally a federal program during the COVID-era that Alabama did did not opt-into last year.
“I would ask that you table this motion,” Garrett said. “I have a hard time recommending something that I do not understand.”
The motion to table the Hall amendment passed largely along party lines.
House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) brought a floor amendment to mov e$15 million from the Lieutenant Governor’s grant program to the Community Service Grants that members award to projects in their district. That amendment was adopted unanimously.
Bracy offered his amendment moving $1 million from the HBCU deferred maintenance program to Alabama State University, That amendment also passed. HB144 passed as amended 103 to 0.
Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa) sponsored a bill creating a residential high school in Demopolis for students who want to be healthcare workers.
“This is my honor and privilege to carry the Alabama Healthcare Sciences Act,” said Almond. “For the past two years Gov. Ivey has made this a priority.”
The high school in Demopolis for the healthcare field, will be similar to the Alabama School of Fine Arts, the Alabama School of Math and Sciences, and the Alabama School of Cybertechnology. That bill also passed.
HB145 is the actual ETF budget for 2025. Garrett said the budget is increasing 6.5% which is the maximum amount that the Legislature can increase the ETF under the Rolling Reserve Act.
He explained this includes $200 million for Pre-K, funds reading coaches in every school, assistant principals in every school with more than 300 students, it fully funds the literacy act, fully funds the Numeracy Act, provides a 2% pay increase for education employees, makes starting teacher salaries in Alabama the highest in the southeast, and provides $2.4 billion for Higher Education.
HB145 passed 102 to 1. HB146 is the pay increase of 2% for the education employees. It passed unanimously.
“This is a two percent increase for education employees,” said Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) “The cost of this increase is $104.5 million.”
HB148 is the appropriation for Tuskegee University. HB149 is the appropriation for Talladega College. HB150 is the appropriation for the Southern Preparatory Academy. All passed unanimously.
“As ETF Chairman, my top priority is providing Alabama’s K-12 system with the necessary tools to succeed while also remaining conscious of the state’s future needs,” said Chairman Garrett.
“I’m proud that our conservative approach has paved the way for another historic investment into public education while also preparing for the difficult economic times ahead.”
Alabama uses an arcane budgeting system with two budgets: the ETF and the state general fund (SGF) budget that funds non-education state agencies. The Senate passed the SGF package on Thursday. The SGF is sponsored by State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), who chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.
The bills in the education budget package now go to the Senate where they will be assigned to the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee chaired by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur).
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation with bipartisan support that will require teachers to post the curriculum of their classes online so that parents can be aware of what their child is learning and being presented.
The “Parents’ Right to Know” bill is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed (R-Jasper). It was carried in the House of Representatives by Rep. Matt Woods (R-Jasper).
The bill would also require each teacher, upon request, to allow the parent of a child enrolled in the class to examine all instructional and supplemental materials and books available to students in the classroom.
“This bill requires that the curricula that will be used in each classroom of public K-12 schools be posted on the school website at the beginning of each calendar year, or within thirty days after a new or revised curriculum is adopted,” said Rep. Woods.
“The posting will be verified by the local superintendent of education and the local board of education. The goal for this bill is to provide parents and guardians with an easily accessible way to see their child’s curricula in hopes to have better engagement with their child’s education. This bill provides transparency and communication, which are both beneficial component for student success.”
There is a complaint process in the bill for a parent that has a concern about something that is in the curriculum.
“I have got two young daughters, so we are thinking about education. We are taking a hard look at it,” said Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville).
“I think this is a no-nonsense, commonsense bill. If you look at it, parents should know the curriculum that their kids are learning. They get progress report cards so they know how they are progressing — so, it would be nice to know what they are learning — what they are progressing on. This is good for the parents. It is also good for the teachers. You are working on a common trend so both parties know what is out there and the material that they are learning, so I want to thank you for bringing it. I am proud to vote for it,” Rep. Lomax said.
“I have shared with you how important educational transparency is I believe, and this bill does provide a step a movement toward the process of parents being able to guide the education of their children,” said Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs).
“Particularly in our public schools it provides them an opportunity for transparency they have not had before so the ability to parents to do this and ask questions about what is being taught to our children is vital in the process I believe that provides us young leaders versus people who are apathetic and looking at the voter turnout of the election we just had, it is amazing how low that turnout is among young people up to age 35 or so.”
“I don’t see a necessity for it if you don’t like how little Mary or how little Jimmy or little Alley are being educated – teach them at home,” said Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham). “Most parents are not educators.”
State Rep. Kenneth Paschal (R-Pelham) brought an amendment to the bill that protected the privacy of a parent or guardian making a complaint on the behalf of a child.
SB48 passed the House 99 to 3 with only Democratic Reps. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham), John Rogers, and Thomas Jackson (D-Thomasville) voting against.
The Alabama Republican Party released a statement praising this legislation.
“SB48 champions parental rights through greater transparency in school curricula. This legislation ensures that parents have unrestricted access to their children’s course of study and related materials, allowing them to be in the driver’s seat of their child’s education.”
Because the bill was altered by the House, it goes back to the Senate for their review of the House’s changes. The bill’s author, State Sen. Greg Reed, says Alabama schools do an “incredible job pouring into our young students.”
“This bill provides an opportunity for educators and parents to come together and be in lockstep about what is going on in our classrooms. We want educators to continue being able to do their jobs well, and we want parents to be as invested in their children’s educations as possible,” Reed said upon the bill’s Senate passage.
“A large portion of schools across Alabama already practice this policy, and implementing similar measures uniformly statewide will help build collaboration between schools and families across our state.”
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth has launched the application process for a $179 million grant initiative targeting public schools across Alabama.
The Alabama K-12 Capital Grant Program, authorized by the Alabama Legislature this year, will offer funding across various projects from tech upgrades to security enhancements.
“This grant program offers a unique and historic opportunity to address longstanding needs within our local schools across the state,” Ainsworth said. “Our goal is to ensure that the funding is used to improve the educational experience for students, teachers, and parents alike.”
Applications for funding must be submitted by the superintendents of requesting systems. Supporting documents, such as budgets, plans of action, photos, contracts, financial records, and others, will be required.
RELATED: Alabama STEM Ecosystem to help create opportunities for all
According to Ainsworth’s office, in most cases, systems will be required to provide matching funds, the amount of which is calculated based on a sliding scale formula specific to the school potentially receiving a grant.
That formula considers variables that include the population of the school, the local funds available, and the number of students receiving free or reduced lunches.
All applications will be submitted through an online portal, the web address of which was provided to superintendents via email.
Grant requests may be submitted at any point during the next 45 days; the deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Oct. 20.
Approved projects will be announced by the end of the calendar year.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
Addressing the critical teacher shortage in Alabama took a step forward Monday with a new legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey.
It will allow those with college degrees in fields other than education to repurpose their education toward obtaining teacher certification. It also reduces the State Board of Education’s requirements for aspiring educators while keeping standards high.
“As Alabama continues to face teacher shortages, particularly in math and science, efforts are being undertaken to fill vacancies in those positions with qualified persons with academic experience outside the teaching profession,” Ivey said.
The legislation came in response to the declining number of teachers produced by colleges in Alabama. According to a 2019 report, 30% of all classrooms are being taught by instructors teaching out of field, having neither a major nor a minor in their subject.
Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), the bill’s sponsor, highlighted the opportunity as the idea moved through the Legislature.
“Our colleges are producing 20% fewer teachers in the last five years,” she said. “Because we are trying to increase our standards in the state of Alabama, for example, we need 700 experienced math teachers.”
RELATED: House passes new pathways to becoming a teacher
Ivey agreed, saying the action “expands access to high-quality alternative certification pathways for new teachers that comply with rigorous standards, while also maintaining the professionalism and quality of the teaching profession.”
State Superintendent Eric Mackey has said the state has faced teacher shortages for a more extended period than the pandemic. However, thanks to measures such as extending emergency certification and incentive enhancements to the teacher salary matrix, Mackey has indicated a positive trend in most areas of the state.
It also helps that Ivey has delivered a 15% increase in pay to teachers during her tenure as governor.
The Education Department will maintain a database of alternative teacher education preparation organizations. These organizations will be responsible for screening, recruiting, and recommending qualified individuals for certification to teach in public K-12 schools.
To qualify for these alternative programs, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, pass a criminal background check, and complete an alternative teacher preparation program. These programs, available online and in-person, will be rapidly expanded under this law.
RELATED: Auburn committed to reversing STEM teacher shortage in Alabama
For organizations to be recognized by the State Board of Education, they must operate in at least five states without probation, have certified at least 10,000 teachers, and have 10 years of operation. Additionally, candidates must pass an exam aligned with Alabama standards of pedagogy and/or subject area.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
In a move to tackle Alabama’s pressing teacher shortage, Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) walked fellow lawmakers through a bill that promises to revolutionize the state’s alternative teacher certification programs.
The legislation, which passed the House 83-20, would create a pathway for college degree holders to repurpose their education toward certification. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Currently, the traditional teacher certification route involves several steps, such as earning a degree from a state-approved teacher preparation program and passing relevant exams. The Alabama State Department of Education advises aspiring educators to begin their journey at a college or university.
“Our colleges are producing 20% fewer teachers in the last five years”,” DuBose said. “Because we are trying to increase our standards in the state of Alabama, for example, we need 700 experienced math teachers.”
Under the bill, the Education Department would maintain a database of alternative teacher education preparation organizations. They would be responsible for screening, recruiting, and recommending qualified individuals for certification to teach in public K-12 schools.
Democrats in the House resisted the idea, saying the state needs to invest in existing options, such as colleges of education, and the bill might lower standards.
“How are we going to determine if they’ve fulfilled the quality that we’re looking for in education once they’ve gone through these years?” Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) said. “When you look at our higher education, accreditation is the level to me that would be the top level of making sure our teachers are prepared.”
DuBose said the bill will alleviate those concerns and pave the way for more alternative teacher certification programs to qualify, combating the current scarcity.
To be recommended for initial licensing, applicants would need to meet certain criteria, including a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, passing a criminal background check, and completing an alternative teacher preparation program. Those courses, online and in-person, would be rapidly expanded under this legislation.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 for coverage of the 2023 legislative session.
Multiple school choice proposals made their debut in committee meetings across both chambers at the state house on Wednesday.
Three committees that took up the bills also served as public hearings, meaning no votes were taken. The hearings drew turnout from educators, advocates and insiders — who are all gauging the tone of the Legislature’s definition of school choice.
One of the bills would reupholster the existing framework of school choice afforded by the Alabama Accountability Act and charter school options. The other two bills deal with an education savings accounts — a kind of program not currently in the state’s school choice arsenal.
Parental Rights in Children’s Education (PRICE) Act
In the Senate Education Policy Committee, Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) carried a bill that would give parents up to $6,900 per child through education savings accounts (ESA) to pay for educational-related expenses like tuition, textbooks and tutoring.
“I think this bill has the potential to make changes faster than the Alabama Accountability Act and those other things that we’ve done,” Stutts said. “This has an opportunity to change the direction of education in the state.”
Parents could use the ESA money to put their children in a private school or to put toward homeschooling. The proposed legislation is recognized as a ‘comprehensive” or “universal” school choice option. ESA programs are in 11 states, with several of them limited to certain categories of students such as those with disabilities.
Groups speaking in favor of the bill had a large showing.
“We trust that parents know the needs of their children better than any government,” former ALGOP Chair and teacher Terry Lathan said, also speaking on behalf of Chairman John Wahl. “And we support returning control of Alabama’s educational system back to the mothers and fathers of our state.”
Jonathan Butcher, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, shared a story about a child from North Carolina with a rare degenerative disorder whose quality of life was improved dramatically when she became the beneficiary of an ESA.
“Libby could use an education savings account where her mom could pick a private school that could meet her needs along with educational therapies that were specifically suited to her unique condition,” Butcher said. “With an account, parents removed their children from an assigned school and the state deposits a portion of a child’s funds in a private account that parents use to buy into education products and services for a child.”
Opposing groups expressed themselves as well.
“The Educational Trust Fund is a necessary lifeline for public schools in Alabama,” Albertville Schools Superintendent Dr. Boyd English said. “In fact, we need more funding, not legislation that would take funding away from public schools in Alabama.”
The bill now goes to the Senate education budget committee.
Students with Unique Needs (SUN) Education Scholarship Account Act
On the House side, another ESA proposal was rolled out in the Ways & Means Education Committee. Chairman Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) presented a bill that he says more case studies exist for.
“This is actually doing what states surrounding us have done, what Mississippi, Florida and Tennessee have done,” Garrett said.
The bill would create a $6,900 ESA for parents of children enrolled in public school who meet a particular criteria, such as those who have an individual education plan (IEP) or recognized disability. Other criteria include children of active, former or fallen armed service members — as well as children who have been fostered or adopted.
“Parents would be able to create an educational savings account where the state money, the $6,900 of state funding, would go to that account that they could use for an alternative choice of education for their child,” Garrett said.
“In Mississippi, there are about 300 children that take advantage of this. In Tennessee, there’s less than 500. In Florida there’s 18,000 — a lot more population down there, but percentage wise, it’s not a huge population — but it’s definitely a group that is in need of some alternative education.”
The proposal would come with a cost of $3 million in the first year.
Like the public hearing upstairs, Garrett’s idea of advancing school choice in Alabama was both praised and criticized by advocates.
“When you look at our total enrollment for the state of Alabama, approximately 12% receive special education services,” said Bart Reeves, assistant e. “Of that 12%, when you’re looking at their disabilities, 39% are specific learning disability — which is 6% higher than the national average.
“So I would ask you, why would we pull money from public education and not put it toward at-risk and special ed when we already know it’s underfunded?”
Members of the committee also sounded off on the legislation, ranging from curiosity to appreciation.
“There are kids who are not getting what they need,” Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) said. “This is not against public schools. This is kids that have tried and are unable to get the help they needed and are asking for help.”
What’s Next
Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) also presented a bill to the House Education Policy Committee, which she chairs. The proposal would provide start-up funds to public charter schools and reforms the Charter School Commission. Charter schools are in the inventory of ‘school choice’ for Alabama.
“The charter school legislation we passed in 2015 was recognized as some of the strongest, most transparent and most accountable in the country. We’ve had a lot of success with the charters we have right now,” Collins said. “But we learned lessons after 2015, trying to fix some of the governance issues has been a priority.”
Gov. Kay Ivey said in her State of the State Address that she wants to increase charter school funding and expand the range of options available to parents.
“It’s important we continue to have meaningful discussions on school choice,” Ivey said last month. “That must begin with improving the school choice we already have: Our charter school options and the Alabama Accountability Act.”
Thursday was the 15th day of the 2023 legislative session.
“The school choice topic is something that we’re going to continue be dealing with and wrestling with,” Garrett said.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 for coverage of the 2023 legislative session.
A bill has been introduced that would give local school boards more flexibility over required instructional days throughout the year.
If passed, districts would have the option to include an additional 30 days of instruction on top of the existing 180 days per year.
That would open the door to a year-round school calendar. But the bill’s author, Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) wants to make it clear it’s ultimately up to the districts.
She said the idea comes from local school boards, principals and teachers.
“Chairman (Danny) Garrett and I were going to conferences last summer, and I actually met with a year-round school that we have in Mobile,” she told Yellowhammer News. “Their teacher retention had an improved student achievement and improved. You didn’t have that learning loss in the summer.
“So it has a lot of potential, but not telling schools how to do it, which is why it’s just a modified calendar.”
A nontraditional school calendar in which the length of summer break is shortened, there are breaks dispersed throughout the academic school year. Required instructional days are evenly distributed across the calendar year.
The Alabama Modified School Calendar Grant Program would also be administered to offset initial costs incurred by local boards which implement a modified school calendar.
While the idea of summer break might feel a lot different for some, Collins said a year-round format also has its advantages.
“At the school that I mentioned in Mobile, they actually get off about one week every month,” she said. “Then in the summer, they still get like six weeks off.
“So you’ve got some different time to balance things out and they love it and it’s really made a difference. So this is not telling school systems how to do it, just to open it up so that they have a little bit more flexibility.”
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 for coverage of the 2023 legislative session.
The University of South Alabama will be awarded up to $2 million from the Alabama STEM Council to make it easier for students pursuing STEM majors – those in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – to earn teacher certifications and begin careers in education.
The UTeach South program will target a shortage in mathematics and science teachers with special scholarships, training and internships.
“It removes all kinds of barriers for these STEM students,” said Dr. Christopher Parrish, associate professor of mathematics education and co-director of UTeach South. “The name of the game is removing as many barriers as possible to certification.”
The UTeach Institute was founded at the University of Texas in 1997 and has expanded to more than 50 institutions in more than 20 states. The University of South Alabama is one of six state universities to be awarded funding. South Alabama has received the first installment of the grant, which is for up to $2 million over five years.
“Preparing our students for careers in a high-tech economy is vital – and all students across our state need access to STEM-based courses,” said Dr. Eric G. Mackey, state superintendent of education. “Expanding Alabama’s UTeach program will help put more STEM teachers in our classrooms and will be a game changer for schools that have had difficulty recruiting and retaining science and math teachers.”
Dr. Kelly Major, co-director of UTeach South and a professor of biology at the university, thinks the flexibility of the program will appeal to STEM undergraduates.
In the last five years, South Alabama has won more than $4 million in National Science Foundation grants to fund programs that allow graduates in science, technology, engineering and math to earn alternative master’s degrees that lead to teacher certification. UTeach South will allow undergraduates to do the same thing during a traditional four-year program.
“It doesn’t make our students choose between their STEM disciplines and secondary education,” Major said. “I think it’s really going to help a lot of our students. When they came to me with this idea, I was super-excited, because I once was one of these students.”
Hallmarks of the UTeach South program include collaboration among the College of Education and Professional Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences; compact programs that will allow students to earn a STEM degree and teaching certification in four years; and an array of student benefits, such as paid internships, that will offer opportunities for community outreach in education.
Elements of success, outlined in UTeach guidelines, include a distinct program identity, rigorous research-based instruction and early and intensive field experience, in addition to community support and collaboration with local school districts.
South Alabama will begin recruiting students during freshman orientation for the fall semester of 2023. By 2028, if the program meets its goals, the university could quadruple its number of STEM education graduates.
Scotty Keenan, secondary curriculum supervisor for Baldwin County Public Schools, welcomes the UTeach program at South Alabama. He said he’s hoping for a dramatic increase in young teachers trained to lead classes in mathematics.
“We’re very excited about this,” said Keenan. “Great math teachers are hard to come by. We want to allow more people to enter math education. UTeach will allow us to partner with South Alabama to recruit these students.”
Math and science teachers are critically needed in many Alabama school districts. The state has a Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science program that offers a salary supplement of up to $20,000 a year for teachers. This means STEM teachers have some of the best-paying jobs in public education.
UTeach graduates aren’t required to work in education, but many do decide to become educators. Across the nation, 88 percent of UTeach graduates start work as STEM teachers.
UTeach South has its own directors, advisors and master teachers. A UTeach South student organization will encourage camaraderie, establish a presence on campus, and promote recruiting.
Parrish said he was wary, initially, about giving up local autonomy to participate in a national program. That changed after a UTeach conference he attended in Austin.
“Seeing the quality curriculum and coursework that is part of UTeach, I was sold pretty quickly,” he said. “This curriculum has kind of been crowd-sourced across the 50 universities that have implemented it, and improvements are made between semesters.
“It’s an excellent, cohesive and quality curriculum that we will be able to implement into these courses.”
Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced she has signed into law legislation that will raise pay 2% across the board for public education and all state employees.
SB 188, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), makes the pay raises official for teachers and other educators. HB 320 does the same for state employee pay increases. Both bills were given final passage by the Alabama Legislature last week.
This comes after Ivey in her 2021 State of the State Address proposed the pay increases, citing that Alabama’s teachers rose to the challenges of this past year and state employees maintained functions of government amidst the pandemic. (more…)
Earlier this month, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day – a day dedicated to showing gratitude to all of our wonderful educators. As students have learned to adapt to new methods of schooling as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, teachers have worked overtime to ensure their students continue to receive a proper and meaningful education. Our educators play a significant role in the lives of our children, expanding their knowledge and abilities and preparing them for the future.
A solid education has the power to change a life. Educators show up to their classrooms each morning motivated to impact their students. Teachers are some of the best role models for our children giving them purpose, setting them up for success, and inspiring them to do well. (more…)
7. Municipal run-off election leads to close races and a fired poll worker
- The mayor of Decatur was reelected, a city councilman was obliterated in Huntsville, another city councilman lost in Madison, the mayor of Florence appears to have lost by 11 votes and two separate city councilman kept the seats in Russellville in elections that were decided by two votes as some voters in Alabama returned to the polls to decide who would lead their cities.
- But all did not go smoothly. In Prichard, a poll worker was fired after a citizen reported that the employee was tampering with their ballot. The mayor of Prichard released the following statement: “The poll workers are hired by the Secretary of State and trained accordingly. The incident that occurred this morning was summarily handled and the poll worker was removed per Alabama’s Poll Worker Guidelines. I applaud the entire team from poll workers to poll watchers to law enforcement that efficiently and professionally helped to address the situation.”
6. Ivey asked to pick a different location for prison site (more…)
Jack’s Family Restaurants is celebrating teachers as they kick off the 2020 school year by offering free coffee at all of its locations from August 17–21.
According to a release, all teachers can receive their free coffee from Jack’s, in the drive-thru or in the restaurant, Monday through Friday until 9:00 a.m. with a valid school ID.
No purchase is necessary to redeem the offer, and teachers can choose between a hot or iced regular-sized coffee, limit one per guest.
“Being a good neighbor and supporting the communities we serve is part of the Jack’s DNA,” stated Jack’s CEO Todd Bartmess. (more…)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — As the state faces a teacher shortage, the Alabama House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that proposes changes to retirement benefits to try to lure people to stay in the classroom.
Representatives voted unanimously for the bill called the Education Workforce Investment Act, which would alter the retirement structure for public education employees hired after 2013. The changes include allowing employees to retire with benefits after 30 years even if they haven’t reached age 62.
The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate.
“We have a shortage among educators, particularly we recognize the teachers in the classroom but it goes beyond that,” Republican Rep. Alan Baker of Brewton said. Baker said there are also shortages of bus drivers and other school employees.
The bill would reverse some of the changes lawmakers implemented in 2013 when they changed retirement structure for new hires because of concerns about the long-term cost of pension benefits. “It’s been deemed that might have been a slight over-correction,” Baker said. (more…)
In Houston County, a group of teachers is in hot water for a text message thread that mocked students, talked about their sex life and used at least one racial slur.
The Ashford High School teachers had their text message group that was self-titled “Bad Ass Bitches” group exposed when a teacher allowed a student to use her phone during school hours. The student found the group, screen recorded the messages and posted their messages to social media.
The teachers allegedly discussed if one student was pregnant, called a number of students dumb and one message used the “n-word” to describe an alum of the school. (more…)
The law firm of Alexander Shunnarah Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. on Wednesday announced the “Alexander Shunnarah Teacher of the Month” initiative to spotlight outstanding K-12 teachers in the Birmingham-metro area.
The program kicks off this month and ends in May.
A press release from the law firm emphasized that the idea is to show the firm’s deep appreciation for the service teachers provide to the young minds of the community. The new program is an example of the firm’s gratitude and recognizes those leaders in the educational community that dedicate themselves to impacting the next generation for the better.
In a statement, firm president and CEO Alexander Shunnarah said, “Teachers go above and beyond daily to provide phenomenal learning areas and environments for our children.” (more…)
Teachers in the Huntsville City School District will start seeing more money starting next year thanks to a vote by the board of education.
Thursday’s move will dedicate over $10 million in increases over the next three years for teachers, which is on top of the 2.5 percent state mandated pay increase. District officials say the first two years are almost paid for because of decreases in spending elsewhere in the budget.
(more…)
What should be done about school shootings?
After the horrible shooting in Parkland, Florida, President Trump suggested that some teachers carry guns. “We need to let people know, you come in to our schools — you’re gonna be dead.”
Anti-gun activists were horrified.
But they probably didn’t know that many teachers have brought guns to work with them for years.
Some teachers at the Keene Independent School District in Texas carry concealed weapons at school.
(more…)
Alabama lawmakers have approved a 2.5 percent pay raise for teachers and school employees that will cost more than $100 million.
The Alabama Senate voted 29-0 Thursday for the pay raise in the education budget for the next fiscal year.
(more…)
Tuscaloosa City School teachers can expect a pay raise soon. According to WBRC, the Tuscaloosa City School Board approved a one percent pay increase that will take effect by the end of October.
Deron Cameron, executive director of human resources, acknowledged that Shelby and Jefferson counties pay their teachers more. Cameron wants to make higher pay a priority of Tuscaloosa City Schools.
“It’s part of our mission with our strategic plan we want to recruit, reward, and retain our teachers. While we realize we hope we could’ve done more with the one percent our goal in the next 5 years to increase it to seven percent.”
However, some argue that the meager one percent increase is not enough, and forcing teachers to wait five years for any significant increase is too long. Newly elected school board member Erica Grant voted against the one percent pay raise because she believes it’s not enough, urging the board to do more to reward Tuscaloosa teachers. “When you do get a raise, you know you want to be more than one percent. One percent you really can’t see,” said Grant. Grant represents District Five on the school board and has wasted no time acclimating to her new position. “I don’t think we are in any financial bind with 233.8 million- dollar budget that we couldn’t give the teachers at least a 3 percent raise.”
Grant hopes to continue conversations with the superintendent and chief financial officer about future pay raises for Tuscaloosa teachers. For now, teachers can still expect that one percent pay increase by the end of October.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In a rare 100 to zero vote, the Alabama House of Representatives approved the Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget Wednesday night with a few minor changes to the Senate version. The budget authorizes $6.4 billion in education spending for the next fiscal year, which will pay for the hiring of approximately 150 new fourth through sixth grade teachers across the state.
In order to be signed into law, the Senate must now re-approve the budget with the changes or reconcile them with House members in a conference committee. It would become the state’s largest education budget since the $6.7 billion appropriation in 2008. It also represents a $90 million increase from the fiscal year 2017 ETF budget.
The proposed House version increases Pre-K funding by $13.5 million, keeps funding for the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Program (PEEHIP) flat, increases retirement funding by $7.4 million, but does not fund a teacher’s pay raise. The Senate bill budgets $15 million for Pre-K and increases the funding for PEEHIP by $9 per employee.
According to Education Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Poole (R- Tuscaloosa), the unanimous vote shows that the legislature is doing right by children, teachers, and taxpayers. “I think it validates that we hit the right priorities and right needs at every level, whether it’s rural or urban, west or north, all of the members voted for what I thought was a very positive education budget,” Poole told The Montgomery Advertiser.
Alabama’s four-year colleges would not receive funding boosts under either version. However, the state will increase the program for veterans scholarships by $35 million due to increasing popularity.
If the Alabama teachers in your life appear to be more in the holiday spirit, it could be because the state has now eased up on a law that capped gifts to educators at $25.
The restriction was due a 2010 ethics law that roped school employees into a provision that required only small gifts to be given to state workers. However, what was meant to be a deterrent to corruption and bribery of state officials, bureaucrats, and staff has been widely detested within classrooms as an unnecessary penalty on teachers. It meant that gifts like turkeys and gift cards could be scrutinized under the law.
That all changed on Wednesday, when the state Ethics Commission lifted the rule. They acknowledged that there has been much confusion surrounding gift-giving, especially during the holidays.
The Commission is now urging school boards to develop holiday gift policies that reflect “specific characteristics of their school community” and local traditions.
The ethics panel still warned that givers should not expect anything in return for their gifts, and issued a strong warning against teachers suggesting or coercing their students into giving gifts.
“Moreover, no public employee or official can solicit a gift from anyone who is his or her ‘subordinate’ or anyone whom they inspect, regulate or supervise in their official capacity or through some act use their position to obtain a gift without violating Sections 5(a) and 5(e),” the Commission’s opinion stated. “In the teacher-student context, this would include soliciting gifts from students in their class or their parents, or initiating the idea of gift giving, which would be a use of official position for personal gain.”
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A study from the Education Intelligence Agency revealed that union membership for Alabama teachers is down 31.6 percent over the last five years, and 16 percent in the 2014-2015 school year alone.
The MacIver Institute of Wisconsin noted that the trend is reflective of what is occurring nationwide. According to MacIver, twenty-eight states reported union membership losses in 2015. More then 12,000 active members left the National Education Council last year, a 0.5 percentage drop. Since 2011, the organization’s active membership across the country has dropped by almost 10 percent.
More than 10,000 members left the Alabama Education Association (AEA) in the previous school year, yet another in a series of recent indicators signaling the group’s precipitous decline.
The first cracks in the group’s armor became evident after the 2014 election cycle. Despite spending roughly $7 million in the primaries, the AEA won zero statewide races, zero state senate races and only a handful of state house seats.
RELATED: AEA spends roughly $20 million of teachers’ money on disastrous election strategy
That election cycle forced the AEA “out of the [campaign] business” and the group is now spending every dollar it earns paying down its massive debt. According to campaign finance reports filed earlier in 2016, it spent $2.1 of its $2.2 million in 2015 revenue paying off loans. AEA spent a total of $12 million on races in 2014, far more than any other organization in the state.
RELATED: Collapse of Alabama teachers union complete as AEA officially halts political donations
In light of the AEA’s implosion – and now evident mass exodus – a coalition of education leaders announced in December the formation of Alabama Unites for Education (AUE), an advocacy group that appears poised to fill the void.
RELATED: Launch of new education group could signal seismic shift in Alabama politics’ power structure
The announcement received scant media attention late last year, but beyond the group’s relatively vague description and the broad statements of support from education leaders, Alabama United for Education could bring on a seismic shift in Alabama politics, impacting both policy debates and electoral fights for years to come.
Conservatives had long viewed the AEA as the “Dark Side” in Alabama politics, and not only because of its liberal political leanings, but also because the state’s education system continued to rank 49th or 50th year after year, in spite of the AEA’s total control.
The traditionally white Alabama Education Association’s rise to power began when it merged with the traditionally black Alabama State Teachers Association in 1969. Paul Hubbert was named executive secretary of the newly-formed group and Joe Reed was named associate executive secretary.
For much of the next four decades, Hubbert was widely considered the most powerful political figure in the state, and he ruled with an iron fist. Hubbert was known for sitting in the gallery overlooking the Legislature and giving hand signals indicating which way he wanted lawmakers to vote on whatever bill was being considered.
But the group’s stranglehold on the state began to loosen in 2010 when Alabama voters elected Republicans to their first legislative majority in 136 years. Hubbert retired in 2011, but the organization he built continued to be a major player in state politics, at least for a period of time.
Now, with numbers plummeting and influence almost non-existent, the AEA is only a shell of its former self, and many across the State of Alabama think that change is for the better.