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10 Schools in Huntsville and Madison County have joined A+ College Ready and committed to ambitious goals for AP courses in the 2010 school year.
February 2, 2009
By Sallie Owen Gowan
1. 10 HUNTSVILLE-MADISON CO. SCHOOLS JOIN A+ COLLEGE READY
Ten schools in Huntsville and Madison County have joined A+ College
Ready and committed to ambitious goals for the 2010 school year. They
pledge to meet these targets for their Advanced Placement** courses in
math, science and English:
*Boost enrollment 129 percent.
*Increase course offerings 64 percent.
*More than double the number of qualifying scores on AP exams (from
260 to 585).
A+ College Ready is partnering with The Schools Foundation on the
expansion. The Huntsville business community - led by The Boeing
Company -- has raised $800,000 to bring the initiative to local
schools. Business leaders say it is imperative to increase the number
of high school students who are prepared for careers in math- and
science-related fields.
Find more details at
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/d52be77923
View video of the event at
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/a1f0d45312/contentId=8295331&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.7.1
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2. MORTON SAYS MOVE FORWARD ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton has directed
department staff to move forward on the latest recommendations from
the Governor's Commission on Quality Teaching. The commission calls
for Professional Pathways to give teachers new options for taking on
additional roles and responsibilities without having to leave the
classroom. Professional Pathways would allow teachers to support
development of effective instruction in every classroom, and it is one
of seven recommendations designed to increase student achievement
through more effective instruction.
Morton will ask the board to adopt the commission's recommendations at
the Feb. 12 meeting, and he urged an aggressive search for available
economic stimulus dollars to fund the changes. "All the background is
there," Morton said. "I can't imagine any state would come up with a
plan that was better than this."
Get the report "Innovations in Teaching: Creating Professional
Pathways for Alabama Teachers" and news release:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/6b68333e41
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3. PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS GIVE ROOM TO GROW
That's how Betsy Rogers, Alabama's 2003 National Teacher of the Year,
describes a key recommendation from the Governor's Commission on
Quality Teaching, which she chairs.
"For me personally, I believe Professional Pathways will create new
day for Alabama schools as we recognize the expertise of our classroom
teachers and provide a structure in schools to use teacher experts to
maximize student learning," Rogers writes in an op-ed piece for the
Montgomery Advertiser.
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/cb1d306362
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4. RESEARCH FINDING:
HIGHER EDUCATION REPORT CARD SHOWS WORKFORCE NEEDS
Overall, the latest national report card on higher education showed
modest improvements, persistent disparities and eroding global
competitiveness.
Alabama improved in four categories and declined in one - college
affordability.
Among Alabama's grades:
* Preparation: D+
"Alabama's underperformance in educating its young population could
limit the state's access to a competitive workforce and weaken the
state's economy."
* Benefits: C
"A small proportion of residents have a bachelor's degree, and this
weakens the state economy."
* Affordability: F
"Higher education has become less affordable for students and their
families."
Get the report:
Measuring Up 2008 from The National Center for Public Policy and
Higher Education
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/43ba5aa8a4/state=AL
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5. FAITH LEADERS SPEAK UP FOR EDUCATION
The Alabama Faith Council has adopted a powerful statement about
education, calling on faith leaders to apply the principles of their
faith to this issue, to educate their communities on the issue, to
speak out about inadequacies and, ultimately, to help their
communities "become places where all children can learn at high levels
and develop self worth."
Download statement here:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/8920a5b371
The council is a diverse coalition of various faith traditions that
exists to consult and work together to improve the lives of all within
the state of Alabama, with special emphasis on those with the greatest
needs and fewest resources. The council's second annual Public Forum
will be Feb. 16 in Birmingham.
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6. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
The Alabama State Board of Education met for a work session on Jan.
22. Members welcomed Gary Warren, the new District 7 representative.
All members were present except Ella Bell and the governor.
State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton explained why it is premature to
suggest cuts to particular programs in the next budget year. Morton
cited countless variables affecting the situation, with the federal
economic stimulus package at the top of a list that also included too
little info to project state revenues. He said the most important
thing is preserving the academic progress made by Alabama's students.
"We're not going to go backward," he said.
In addition to the recommendations of the Governor's Commission on
Quality Teaching (see item above), the board heard briefings on
proposed code changes regarding special education as well as course of
study reports and committees.
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7. WHAT'S UP @ A+
IN THE NEWS - In addition to the terrific media coverage of A+ College
Ready's school announcements, A+ was quoted in Sunday's (Mobile)
Press-Register.
"Mobile, Baldwin schools outshine others in math, reading"
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/5475a74496//base/news/123348338269270.xml&coll=3
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**Advanced Placement Programs is a registered trademark of the College
Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not
endorse, this product.
WE NEED YOU
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. You can give online
at
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AEducationPartnershi/c244808128/19e153f708/bc5e89da2a
or mail your check to P.O. Box 4433, Montgomery, AL 36103.
SPREAD THE WORD
Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who are
interested in public education.
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE?
Sign up on the A+ home page, www.aplusala.org
The A+ Education Foundation, based in Montgomery, publishes Education
News in Alabama twice a month. A+ is a nonprofit organization that
advances policies, programs and initiatives in Alabama's K-12
education system that result in high achievement by every child.
Past editions can be found at www.aplusala.org/ednews/index.asp
Feedback is welcome. Please send messages to
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