[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6602439,"mediaKeyId","3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3","parentId",3001322,"title","Witnesses describe RISE pilot: full‑day, five‑day preschool for children with multiple exceptionalities; expansion plans reported","audioSeconds",139,"startMs",1031000,"endMs",1170000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3&start=1031&end=1170","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3/thumbnail_1031000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602439/Alabama/Witnesses-describe-RISE-pilot-fullday-fiveday-preschool-for-children-with-multiple-exceptionalities-expansion-plans-reported","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602439-8218558c5d7fb2613c7f46f53b30870e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545427&Signature=jzl13osZyLVoH-YwT4J-lv5sf5SNiB7Su4m2HyOwM46EmhccjdsFu8crxpTx3B9kttTOTDrdnrvHKK-ZmrrV4XIs8uEfyEhIT2MQH-kOd0tHMBU-QJ~vV0N~TwHBhYFue4SSkZN1G4y39CaLP6jIoCcLvSwi4WcLy9VDIbwKVGokxsrt3hkU7uyhgjxBxpHwk9uaMRXnB7dq0-23Jzj99uqOyEB8A0k28x4F6vJp9G-u6KxNWWaW8bxf38Fufvtlye7PdXZTbbc7yoO01HJIjHbwhwjWvN~T~lIXEGVvF6vTDx93fgl-l3lvXVc5iV2vlMPLFjRSHuU~5alXbdFLqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House Sessions","date","2025-04-15T23:26:15.313Z","article","A presenter described a preschool program identified in testimony as RISE and said it serves children on the autism spectrum who also have hearing or vision loss. The presenter told the committee the program integrates typically developing peers and uses universal design for learning strategies.

On program intensity, the presenter said RISE operates as a “5 day a week, full school day program,” and contrasted that with many existing programs that meet “2 days a week at 1 hour or 2 hours,” which the presenter said are unlikely to produce the same gains. The presenter said the pilot already has a waiting list “double” the program’s current capacity and that officials are looking to institute similar programs at regional centers across the state.

The presenter characterized RISE as distinctive in Alabama for providing educational resources to children on the autism spectrum who also have deafness or blindness. The presenter said the program is being copied in other states and offered to provide committee members with connections to the program lead.

Representative Daniels asked about regional availability and effective programs in North Alabama; the presenter said they have partnered with evaluative research groups in Madison and provided direct offers to follow up with constituents.

The transcript records this discussion as informational; no formal committee direction or vote on program funding or statutory change was recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Committee testimony described a pilot preschool program called RISE for children on the autism spectrum with hearing or vision loss, noted the program runs five days a week for a full school day, has a waiting list double current capacity, and is being considered for regional expansion.","taxTitle","Ways and Means Education, House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",15593,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6602444,"HudsonAlpha tells committee it reached more than 850 Alabama teachers with genomics education",507,368000,875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3&start=368&end=875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3/thumbnail_368000.jpg","/articles/6602444/Alabama/HudsonAlpha-tells-committee-it-reached-more-than-850-Alabama-teachers-with-genomics-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602444-691090f9b9e61fdaf6899f2ee0064545/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545427&Signature=dNMqyvp4o6i27eZC6dJjvOKo4Ffnv1CWAO2knAtBfbG7VQx9LwbC1wJ0DRccqrBOQOv1rbO35RROKcLghmEn6dnbUpp4gcas1SBlRfTIvVwhVeVLowTkqBhVoBoxt-78usJ7bKJ4OQMLxhksQ9OvgWbvdOb26iPbXxv8zqagdf4W1DvEoYOkb6HRKP3w26GidLz9NshfgQAutW5N~8w9S6XNupWI6BnEeU0ozj15pFRo5bxfWJ3eGV1kACqHH3oG1PRm4ztOguWmPT2rV8te~CAR4CRbVkD~8pi6~KbPxPmQFSy1kilVTF9Q6NxcPDKWrVzg6R06DsO3dOHtlro1Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly East, vice president for educational outreach at HudsonAlpha, told the Ways and Means Education committee that the Huntsville-based genomics institute expanded teacher and student programming across Alabama and plans new regional offerings.

East said HudsonAlpha crossed “850” Alabama teachers reached in live engagement over the past year and delivered “more than 350 total hours of live instruction” to Alabama teachers. She described a long-running cycle of teacher workshops that visits regions on a two-year cycle; she said HudsonAlpha completed its sixth round of that cycle and will begin a seventh this fall, representing “14 years of teacher professional learning.”

East described student-facing experiences on the Huntsville campus and planned expansion to the Wiregrass region. “We consistently, every year, see 70 or more classes come through our doors on our Huntsville campus in our teaching labs,” she said, and added that a Wiregrass Innovation Center opening next spring will allow similar field-trip programming in the south part of the state.

East also described classroom resource efforts tied to Alabama course-of-study standards and a summer internship program that places 30–40 college students at HudsonAlpha campuses to work alongside scientists. She illustrated broader reach with a “bead jar” used internally to mark people impacted by their work; she said last year’s jar showed “1,600,000 beads,” many tied to Alabama students and teachers.

East thanked legislators for support and said HudsonAlpha is available as a resource to help schools and lawmakers navigate genetics, genomics and biotechnology in curriculum and workforce development.

No committee action or funding request was recorded in the transcript; East’s presentation was delivered as an update to the committee.","Kelly East, vice president for educational outreach at HudsonAlpha, told the committee the nonprofit reached more than 850 Alabama teachers last year through live instruction, field trips and workshops and plans new programming in the Wiregrass region.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6602449,"Presenters tell Ways and Means Education committee that intersession attendance is associated with higher ACAP gains",135,0,135000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3&start=0&end=135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001322-2287569569afde9764aa01ff62202bf3/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6602449/Alabama/Presenters-tell-Ways-and-Means-Education-committee-that-intersession-attendance-is-associated-with-higher-ACAP-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602449-49c8f08aacd6831c8c79325d477f6d26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545427&Signature=LxL0EwoKbppt4zsVPM4yGyM~kZ3MomE-rgf9CMG8o~np3oJbBUEXInFRaRiAaClgzR6P5H~lgLeEd-iWa5pDD~CAqzlEa9Sq~D3tGb4elgX5aOoI4wRH0d~LZOOBosynt7MEhT4s~1OXiYe-~JT1gmRvbV03izNnbfAbQLFVNT-ztRO9CMnF02hXtBdT3mDGY~oXfIdGzD-R9XTQHJRiHyi3sU0v8Do6bEvaL2GsUGdZ6g8BvhRuHUf0l~jNlNc2u51LPB2GyaJ2tPQVO-11Im6yxpO5ji1zhc6fr4Rmpz5t-vicMzgbLZ-gb-oD97xBm0yanceukYHeABatLeFXng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Presenters to the Ways and Means Education committee said students who attended more intersession (intersession/intercession) weeks registered larger score gains on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) than peers who attended fewer of those voluntary sessions.

Committee members were shown attendance figures and comparative score charts. One presenter summarized attendance patterns: “In the early grades, almost 70% of the kids attend these extra voluntary weeks of school,” and said “14% of the third graders attended all 3 intersessions.” The presenter added that by middle school “over half the students are getting at least 1 intersession exposure.”

The presenters emphasized patterns in score gains by exposure level. “Keep your eye on the green. The green are higher test scores, and they are also those students who attended intercession more,” one presenter said while reviewing charts comparing 2023 to 2024 outcomes. Another presenter described the relationship cautiously: “We don't know if that's because the students are more engaged necessarily, and so are thus more inclined to go. But it does show that more school seems to produce better results academically.” The same pattern was reported for both math and English language arts.

District-level results were offered as additional context. One speaker said the district’s third-grade proficiency rate on the ACAP rose from 81% to 86% after summer efforts, representing “over 700 students” who improved to a sufficient score. The speaker also said the district reduced the number of schools graded F on the state report card from 15 to 7 and increased the number of A and B schools, and noted national attention on the district’s math achievement.

Presenters and legislators stressed limits to the data. Committee testimony repeatedly framed the results as correlations observed in the district charts and avoided claiming direct causation. Presenters noted other supports (literacy interventions, partner programs, and extended instructional time for students attending three intersessions — described as “almost 20 to 25, 30 days more in school than their counterparts”) that could also contribute to gains.

The presenters named colleagues and program leads during remarks; Dr. Alicia Washington was identified as “executive director of curriculum and instruction.” Committee members thanked presenters and noted the material would inform upcoming budget and floor discussions.

Materials shown to the committee included comparative charts and attendance breakdowns; presenters asked committee members to consider intersession exposure as one of several factors tied to student gains.

Committee notes: the presenters and lawmakers described observed associations from district data and emphasized that the evidence does not establish that intersession attendance alone caused the gains. No formal committee action or vote on policy was recorded in the transcript.","Presenters reported that students who attended more intersession weeks showed larger gains on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) in math and ELA, while cautioning that the data do not prove causation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Witnesses describe RISE pilot: full‑day, five‑day preschool for children with multiple exceptionalities; expansion plans reported

HudsonAlpha tells committee it reached more than 850 Alabama teachers with genomics education

Presenters tell Ways and Means Education committee that intersession attendance is associated with higher ACAP gains