[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6485230,"mediaKeyId","5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc","parentId",5448618,"title","Board staff propose administrative code changes to codify civics and financial‑literacy exams","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",10848000,"endMs",11025000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc&start=10848&end=11025","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc/thumbnail_10848000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485230/Alabama/Board-staff-propose-administrative-code-changes-to-codify-civics-and-financialliteracy-exams","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485230-5717d1390ea8bcce215e26d770b18ebd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770498189&Signature=n880XGuFI8M3-2gNTLeLHeYBMLym4Etc71h-nOywZTG0bGlII4o8RyHeAytG8VI~VaV4pzGPCpMCueG4zTjCHbFa5TVyTDTAzBpT67lcOoKqinkB7efZ4SPgjOvpYL1CWawURF6TRAWERO722V1sVaoeAIvTUifTeDzu53jKPd6G8PTxyIXwFD4gDSM2mIPn-FoM6Y8MYX7lWXGJUPi6Mb8n6qQZxE~PMz4PDcEH8GtMFftpjpQYp5La8czDCg0WYlkAtpdMKsC091-6ctsD4dUsvsSjRxBOgIaSAryHrUsLFEIkLx9lBtWJ6jtEwD5W1XIugmrYp4K6ascjo1TGEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama State Department of Education","date","2025-07-22T06:43:15.597Z","article","Board staff presented proposed administrative‑code changes that would codify two high‑school assessments: the civics exam (a passing score has been required) and the financial‑literacy exam (students must take the exam; passing is recorded but not required for graduation).

A department presenter summarized the proposed edits and said the intent is to place both exams into board rule to ensure consistent administration and reporting. She described the civics exam as already required for graduation and said the financial‑literacy exam is required to be taken, with the department collecting scores for reporting. The presenter asked board members to note a related change on page 24 that adjusts the graduating class tied to the college‑and‑career readiness requirement, reflecting legislative timing.

Staff said the proposed code language sets test‑taking, retake and reporting expectations and that the department will follow up with communications for schools and districts once the board adopts the rule. No vote was recorded on the proposed administrative change during the work session; staff said they will present the adopted language to the board at the December meeting for formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Board of Education Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Staff presented proposed edits to the administrative code to codify the high‑school civics exam requirement and the financial‑literacy exam reporting requirement; the changes include implementation dates tied to state graduation requirements.","taxTitle","Alabama State Department of Education, State Agencies, Executive, Alabama","taxId",80275,"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},6485234,"Universities report changes to teacher‑preparation programs after Alabama Literacy Act; state team plans approvals",1301,8392000,9693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc&start=8392&end=9693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc/thumbnail_8392000.jpg","/articles/6485234/Alabama/Universities-report-changes-to-teacherpreparation-programs-after-Alabama-Literacy-Act-state-team-plans-approvals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485234-5cef148611ba4b90d9bbeec98271cca5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770498189&Signature=GgaHWz4pHSooKDnctP2qOZaeJkEZmeLPuA9nOkCu9kp4DLloVzHemt4t9JWye0gm1Ga4KCDK7VNxY~1Xp8fadXOXP7FsyhYYjbWW~ixyiEisYFzMlWroNwdohaZvTz6ORBuM6t3eUG7DjHfY0paOv~u7brr1NY2etYpslrJyaCZNqLUp81iNGgMvXwtz53PPLHyDb~CQIEfiqBBBqVg4UajMYk6fInF89CNAujVjeDcgIWbG2jpDJkKPXcVhU-l753shQyRZoU7sSzRjNRuamAqvIiEzyRGc1TuTeEf8LDQYv-IfpxxcnB1vjwPP7m1eEmfVM4aXwD0j8ERcBRVERg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from seven educator preparation programs told the State Board of Education that they have realigned curricula, field experiences and textbooks to meet requirements of the Alabama Literacy Act and to incorporate the science of reading.

State staff framed the work as a response to recommendations from a review conducted by Barksdale and noted that the institutions used National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) textbook guidance in selecting core and ancillary texts. Board staff said programs have revised syllabi to move from foundational elements (oral language, phonological awareness, phonics) through fluency, vocabulary and comprehension and have realigned field experiences so candidates practice targeted reading skills in supervised placements.

Doctor Amy Jones, who the department identified with the Alabama Reading Initiative and related literacy work, told the board that higher‑education faculty have either completed or registered for LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training and that institutions are recording model videos and conducting observations so candidates receive coaching in science‑of‑reading practices. State staff also described three recent site visits—Troy University, Stillman College and Tuskegee University—held as part of the continuous improvement process; the visits included interviews with deans, certification directors, faculty and students.

Deans and faculty who spoke described their institutions’ changes and the collaborative process. Leslie Sheek, assistant dean for accreditation and assessment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and other deans said institutions exchanged syllabi and textbooks with one another, reviewed external materials, and adjusted assessments and quality assurance processes. Several presenters described direct training work and symposiums with school districts.

State staff said these seven programs had been operating under conditional approvals and that the department will recommend formal approval because the programs addressed the Barksdale recommendations and aligned core coursework and textbooks to NCTQ guidance. New higher‑education standards tied to reading will be presented to the board next month, staff said, and institutions will be expected to implement them as they move forward.

Board members praised the cross‑institution collaboration described in the presentations and asked for a more detailed report next month on the higher‑education standards and the formal approvals staff will recommend.","Deans and program leaders from multiple Alabama universities reported progress aligning educator preparation programs with the Alabama Literacy Act and the science of reading. State staff said institutions have revised syllabi, aligned textbooks to NCTQ ratings and completed site visits; staff will recommend program approvals to the board.",{"_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},6485239,"State textbook office outlines CTE adoption rubric, timeline; publishers to be considered after December vote",1206,4339000,5545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc&start=4339&end=5545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc/thumbnail_4339000.jpg","/articles/6485239/Alabama/State-textbook-office-outlines-CTE-adoption-rubric-timeline-publishers-to-be-considered-after-December-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485239-576cff39b7df9973b5e912a29515e457/orig.mp4?Expires=1770498189&Signature=EXuU551GRERBbjfDT1BpGOyZ-BmFeV7Njbpuj9CPJooX0c397wfkz7AtT0THxqcmfpCpSjCcfAVyWPkqTEm-X1YzE8u2lhGggmjmWvS8Ro9vU9ABAoyR0fX-zdiANf6oQetlbkgj8wPS78ewIK4F3zx4dCMOVuHgFiqGousyTNQQ8BUPUZZGkYTWP4o~ezH8J7oESSbIus37fLvf8kIDL~ZrpZO7v6tAN9Q-d8ztkMSQQvogL7YQEp4aPCY-xUFjBr83s~WFwzJ3ScdE2tYaRG3GX~gV5xezJuM7Xm0f4RE-S6Lb2bHd5UNgoVO7Vz9ZGk4I-N7TxSNPYJNuQhrRRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama State Department of Education’s textbook office reviewed its review and scoring process for Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructional materials during a State Board of Education work session.

Carolyn Jones, the state textbook coordinator, and Tracy Flowers described the multi‑step review: once the board approves course‑of‑study changes, publishers submit materials and a state textbook committee of nominated educators and postsecondary representatives evaluates them using a uniform rubric. Jones said that, following board practice, reviewed materials are confidential until after board approval.

The committee uses a tiered scoring approach, the presenters said: Tier 1 (90–100%) and Tier 2 (80–89%) are recommended for board approval; Tier 3 (79% and below) is recommended for rejection. The rubric has sections labeled “nonnegotiables,” alignment to Alabama standards (an addendum tied to the number of state standards), classroom application indicators and optional superior‑quality criteria. Reviewers assign values from 1 to 4 for indicators (4 = exceeds expectations) and convert raw points into percentages to determine the tier.

Jones listed the publishers that submitted bids for the current CTE review: Gengage, ICEB, Goodhart and Sabbath Learning Company LLC. She said the review process includes public input during the scheduled board vote (expected in December) and that publishers are asked to label materials as comprehensive or supplemental so committees apply the correct standard to the submission.

Jones warned that some materials submitted as supplemental cannot stand alone as a primary instructional resource: “If it doesn't meet the nonnegotiables, then, you know, that we don't want it,” she said. She described steps reviewers take, including contacting publishers for clarification when online materials lack clear evidence for indicators.

The textbook office noted that the board will receive committee appointments and scoring materials in coming weeks and that committee votes and recommendations will be compiled for presentation to the board at the December meeting. The office asked stakeholders who want to speak during the board public‑comment period to contact the textbook office in advance.","State textbook staff reviewed the adoption process, scoring rubric and timeline for Career and Technical Education materials, saying committee recommendations and board votes after December will determine public release and classroom use.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485244,"State board hears redesigned Career and Technical Education clusters for arts, health and human services",1639,1856000,3495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc&start=1856&end=3495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc/thumbnail_1856000.jpg","/articles/6485244/Alabama/State-board-hears-redesigned-Career-and-Technical-Education-clusters-for-arts-health-and-human-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485244-bbef571064a1cb78762d19fe76398c17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770498189&Signature=ZN497JzaUctgn7aw~ZFjkobA936PDN97ff6Q9nOEkjJx-OY-TtqJE4XKjgdy-udfmLxcTTSmVsxg2pTF8inrI8V-X5etQ2jHx9t-t42jmGj8V18pNWASk3ID9y-0neWMRFJdHuVt6ltm7W7l8v1R-YTPS5Hb3aUg3TYmI1gpi5TEOr79Gu3Q8elmRNVR-OMhsKlO8Ns4tkRKIHcHPR~hOHAdBnYCoTC~SGZYBq00kquVseq~bQkq7MyJJXTEGnk5ayie~BnSoeW6UHpV~rKhUrD0silkjoEdhIN4ztxJU2DdmQ2ZO9gltsTlmrOAQbRCgMfT0-5kuG52cnUW8xTGTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Career and Technical Education (CTE) committees presented revised courses of study for three clusters—Arts, Audio‑Visual Technology and Communications; Health Science; and Human Services/Family and Consumer Sciences—at a State Board of Education work session.

Lisa Connell, identified in the presentation as superintendent of Washington County and chair of the CTE course‑of‑study effort, said committees of educators and industry professionals from across Alabama worked monthly for months to align courses with workforce needs. “All of these committees have the goal of providing courses that will prepare our students for careers in these 3 clusters,” Connell said.

Arts, AV and communications presenters described three program areas—visual arts, entertainment and media, and printing technologies—with 24 courses that include new offerings such as audio production, technical theater and screen printing. The presenters said the cluster aims to prepare students for industry certifications including Adobe Creative Suite credentials and industry contests through SkillsUSA; they provided an industry employment estimate of about 25,000 jobs in Alabama for the cluster and noted growth in annual openings.

Health Science presenters described a coordinated program structure with a required Foundations of Health Science prerequisite, concentrator courses and capstone experiences. Presenters said health‑care instructors must hold valid health licenses in addition to teaching certificates and noted that students can earn industry credentials: “A credential may serve as a gateway to employment and as a stepping stone to advanced education,” a presenter said, describing nearly 1,900 industry recognized career readiness indicators earned by health science students last year.

Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Services presenters said they streamlined earlier program lists into four program areas—nutrition and wellness, consumer services, clothing/textiles/design, and family/community services—and emphasized progression of rigor, prerequisites where appropriate, and alignment to postsecondary options. The presenters said CTSOs such as FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) will continue to play a role in hands‑on, project‑based learning.

Presenters emphasized local flexibility within statewide course structures so local education agencies can shape sequences to meet workforce and community needs. Several presenters encouraged use of credentials and work‑based learning to create direct pathways to local employment in health care and technical fields.

The board did not take a formal vote in the work session. Department staff confirmed the revised CTE courses of study and related course clusters will be presented to the board in December for formal approval; textbook committee work will follow that approval where applicable.","Course-of-study committees presented updated CTE clusters—Arts/AV/Communications, Health Science, and Human Services—highlighting new course sequences, certifications and career pathways; presenters said the materials will come to the board for approval in December.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485249,"State board hears proposed K-12 science standards; adoption scheduled for December",1299,234000,1533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc&start=234&end=1533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448618-9028cf7be37eb0819c43ccacef93dafc/thumbnail_234000.jpg","/articles/6485249/Alabama/State-board-hears-proposed-K-12-science-standards-adoption-scheduled-for-December","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485249-24da91b6f8edaeb943d4f0380bb161ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770498189&Signature=MiF7f3g8jESF5V9hFJxK-UZYCya407Fc28~J57Cc31MB4dqLc7NPQcb3Sz-HiaZpXOnRudBfDw8xH8TP58pIwOil7t3c-0vb0llywfSEaDa-7oCRBaRCdety0SPEti0t0sx-9lVzvwjoXrvTNjvxtOicfKyaVCSo5V-pVVKENgJjDcYXvJ8K0OPZZldJ15pQhMfDNhNRIoiYd6jRGspeosdZghoKIs7tBYK2bgRfM9J74vcH-CPOs4Yq~Ya0CVQ~tO4q4tmN32YYZkw1GzsN1Xo5SZe-OLEMsLub-fyfuo7kjtZioAixsFqfz7P4NOPgqgo63sj5zvqHqM4G446Ufg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A committee of Alabama educators on the State Board of Education agenda presented a draft K–12 science course of study and told the board the department intends to bring the document to a December meeting for adoption.

The proposal lays out vertically aligned grade bands, three disciplinary domains and a three‑dimensional structure that integrates disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts. Dennis Coe, identified in the presentation as “superintendent out of Dothan,” told the board the committee built the document to ‘‘emphasize the teaching of science every day to every student in every grade.’’

Committee members told the board the work followed national and state resources, including the Framework for K–12 Science Education, guidance from the Council of State Science Supervisors, National Science Teaching Association materials and Alabama science safety standards. Presenters said the committee included classroom teachers from each congressional district, higher‑education faculty and governor appointees from business and industry who advised on workforce relevance.

The draft organizes standards in a table format and explicitly tags each standard with its disciplinary core idea, associated science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts. The presenters said clarification statements and a new ‘‘including’’ versus ‘‘examples’’ convention were used to distinguish required content from optional examples. The committee also described grade‑band progressions using examples such as Newton’s laws: younger students learn to describe pushes and pulls, middle grades study balanced versus unbalanced forces, and high school students move into quantitative descriptions and calculations.

Patrice Marbury, a teacher at Clara Middle School who spoke for the committee, described the design: “All students will take the knowledge embodied in the standards when they reach toward their future goal represented by the act outstretched hands, whether they are career, college, military, or any other future goal.” Presenters pointed to a change for sixth grade that splits an oversized Earth‑systems core idea into two distinct core ideas—“Earth systems: energy and weather” and “Earth systems: materials and processes”—because the original scope was judged too large for that grade band.

Committee members urged the department to support implementation with guidance for novice teachers; the presenters recommended brief stakeholder‑targeted podcasts for district leaders, principals and teachers explaining how to read and use the standards and clarifying the difference between standards and local curriculum.

No formal vote was taken at the work session. Board staff said the course of study and related career‑tech clusters will be returned to the board for a formal adoption vote in December, followed by textbook committee work and a separate textbook adoption process.

If adopted in December, the department will start textbook committee selection and publisher review processes that precede classroom adoption.","A committee of Alabama educators presented a draft K–12 science course of study that emphasizes daily science instruction, three-dimensional standards and coherent grade-to-grade progressions. The board was told the document will be brought back for approval at the December meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board staff propose administrative code changes to codify civics and financial‑literacy exams

Universities report changes to teacher‑preparation programs after Alabama Literacy Act; state team plans approvals

State textbook office outlines CTE adoption rubric, timeline; publishers to be considered after December vote

State board hears redesigned Career and Technical Education clusters for arts, health and human services

State board hears proposed K-12 science standards; adoption scheduled for December