[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99],{"_32":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":73},"mediaId",6455444,"mediaKeyId","5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330","parentId",5836706,"title","State board hears staff plan for first-grade readiness assessments, discusses Sept. 2 cutoff","audioSeconds",249,"startMs",3000,"endMs",252000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330&start=3&end=252","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330/thumbnail_3000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455444/Alabama/State-board-hears-staff-plan-for-first-grade-readiness-assessments-discusses-Sept-2-cutoff","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455444-613f8d3933e2cff8db6a4a2132a9208f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770190817&Signature=jwveLiaT4Y9z3uzWi8pweE8mMBRNrzD1fywLbUNM8f8yCd1kzYJMEe8CPdyP8CArEhSdF3sYbQR08pjTLQO0VGt2R-91tJJ~LuOF61Z5rTSnpF9D6VNwnzHDUhrzL4-IGp2z4yT4BbtrBfk9FhranNih9R9cKxWqg6KvOgg5SLy2mTk9tt~pxZD3NYPMUJyEAT8BWeuVRBEqn5oC5Yam6xIt2JRVcOJil2qBIpbGIUm5TSEBAf01BtsJC5fJkLHRzOAs0CM-GsOYsxd7evBPFhj3DkYTCTXNHWeOTmelQfCIOgomQWb8xS99IPibV13~b94OxuDDDF1RKGI7qcpyYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama State Department of Education","date","2025-09-26T16:54:26.67Z","article","The Alabama State Board of Education discussed a proposed administrative process intended to identify and support children who arrive for first grade without prior kindergarten experience, and whether the board should consider adjusting the state age cutoff.

Board members and department staff described an existing parent packet and school-based intake assessments that officials said already help schools decide whether a newly enrolled 6-year-old should enter first grade or be offered kindergarten and immediate interventions. Staff recommended the board approve a notice of intent to place a formal administrative rule on next month'93s agenda that would require local boards to adopt policies ensuring first-grade readiness or immediate intervention for students entering first grade with no prior school history.

The board'93level discussion focused on two practical constraints: state law and implementation. Department staff said Alabama law currently entitles a child who turns 6 on or before Sept. 2 to admission into first grade, and noted local schools have no legal authority to deny enrollment based on assessment alone. The proposed administrative process is therefore designed to ensure rapid assessment and immediate intervention for students placed in first grade by age even if they have not met suggested competencies.

Members asked about alternatives to the Sept. 2 date, including moving the statutory cutoff to Sept. 30, and about whether the board could set a different local threshold by policy. Staff replied that changing the statutory date would require legislative action, and that an administrative rule could not override the current statute'93so the department'93s policy proposal would focus on readiness assessments and intervention procedures rather than changing age eligibility.

Board members pressed for clarity on distribution of the parent materials and on how schools would document and start interventions for children placed in first grade by age but assessed as lacking readiness skills. Department staff said a parent packet is already available and should be distributed broadly; they recommended the board vote next month on a notice of intent to formalize the administrative process so that districts and schools would have time to prepare guidance and training.

No motion or vote was recorded during the discussion. Staff were asked to return next month with draft language and an implementation timeline that would allow local boards to act for the coming school year if the board chooses to adopt the rule.

Ending: The board left the issue open for further drafting and scheduled the readiness proposal for follow-up at the next meeting. If adopted without a specified effective-delivery delay, staff warned the administrative requirement would be effective upon passage and could apply to entry that fall.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Board of Education Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","The Alabama State Board of Education discussed a proposal to formalize brief readiness screening and immediate intervention for 6-year-olds enrolling directly into first grade, while reiterating that state law currently guarantees admission for children who turn 6 on or before Sept. 2.","taxTitle","Alabama State Department of Education, State Agencies, Executive, Alabama","taxId",80275,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455439,"State education office details OSI expansion, 15 governor'93designated turnaround schools and new supports",1620,749000,2369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330&start=749&end=2369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330/thumbnail_749000.jpg","/articles/6455439/Alabama/State-education-office-details-OSI-expansion-15-governor93designated-turnaround-schools-and-new-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455439-fd71d1d326c30eb5e88e3db7d4cd578e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770190817&Signature=dL9jt3cpZOx5Tx30IUqjrZOZgTHNLBVhnA0KhZKJ00l~06EkVRocACTMAqqfbaVT~79-GZcx8yfek90tfObcty54QvHZFD5BCrl3kVzPJQNqGutvLmDRGPqLUus1Eu04Zgb0s-V0QRrG9UAi29Qj~QjAn30KoayWNKxvLwgqvWOMWnUSaslc~iOHqn0eF2cGNnOIKvT2d9MuTjjeqqPJiKStDMCzR1wxXj6ijge~UjHzxc13m4kyq0uNoDuNdwqrseeLjkPbwr~880xC0r3Kd2mbc2b9G8i14MKCcOO00TyCh~7C5SVNz5MbFuEMjR85i3Gw81nJfZObcj9B6eZLNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department officials gave an extended update on the Office of School Improvement (OSI), outlining current staffing, program structure, and plans to support both federally identified Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools and 15 schools recently designated by the governor as turnaround schools.

Melissa Shields, who leads OSI'93s school improvement work, told the board the office has roughly 10 full-time staff and a network of about 14 retired educators serving as coaches and specialists; the office supports CSI schools with dedicated staff and an on-call model for ATSI/TSI schools. Shields described a multi-pronged approach: instructional audits, targeted coaching, data-driven root-cause analysis, and external partnerships for nonacademic needs such as mental health and attendance support.

Board members asked for detail about the 15 governor'93designated turnaround schools and how OSI will staff and fund intensified interventions. Department officials said the turnaround cohort will receive additional staff and coordination with state agencies (Department of Human Resources, early childhood, dental health and mental-health providers) and with community partners including nonprofit organizations. Officials said the governor'93designated schools will receive both state-directed staffing supports and funds that the Legislature set aside for the initiative; staff repeatedly emphasized that the turnaround package is intended to provide full-service wraparound supports and to pilot scalable practices for sustainable improvement.

Officials also described a set of interventions to address teacher shortages and early-grade supports. The department is promoting a pilot program for auxiliary (paraprofessional/auxiliary) instructors in early grades; the Legislature set aside a dedicated fund to pilot auxiliary teachers and some supplemental funding for the turnaround work. Officials said roughly $5 million was set aside for a pilot to hire auxiliary staff; they also said a larger pool—identified by leadership as separate legislative appropriations—would be routed to districts participating in the turnaround work.

Shields said the OSI uses transformation academies and a 90-day turnaround principal academy model, and that the office tracks supports against six ESSA indicators (growth, achievement, chronic absenteeism, graduation rate, CCR, subgroup performance). OSI officials said they will reidentify CSI/ATSI lists by March and that the number of schools on ATSI lists shifts annually. Board members repeatedly pressed department leaders to show evidence that the intensified supports result in sustained improvement and raised concerns about turnover among principals and teachers after state-supported interventions.

No board motion was made. Department leaders said they will return with more detailed staffing plans, sustainability metrics and a plan to document recipient feedback (a survey instrument) to evaluate direct supports and staff effectiveness.

Ending: The board heard the OSI update and asked staff for more detailed cost, staffing and outcome monitoring plans for the turnaround initiative and a plan to survey districts that receive direct interventions.","Office of School Improvement leaders told the board they have increased staffing, described supports for 60 Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools and about 500 ATSI/TSI schools, and outlined how the department will coordinate additional staff and wraparound services for 15 governor-designated turnaround schools. Board members pressed",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455430,"Board hears updates on new CTE courses: cosmetology, education & training and hospitality curricula revised",3903,11146000,15049000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330&start=11146&end=15049","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330/thumbnail_11146000.jpg","/articles/6455430/Alabama/Board-hears-updates-on-new-CTE-courses-cosmetology-education-training-and-hospitality-curricula-revised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455430-6e3d11ab1fc332275cec1df1cd805fea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770190817&Signature=Q5bHXZI7bhZQvRrjubeeTQ4q2~cwAZyTmlnxum9AQBxpp2Zl1CaxE6KRHEKmdCoXVxYWff2Imdwg1oZovg2SK9QCX1i2FRRJGpVyKuHZZB5ssvvoC2wHJCq~lPxPtTRd4ymq9u0gFb676CaqiURVwG7EAQYx~~GEiZz7RXEdGjtwhcNaeRcia1e8zX6qejgA5GfY~XN5Co06JMqed8ojZpwsbFPFKk0IrmenNAroJRJwymBR-ayHeCPYExhTsLhPg5Ozaqnv7rZpMu1YNxx5EchAo9vEfKrBmMTeASEkkv~Lqz4V0JIwzk6Y9V8nrzMgf7lqfCiDVBEKHJrfz-wWEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Career and technical education (CTE) instructors and industry partners presented proposed course-of-study revisions for multiple CTE clusters, including cosmetology and barbering, education & training (early childhood and educator pipelines), and hospitality & tourism.

Presenters said the cosmetology program has been renamed cosmetology and barbering to align with the state licensing board and now includes five pathways (cosmetology, barbering, male grooming, aesthetics, and natural hairstyling). Instructors said certain cosmetology standards map to science and chemistry content and that some board-recognized clock-hour credentials can be earned or advanced toward in high school programs.

The educators and training presentation described two linked pathways: early childhood education and educators-in-training. Presenters said the revised courses emphasize internship and work-based learning components (intern hours, simulated workplace experiences) and include credentials such as early-childhood certifications and Google Educator credentials. The committee said the updates are designed to grow a \"grow-your-own\" pipeline for local districts and to help address teacher shortages in rural areas.

Hospitality & tourism presenters described changes across lodging, food and beverage services, travel and tourism, and a new sports/recreation and attractions pathway. They said food-science coursework was reframed to reduce perceived barriers (renamed from Chemistry of Foods to Food Science) and to better align with industry needs and cross-curricular science standards. Presenters also noted partnerships with postsecondary programs and that ServSafe and other industry credentials remain a critical component of student readiness.

Board members asked about credential hours, dual-enrollment options and the potential for selected courses to count as science credits in high school. Presenters noted some programs can provide partial clock-hour progress toward postsecondary licensure and said local counselors and districts will determine dual-enrollment pathways and credential access.

Ending: The presentations will advance through the board'93adoption process; textbook recommendations and final course approvals will return to the board in the coming months per the department schedule.","Career and technical instructors and industry representatives presented updated course-of-study revisions for cosmetology & barbering, education & training (early childhood and teacher pipeline), and hospitality & tourism. Presenters described new pathways, proposed science-credit alignment for select courses, and industry-recognized credentials;",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455434,"Board delays rules on alternative teacher preparation after university deans press for parity and quality safeguards",3424,14505000,17929000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330&start=14505&end=17929","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5836706-330330060c559fa6453a0033a98b5330/thumbnail_14505000.jpg","/articles/6455434/Alabama/Board-delays-rules-on-alternative-teacher-preparation-after-university-deans-press-for-parity-and-quality-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455434-da35af618f5b70579a1d1f8a34be570d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770190817&Signature=ODAO1FOe7MfMc~5e8zQ8KrHTfTjRntUVstSSyjcmulNh3qcwdR~LqwbVwxCP~3ENNP4Wt4br0dEHwowxNKhc9wyFGP02fKgJxdJRWgnyiCNCXrOng4Ul67Cdq0fHE88dyrQ8E1j7xZVIYpaLrHe-VVo94xjakK-1FR8FLvoCDb0cWqZG7~hbw135gKnmI0Qc8X7YyD1hb-ooD1mDlcTAtRIth4KQRpPTYe77lJ7K2YCkR1HskhEdjHa3YJgwGVLN-YpDhInHIxYO0T7lod-zSY2h46w1hiUnJFkTj0IzwtqRb1QzWgPr4HcyvA79jv1jI3co2nEe4qbWSBpOHgmehQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Education deferred action on draft rules for alternative teacher preparation programs after a lengthy exchange with university deans, certification officers and board members who raised concerns about quality, faculty qualifications and unintended consequences for existing college-based teacher-preparation programs.

The Legislature this year authorized alternative organizations to offer pathways that can recommend candidates for teacher certification; the board'93level rulemaking is intended to set operational standards, approval criteria and oversight. Several university deans and certification officers told the board that the draft rules lacked parity with existing higher-education requirements: they urged the board to require comparable faculty qualifications, program accountability, and outcome monitoring so that alternative providers would not operate on a lower-cost, lower-quality basis.

Deans cited research and examples from other states indicating that for-profit alternative certification programs sometimes produce candidates who do not remain in teaching at the same rates as graduates of traditional programs. They also asked the board to require program evidence of quality from other states and to make sure that traditional institutions could offer similar low-cost or flexible pathways for working adults.

Board members and staff said the department had successfully lobbied to retain board oversight in the enabling statute, but that the law requires the board to adopt implementing rules. Given the concerns raised, the board chose to delay action and asked staff to collect cost comparisons, faculty and program standards, and outcomes data from colleges, alternative providers and other states. The board asked staff to return at the next work session with recommended language, including stronger faculty/quality requirements. No interim certifications or approvals were granted during the meeting.

Ending: The board postponed action and directed staff to solicit written input and return with proposed rule language, cost comparisons and outcome metrics at the December work session.","The board paused a vote on rules implementing a new state law that allows private and alternative teacher-preparation organizations, after deans from several universities urged parity of faculty and quality standards, and called for cost and outcome comparisons. The board asked staff to gather data and return with a proposed rule set and cost","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State board hears staff plan for first-grade readiness assessments, discusses Sept. 2 cutoff

State education office details OSI expansion, 15 governor'93designated turnaround schools and new supports

Board hears updates on new CTE courses: cosmetology, education & training and hospitality curricula revised

Board delays rules on alternative teacher preparation after university deans press for parity and quality safeguards