State board adopts amended Admin. Code 0.02 to tie graduation measures to college- and career-readiness; board recognizes five Blue Ribbon schools

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama State Board of Education on Nov. 10, 2022, voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to the Alabama Administrative Code 0.02 intended to reduce the gap between the state's high school graduation rate and its college- and career-readiness rate. The board also took a series of unanimous votes recognizing five elementary schools as 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools and made several routine appointments and committee selections.

Board Chair Governor Kay Ivey urged colleagues to support the change, saying, "I hope you'll join me in voting to close the gap between our graduation rate and our college and career readiness rate." She described the rule as focusing on "measuring what matters" and noted it will not take effect until 2028, allowing time for local districts to adapt.

The amendment to Alabama Administrative Code 0.02 was presented and placed for a vote during the meeting. The board approved the measure by unanimous voice/hand vote; the transcript records the outcome as a carried vote. The board gave no specific implementation timeline beyond the rule's not-taking-effect date of 2028 as stated during the meeting.

Why it matters: Board members and the chair framed the amendment as a way to better align state reporting and district resources with indicators of college and career readiness rather than immediately imposing new requirements on districts. The delayed effective date means local school systems and the Alabama State Department of Education will have several years to plan changes in course offerings, data collection, and supports.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded at the Nov. 10 meeting) - Adopt amendment to Alabama Administrative Code 0.02 pertaining to regulations governing public schools — approved (motion to adopt recorded; outcome: unanimous). - Resolutions recognizing 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools: Alberta Elementary (Baldwin County), Newton Elementary (Dale County), Piedmont Elementary (Piedmont City), Moody Elementary (St. Clair County), Walter Jackson Elementary (Decatur City) — each resolution adopted (unanimous vote). - Resolution honoring 2022 College- and Career-Ready high schools and middle/junior high schools of excellence — adopted (unanimous vote). - Resolution declaring December 2022 as Special Education Inclusive Schools Week — adopted (unanimous vote). - Resolution declaring the critical importance of teacher and student attendance — adopted (unanimous vote). - Appointment resolutions: selection of the science state course of study committee and the career and technical education state course of study committee — adopted (unanimous vote). - Selection of the Alabama State Board of Education delegate to the Alabama Association of School Boards 2022 convention and delegate assembly: Dr. Yvette Richardson nominated and confirmed as delegate — adopted (unanimous vote).

The board recorded each of those items as motions with seconds and unanimous approval; the transcript does not list individual roll-call tallies for each name beyond the chair calling for hands to indicate approval.

NAEP results presented: During the meeting, Maggie Hicks, an Alabama State Department of Education official, presented the state's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Hicks said Alabama "didn't decline, we held our own," and cited participation and ranking changes the department reported: a stratified random sample of roughly 186 schools from 79 districts participated; the state reported 100% school participation for the selected sample; fourth-grade reading rose in national rank from 49 to 39 and fourth-grade math from 52 to 40; eighth-grade math moved from 52 to 47, while eighth-grade reading rank held at 49. Hicks and board members stressed those results reflect work by educators and continuing efforts to improve student outcomes.

Other meeting items and recognitions: Superintendent Dr. Mackey recognized visiting superintendents, principals and teachers from the Blue Ribbon schools and announced photo opportunities after the meeting. The board also held a Veterans Day recognition and presented commemorative lapel pins to Vietnam-era veterans; Dr. Wayne Reynolds accepted a pin and made brief remarks.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Dec. 8, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the Gordon Persons Building auditorium, with a work session to follow in Room P103.

Sources: meeting transcript of the Alabama State Board of Education, Nov. 10, 2022; remarks and NAEP summary presented by Maggie Hicks.