The Alabama State Board of Education heard an update on a time‑limited pilot that allowed some teacher candidates to be certified when their Praxis (practice) scores were within one standard error of measurement (commonly described as “minus‑1 SEM”). Department staff reported how many certificates the state has issued under regular program completion and how many candidates used the minus‑1 SEM option during the pilot, and board members discussed whether any future extension should require a commitment to serve in high‑need schools.

Board members and State Department of Education staff framed the update as a data review of a policy the board adopted last year as a limited pilot. Department staff said the board’s temporary authorization is set to expire (the pilot “sunsets”) in June 2024 unless the board votes to extend or modify it. The department reported that, to date, it had issued 3,148 certificates based on program completion and that 56 individuals had been certified using the minus‑1 SEM option; the department provided an institutional and subject‑area breakdown of those counts in a written document to board members.

Board members said the pilot was intended to respond to teacher shortages and emphasized two themes in the discussion: 1) how many of the additional candidates are entering high‑need or rural schools, and 2) what additional supports or incentives would be needed if the board were to extend the pilot. Several board members said they would be more likely to support any extension if recipients of the modified score made a commitment to teach in critical‑need jurisdictions for a defined period or if the state offered incentives to encourage placement in high‑need areas.

Department staff described ongoing and planned supports meant to reduce the need for an alternate cut score by helping candidates pass the regular cut score. Staff said they are piloting earlier, program‑embedded tutoring (beginning in students’ junior year rather than after graduation) in at least one institution to raise first‑attempt pass rates; they also said national testing vendor ETS provided a projection earlier that about 700 candidates could have entered the field under broader eligibility but that local participation varied and not all institutions used the option. Staff said the department circulated a memorandum to superintendents and to deans of colleges of education when the pilot was launched.

Board members and staff also noted other certification and quality safeguards that remain in place for candidates who did not meet the regular Praxis cut score: the department said some candidates were issued provisional or alternative certificates that require coursework (for example, 15 semester hours in the content area) or other conditions, and candidates must still meet other program requirements such as edTPA. One board member noted that even when a candidate receives an alternate pathway credential, most districts still look for the regular Praxis cut score when hiring, and some candidates choose to retake the test to reach the standard.

Next steps and timing: staff said they will provide an updated data report in July or August (after spring graduations) so the board can see whether more candidates enter certification before the pilot’s automatic sunset. Staff outlined possible options for the board if it seeks further action: extend the pilot for a limited period; narrow eligibility (for example, tie the certificate to service in designated high‑need districts); or decline to extend. Staff emphasized that any permanent change to state certification rules would require a formal recommendation and board action.

Board members asked staff for several follow‑up items in time for the summer update: (1) where candidates who received alternate certification are employed (district and school level) so the board can evaluate placement in high‑need jurisdictions, (2) a clearer count of candidates on emergency or other alternative certificates, and (3) a report on the department’s recruiting efforts and the early impact of two recently hired recruiters and updates to the TeachingAlabama platform. Staff agreed to return with those items in July or August. The board did not take a new formal vote during this discussion; staff characterized the conversation as data review and direction to return with more information.

The department said the pilot was adopted as a time‑limited measure in a context of teacher shortages and task‑force recommendations; staff emphasized that the department’s preference remains to help candidates meet the regular Praxis cut score through supports and early tutoring rather than rely on score flexibilities long term.