Board adopts reconfiguration of passing scores for initial teacher certification; board member says standards alignment, not score increases

At its May 11, 2023 meeting, the Alabama State Board of Education voted unanimously to modify certain passing scores used as a precondition for initial teacher certification and for admission into educator preparation programs.

The motion to adopt the modification passed by voice vote. Dr. Reynolds clarified during discussion that the change is intended to bring passing scores into compliance with newly developed testing standards and “not actually changing the scores.” Dr. Reynolds said the action “is just to reconfigure them according to the revised decisions,” indicating the board’s vote implements the updated structure for scoring rather than raising or lowering the established cut scores.

Board minutes and the transcript show the motion was moved and seconded on the record and carried by a unanimous voice vote. The transcript records no public testimony or formal amendments to the motion during the item.

The board did not specify in the meeting record the numeric passing scores affected or the testing vendor; the transcript records the purpose of the motion as a compliance update for newly developed tests.