4 minute read
ALSDE Update
EXCELSIOR! ONWARD, UPWARD
Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent of Education
Over the past few years, several assessments that gage the academic progress of Alabama students have shown a peculiar trend… the state is heading in the right direction! Numerous publications and thinktanks have focused squarely on the results of both Alabama specific and national assessments and have come away with similar takeaways… Alabama is up to something, and it’s working.
In January, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, unveiled results that showed Alabama bucked the national trend of downward performance in 4th grade reading and 4th grade math. In fact, in what some are calling the “southern surge” the states showing the most growth in 4th grade math from 2019 to 2024 are West Virginia, Hawaii, South Carolina, Louisiana, and leading the pack – Alabama!
Alabama’s ranking in 4th grade math moved from 52nd in the nation in 2019, to 32nd in the nation in 2024. Likewise, 4th grade reading moved from 49th in 2019 to 34th in 2024. With most of the nation still reeling from the impact of the pandemic, Alabama is one of only five states to climb back to pre-COVID levels in 4th grade math.
Recently, the Public Affair Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) released a report on how Alabama’s 2024 graduates improved their performance on the ACT compared to previous years, “continuing a positive trend at a time when scores have continued to drift down nationally” and recognized Alabama’s slight yet consistent improvement in all four subjects tested (English, math, reading, science.) This, considering the fact that Alabama is one of only nine states in the nation that tests all high school students whether they are college bound or not.
We have received accolades and national media attention from several news organizations, including News Nation Live (the fastest growing cable news network in America), National Public Radio, Education Week magazine, FOX Business and others. Karen Vaites, a children’s literacy advocate in her reporting on NAEP called Alabama, the new kid on the growth block, in a section of her reporting called Alabama, the Ascendant. She described how Alabama has reinvigorated education through the implementation of professional development for educators, an influx of literacy coaches, summer reading and math camps, and other initiatives. What’s of note is that Alabama’s state assessment, the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) has also shown progress that in many ways, supports what we see happening on national tests. As a state, we are improving in education.
This did not occur haphazardly. The Alabama State Board of Education has worked diligently to implement policies that improve outcomes for all students. Significant investments from Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Legislature have made literacy and numeracy top priorities, and the supports made available to teachers, students, and parents are beginning to show dividends. This is the first time in a while that Alabama has received consistent good news for educational outcomes from various media outlets concerning a variety of tests that measure where out students are in K-12 education.
Let me clearly say, this is far from a victory lap! We have a lot of work to do. We are examining the percentiles of academic performances to ensure that students who are struggling do not get glazed over in the averages. It is important that we drill down to make sure Alabama’s success on certain standardized tests does not give a false narrative about students who are struggling the most. When I became State Superintendent of Education, we coined the phrase, Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day. That is more than an empty tagline. It is our daily attempt to make the education received in Alabama public schools one of the best in the nation. For decades, Alabama has kept the albatross of poor academic performance around its neck. I want to usher in a new expectation for Alabama teachers, students, and schools. An expectation of excellence, smart and effective governance, and of academic progress.
The Latin phrase “excelsior” translates to mean “onward and upward!” A phrase often used to describe progress and moving in a positive direction. There are a lot of moving parts in education and a lot of places we can place our attention. However, we are keeping our sights squarely focused on teaching and learning. In doing so, we set our expectations high, keep our nose to the grindstone, and look to move… onward, upward. Excelsior!
