Editorial: AP Improvements - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: AP Improvements

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

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    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
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  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
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  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    •   

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Alabama boasts more than just the top ranked football team in the nation.

 The state ranks number one in the nation in improved student performance in advanced placement tests. 

This past year, Alabama showed the greatest percentage increase in the number of students who passed the AP tests – just under 18 percent, more than double the increase nationally. 

Alabama also increased the number of AP exam takers by 18 percent, also double the increase nationally.   

That is because the tests are now available to all students in every high school in Alabama thanks to the statewide distance learning program. 

The challenge now for our state is to increase the total number of students in Alabama who pass the exam.  Nationally the percentage of students who pass the exam doubles the percentage of those who pass in Alabama. 

And academic achievement nationally is abysmal as 7 out of every 10 eight-graders scored below proficient in both reading and math last year. 

Some states have enacted laws removing firewalls between student achievement and teacher evaluations to try and address these unacceptable numbers. 

Alabama should join them.  After all, if the players on our football teams don't win, the coach is changed.  

Perhaps applying that mind set to students and teachers would accelerate the wins in the classroom.      

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