Editorial: Statewide Education Improvement - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Statewide Education Improvement

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
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  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    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;
    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;
    •   

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Alabama no longer ranks at the bottom nationally among states for education performance. In fact, it ranks higher than 25 other states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, California and Colorado. 

That's according to Education Week, the nation's largest education publication, in their comprehensive annual report card issued each January. 

Their quality counts report issued this month gave the nation a C grade and Alabama a C+. 

Alabama scored above the national average on many assessments, but still received a D grade, 44th best in the country, on student achievement in reading and math proficiency in grades K-12, and the academic poverty gap between low-income students and non low-income students. 

The positive is Alabama is the national leader in gains in reading and math over the period measured – 2003-2009. 

And that is with the Math and Science initiative that fueled these gains funded in only 50% of our schools.  Imagine what can happen if this initiative is in all of our schools. 

That should be a priority for our new legislative leaders.  

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