Alabama

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Alabama
Second grade students in Dalia Gerardo's class at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022.
Dalia Gerardo's 2nd grade classroom at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., is pictured here in December 2022. The classroom features both English and Spanish labels and wall decorations.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners Project Once Resistant, An Alabama Town Now Sees Its English Learners as Its Future
What happened when a school district changed its culture and invested in young English learner supports?
Ileana Najarro, January 30, 2023
•
12 min read
Marlena Young-Jones, an ESL teacher at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., works with students on Dec. 9, 2022. The Russellville City School District has worked to meet the needs of an influx of Hispanic students over the last few years through a number of methods, including hiring nearly a dozen new bilingual aides.
Marlena Young-Jones, an ESL teacher at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., works with a class of students late last year. The district's investment in professional development and supports for English learners sends a strong signal about their importance, she says.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners In Their Own Words What's the Right Mindset for Teaching English Learners? A Teacher Explains
Teachers need the right dispositions to help English learners—but district leaders set the stage.
Ileana Najarro, January 30, 2023
•
4 min read
Brian Santos, a senior at Russellville High School in Russellville, Ala., stands for a portrait at the school Dec. 9, 2022.
Brian Santos, a senior at Russellville High School in Russellville, Ala., stands for a portrait at the school Dec. 9, 2022.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners Video Witnessing Change in a 'Little Town for Latinos’: An English Learner’s Journey
Born in Russellville, Ala., to immigrant parents from El Salvador, Brian Santos reflects on his journey as an EL student.
Lauren Santucci & Ileana Najarro, January 30, 2023
•
2:48
Russellville High School ESL teacher Edmund Martinez works with students in Russellville, Ala., on December 9, 2022.
Russellville High School ESL teacher Edmund Martinez works with students in Russellville, Ala., on December 9, 2022.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners Project The Language of Equity
An Alabama district has overhauled how it supports English learners—making great strides in early grades that it may not be able to sustain.
January 30, 2023
Dalia Gerardo works with her 2nd grade students at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022.
Dalia Gerardo, a bilingual teacher, works with her 2nd grade students at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022. Gerardo's classroom features bilingual signs that support her English learners—and encourage monolingual English speakers to engage with Spanish.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners Infographic The Growth of Hispanic Students and English Learners Nationwide—in Charts
As the demographic makeup of public school students changes, districts need to evaluate how well they are serving their students.
Ileana Najarro, January 30, 2023
•
1 min read
The Russellville City School District has worked to meet the needs of an influx of Hispanic students over the last few years through a number of methods, including hiring nearly a dozen new bilingual aides. Elizabeth Alonzo, pictured here before a class at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022, is one of the bilingual aides.
To meet the needs of a growing English learner population, Russellville City Schools has hired 10 new bilingual aides, including Elizabeth Alonzo, pictured here before a class at West Elementary on Dec. 9, 2022.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners In Their Own Words A Bilingual Aide Explains the Value of Representation for English Learners
Elizabeth Alonzo now provides the support she didn't get in school: Someone who speaks and values her first language.
Ileana Najarro, January 30, 2023
•
3 min read
Students ride the bus home from Russellville Middle School in Russellville, Alabama, on Dec. 9, 2022.
Students ride the bus home from Russellville Middle School in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English-Language Learners Project After Early Success With English Learners, Can a District Keep Its Momentum?
The Alabama school system's gains are threatened by time-limited funding, unaddressed needs at the secondary level, and moribund state policy.
Ileana Najarro, January 30, 2023
•
11 min read
A pedestal that held a statue of Robert E. Lee stands empty outside a high school named for the Confederate general in Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Two Montgomery high schools will no longer bear the names of Confederate leaders. The Montgomery County Board of Education has voted for new names for Jefferson Davis High School and Robert E Lee High School, news outlets report.
In this June 2020 photo, a pedestal that held a statue of Robert E. Lee stands empty outside a high school named for the Confederate general in Montgomery, Ala. The Montgomery school board voted this month to pay a hefty fine to the state in order to rename Robert E. Lee High and another school named for Confederate leader Jefferson Davis.
Kim Chandler/AP
School & District Management District Pays $50,000 Fine to Scrub Confederate Leaders' Names From Schools
The fine to Montgomery, Ala., schools stems from a 2017 state law designed to preserve public memorials.
Eesha Pendharkar, November 23, 2022
•
4 min read
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest in the hall outside of the Blue Room as Governor Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at the Capitol Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oka. The bill, which easily passed the Republican-led House and Senate mostly along party lines, took effect immediately with the governor's signature. It applies to female sports teams in both high school and college.
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams.
Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman via AP
States Beyond 'Don't Say Gay': Other States Seek to Limit LGBTQ Youth, Teaching
Legislators want to ban lessons on LGBTQ communities and require teachers to tell parents when students want their pronouns changed.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 6, 2022
•
9 min read
Collage of figures and money texture.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week and iStock/Getty
Education Funding State K-12 Spending Is Inequitable and Inadequate. See Where Yours Ranks
There's a $17,000 per student difference between the highest- and lowest-spending states. High-poverty schools suffer especially.
Mark Lieberman, October 28, 2021
•
4 min read
Illustration of students reading with pie chart.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
States From Our Research Center Map: A-F Grades, Rankings for States on School Quality
Here’s a map showing grades for all the states on this year’s Quality Counts summative report card, on which the nation gets a C overall.
EdWeek Research Center, September 1, 2021
•
1 min read
Illustration of students reading with pie chart.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
States From Our Research Center Nation Gets a 'C' on Latest School Quality Report Card, While N.J. Again Boasts Top Grade
A slight increase in this year's Quality Counts score isn't enough to boost the nation's school system above last year's middling grade.
Sterling C. Lloyd & Alex Harwin, September 1, 2021
•
8 min read
Illustration of students reading with pie chart.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
States From Our Research Center State Grades on K-12 Achievement: 2021 Map and Rankings
Examine the grades and scores that states and the nation earned on K-12 achievement, along with how they scored on a host of indicators.
EdWeek Research Center, September 1, 2021
•
1 min read
Conceptual image of a school door with projected shadows of students.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week (Images: iStock/Getty)
School & District Management Interactive Enrollment Data: How Many Students Went Missing in Your State?
America's public school system lost more than 1.3 million students during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an Education Week analysis.
Eesha Pendharkar & Maya Riser-Kositsky, July 2, 2021
•
1 min read
Load More ▼