1. A Vision for Alabama Schools
Draft for Discussion

2. In the knowledge-based economy of the future, a dynamic, healthy and prosperous Alabama will increasingly rely on the education of its population. The first step to realizing that vision is a high-performing system of public schools that challenges all children with world-class expectations for understanding English and its rich literature, mathematics, history and the requirements of a democracy, the sciences and the arts. Such a system demands educators with a deep understanding of the subject being taught, a personal allegiance to continuous self-improvement and a commitment to helping all children find their success in school and their lives thereafter. It is the Board’s vision and plan to promote and support such an equitable, accountable and just system.

3. Goals
Draft for Discussion

4. Goals (Each goal with have other targets and action steps)
A Prepared Graduate
Educator Preparation
Continuous Improvement of World-Class Educators
Pathways to Higher Education and Careers
Supporting an Accountable System

5. A prepared graduate
Students will learn from challenging, world-class standards in all subjects.
Students will demonstrate comprehension of knowledge and skills.
Students will be engaged in learning.

6. Educator Preparation
An educator preparation system that allows multiple pathways into teaching but demands the demonstration of deep understanding of content knowledge and literacy.
Rigorous requirements for educator preparation programs.
Accountability for results.

7. Continuous Improvement of World-Class Educators
Teachers must maintain a personal allegiance to continuous self- improvement.
State-embedded opportunities
Personalized opportunities (there are hundreds of opportunities out there for teachers, and we need principals to make sure they are aware of these opportunities). Currently, the teachers getting these opportunities learn about them via my “Grants for Teachers” facebook page.

8. Pathways to Higher Education and Careers
Ensuring that students are college-ready or university-ready
Encouraging flexible pathways to an affordable education
Expanding an accountable universe of career and technical education

9. Supporting an Accountable System
Equitable Funding
Accountability via multiple measures, such as authentic teacher-created assessments, a state assessment, as well as national and international measures of performance.