Overview and Vision

The general function of this website is to briefly describe five of the state initiatives Alabama is developing for their students and residents. Every child deserves to achieve and accomplish their goals. With Federal legislation, like No Child Left Behind, students all across the country, and especially Alabama, failed to meet unrealistic test scores and grade requirements. After realizing the implications of No Child Left Behind, the Alabama State Board of Education took action and constructed PLAN 2020. 

Every student should be prepared for higher education, the workforce, adulthood in the 21st century. With PLAN 2020, a prepared graduate is a person who possess the knowledge and skills needed to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing, first-year courses at two/four-year college, trade school, technical school, without the need for remediation. To achieve PLAN's goal, by the year 2020 all students should be able to perform at or above proficiency and show continuous improvement (achievement/growth). Also, all students should be able to succeed in their classes exhibiting gap closure.

By having a School Readiness Plan that includes a unified Pre-K to college education and a balanced, meaningful system of assessment and accountability, Alabama will be able to increase graduation rates, improve parent-student-teacher relationships, and improve the state overall. Resources for teachers and tools for students that lead to a unified Alabama education include the initiatives created by PLAN 2020: Alabama Reading Initiative; Alabama Math, Science, and Technology; Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide; Alabama Learning Exchange; and Alabama Virtual Library.

Ultimately, these five projects have greatly benefitted the state; test scores increased, graduation rates rose, and success and confidence among students graduates is palpable. Though every initiative has drawbacks, the positives outweigh hinderances. Each of the five following posts will introduce and discuss a state Alabama initiative.