Turnaround Talk

• ABC Elementary Instructional Audit - Aug. 10-11
• West End Academy Instructional Audit - Aug. 16-17
• Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Instructional Audit - Aug. 17-18
• Chisholm Elementary Instructional Audit - Aug. 17-18
• Dozier Elementary Instructional Audit - Aug. 24-25
• J.E. Hobbs Elementary Instructional Audit - Aug. 29-30
• Washington K-8 Instructional Audit - Sept. 5-6
• Highland Gardens Instructional Audit - Sept. 7-8
• Faine Elementary Instructional Audit - Sept. 12-13
• Charles Brown Elementary Instructional Audit - Sept. 13-14

• Tentative date for the Turnaround Academy kickoff - September 19
  
• Deadline for schools to submit their 2023-2024 Goal/Action Plans - September 22

Instructional transformation focuses on diagnosing student learning needs, providing rigorous standards-based instruction, and eliminating barriers to learning. Addressing these areas can help educators adopt more effective and engaging instructional strategies. As this happens, students are more likely to be motivated and learn better. This leads to improved academic performance and a positive learning environment.

Through the transformation process, teachers are encouraged to use various teaching approaches and resources, catering to the diverse needs of learners. This helps reduce achievement gaps and ensures all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Engaging with parents and the broader community is another important part of instructional transformation. Improved communication and collaboration can lead to greater support for education initiatives and stronger partnerships for student success. Growing the school-home partnership can help address traditionally non-school-based factors so that every student comes to the task of learning ready for the challenge.

Seeing so many of our "Transformers" at this year's MEGA Conference was great. Several schools and OSI staff members delivered session after session of meaningful professional learning. Our Turnaround Meeting on Tuesday afternoon was especially powerful! The energy in the room was incredible, and the conversations between the administrators, teachers, and state partners were great examples of the power of collaboration.

The only downside to MEGA is you cannot get to every session. To help with that, a list of sessions has been created, sorted by topic. When you have a minute, take a look. I am confident you will find something useful.

MEGA 2023 Sessions

MEGA 2022 Sessions (you will need to make a copy when you click on the link)

Per Dr. Mackey's Mid Week Matters, July 26, 2023

The Alabama High School Graduation Requirements have been revised as follows:

College and Career Readiness

During the 2023 Legislative Session, the Alabama Legislature passed Act#2023-365, mandating that “commencing with the 2025-2026 school year, a public-school student shall earn one or more college or career readiness indicators approved by the State Board of Education, before graduation.”

Act#2023-365 expands on action previously taken by the Alabama State Board of Education and now requires students who are members of the Class of 2026 shall earn one or more college or career readiness indicators to be awarded a high school diploma. While official guidance is being finalized and additional information is forthcoming, it is important this information is shared with appropriate school leaders, staff, students, and their parents/families now.

Personal Financial Literacy

During the 2023 Legislative Session, the Alabama Legislature passed Act#2023-179, mandating that Alabama students entering Grade 9 in the 2024-2025 academic year complete a course in personal financial literacy and earn a passing score on a personal financial literacy assessment prior to graduation. Content standards found in the following course(s) have been reviewed and approved to fulfill the instructional requirements specified in Act#2023-179:

• Career Preparedness (22153G1000)

• Career Preparedness B (22153G0522)

The Financial Literacy Exam, being developed by the Alabama State Department of Education, will be administered to all students at the completion of one of the previously listed approved courses. While official guidance is being finalized, it is important this information is shared with appropriate school leaders, staff, students, and their parents/families now.

Please contact Sean Stevens with any questions.

One challenge for those serving as principals is how to be proactive vs. reactive. To assist principals in understanding critical tasks that need to be accomplished now while keeping an eye on those to prepare for in the future, the Office of School Improvement has developed a year-long principal calendar.

This live document is not an exhaustive list of all monthly activities. However, high-leverage, critical activities, and deadlines have been identified for planning and discussion. You may Save an Editable Copy and personalize the calendar to include school/LEA events and/or specific criteria for your principal assignment.

Amp Up Arts, an initiative of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, provides every student in Alabama with access to an arts education. Jemma Stephenson reports how Ashley Lucier, the director, spoke about how art education can help students find careers in arts and community. The initiative also placed local artists to teach art, which helps focus local art scenes.

Jeff Norris, Alabama Teacher of the Year, recently shared this picture of a sign posted outside his classroom. I thought it provided some valuable reminders of the importance of our work as schools across the state welcome their students back over the next few weeks.

June 2023

July 2023

Email: tim.solley@alsde.edu
Website: https://sway.office.com/x6GMkvnr5n1z2O6F
Phone: (256) 684-5778
Twitter: @Tim_Solley