Alabama was the only state in the nation to earn a ranking of “Strong” for improving elementary math instruction from the National Council on Teacher Quality.
The council’s report, which came out this week, found Alabama the only state that is strong in five areas for improving math instruction in elementary schools:
- The state sets specific, detailed math standards for teacher preparation programs
- Teacher preparation programs are reviewed to ensure they are providing strong math instruction
- The state has adopted a strong elementary math licensure test
- Districts are required to select and implement high-quality math curricula
- Teachers have access to professional learning and ongoing support to sustain effective math instruction
Here are the rankings of Alabama in each of these five areas: Three strongs and two moderates.
The latest NTCQ ranking only shows improvement in the area of preparations for math instruction in elementary school. The state education system must still work to move that improvement to actual results by elementary math students.
The June 3 NTCQ ranking was the second major benchmark on which Alabama showed substantial improvement at the elementary level. In scores from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in January, Alabama jumped to 31st in fourth-grade math and 33rd in fourth-grade reading.
Fourth grade is when NAEP tests are administered.
Alabama once held the nation’s lowest scores in both reading and math.
Leaders say the improvements are due to recent reforms, including the 2022 Numeracy Act, which has helped to increase the effectiveneess of math instruction.
The Numeracy Act aims to improve instruction by requiring schools to provide at least an hour of math instruction each day and to screen students for any deficiencies. So far, the new requirements seem to be paying off: Alabama’s math scores jumped by 7 points during the pandemic, while all but one other state dropped.
“You can’t improve math outcomes by focusing on just one piece,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey said in a news release. “Real progress happens when your standards, assessments, instructional materials, coaching and teacher preparation all point in the same direction. Alignment isn’t the finish line – it’s the starting point.”
The State Department of Education has a six-year plan to get at least one math coach in each school for a total of 900 schools. Mackey says they are about halfway through, with about 450 coaches.
We no longer need to say, “Thank God for Mississippi.”
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama. He writes about Alabama people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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