[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6518570,"mediaKeyId","5387868-6b594872645ce8ba4af1fa588934031e","parentId",5387868,"title","State math office reports rapid rollout of summer math camps, 200 coaches and new 'Fun Zone' curriculum","audioSeconds",619,"startMs",2319000,"endMs",2938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387868-6b594872645ce8ba4af1fa588934031e&start=2319&end=2938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387868-6b594872645ce8ba4af1fa588934031e/thumbnail_2319000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518570/Alabama/State-math-office-reports-rapid-rollout-of-summer-math-camps-200-coaches-and-new-Fun-Zone-curriculum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518570-648b684ca063ddc70d357bf423c7b2b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512328&Signature=f2glKqnrk8~N2z2vfS5H3YNhMMeQ7YDE3xY4FikNc6L~vnp8pAKEh1PMKdBefeC7e3-qzs19MAwoy0Cw2uFcVjM5jhaozON3dbbq8EkfbdM0VOqQkS-iZj1lZkV7ADHqG8Om6NUTanBqbB-dNqK2i5oMferwYtDpgSckuZIycjGVIYKgiwlQ~wpeS38GqOZWT5b1cgzOZxC2RsxFLOmyz1-QWcSCok8vbx7bhgsToq3Y~G6f~~9eT7OsGvs98Pajv3l~4ilupBe5OM4Sl5CgvZbckHfGEU9Oi3TRLM6G3yj~ecVuSUqDgV5MLDT0GacG8GJeNLltxmx84IG1MR4ciA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama State Department of Education","date","2025-07-15T01:24:16Z","article","The Alabama Department of Education’s Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) reported Wednesday that it moved from startup to statewide operations this year, scaling to 108 full unlimited-support schools, about 200 math coaches and 18 regional coordinators while piloting a summer-camp curriculum focused on problem solving.

“The Office of Mathematics Improvement is really in full swing,” Dr. Anderson said in the board meeting as she presented data on summer math programs, regional staffing and curriculum resources.

OMI staff described the office’s staffing and regional structure, and said they plan to increase regional coordinators to 25 as they name another cohort of unlimited-support schools. The office said regional coordinators worked with local districts and the Alabama Reading Initiative on summer camps and professional learning, and that OMI provided curriculum and training to participating teachers.

For summer 2023, staff said they collected pretest/posttest data for students who took both assessments and removed single-test cases from the analysis. The office reported growth on benchmark measures for participating students in multiple grades and said they will compare outcomes to ACAP results when statewide scores are released.

OMI highlighted a new problem-solving unit called Fun Zone that staff wrote with regional coordinators. Staff described Fun Zone as an arts-centered, project-based unit for grades 4–5 that embeds standards-focused tasks and student discourse activities. The presentation included examples of student tasks (e.g., planning a community space with area and measurement challenges) and noted teachers used the unit during the school year as well as in summer camp.

Staff showed outreach and engagement work including a Padlet with curriculum resources, video guidance and an email pilot (avery.funzone@gmail.com) that invited student submissions; staff said regional coordinators conducted professional learning to support teacher use of the unit. OMI said they also organized a preconference session on the numeracy act and offered 12 breakout strands for teachers, coaches and administrators.

OMI urged districts to continue collecting and submitting summer-program data and said the office will refresh guidance for summer 2024. Board members praised staff for the rapid scale-up; one member noted that the state has local talent writing curriculum and urged districts to use it rather than buying out-of-state materials.

Ending: OMI staff said they will continue to document outcomes and align summer supports with research on the recommended number of instructional hours; they will also release updated guidance and data ahead of the 2024 summer campaign.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Board of Education Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","The Alabama Office of Mathematics Improvement told the State Board it has grown from zero to 200 math coaches and 108 unlimited-support schools this year, reported preliminary summer program assessment results and promoted a new problem-solving curriculum called Fun Zone.","taxTitle","Alabama State Department of Education, State Agencies, Executive, Alabama","taxId",80275,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6518574,"State board staff present draft higher-education literacy standards; rulemaking to start in January",1709,535000,2244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5387868-6b594872645ce8ba4af1fa588934031e&start=535&end=2244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5387868-6b594872645ce8ba4af1fa588934031e/thumbnail_535000.jpg","/articles/6518574/Alabama/State-board-staff-present-draft-higher-education-literacy-standards-rulemaking-to-start-in-January","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518574-b52188045f60ce3fc13848696421ed59/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512328&Signature=dSXKXMXSkNLVwr6wCjiXz9fQVk11BevZ5jRglJxts01CrgwyuvWKYh3pNYYyziRP9TtEx5iNDnzy8fIFMuAFUlzMANYLiG8z9UDEBeF5gB2c8~nkUGCX46smqUL8BXCXHMM8l-DfNVp3RO-iKxZe935XQvpszVCaa7GmwoNPziLWOEtLC4NamClOBB3buKgnF~G1X6f~4bmEnAox65mDlJ51tbLV93gsL-dyJwbVjRLrpHNameFKDGabw8bWCSPREDpGtwAB7qdy4BFkVEM7L64e4ruSmQQa8exwJClrjVGPH--e~HxhXo~crI7P-pCXbJQ6~EfKDOQl3L-QYvyKfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alabama State Department of Education staff and representatives from multiple universities presented a draft set of higher-education standards for preservice teacher preparation Wednesday, and told the State Board of Education they expect to bring the draft to the board in January for an intent-to-adopt vote that would open a 45-day public-comment period.

The standards were developed by a higher-education task force convened under the Alabama Literacy Act and supported through Path Forward/Hunt Institute work. Staff said the standards are designed to ensure elementary teacher candidates enter classrooms “ready on day 1” to teach using the science of reading and that the draft applies to both public and private educator preparation programs (EPPs).

A department presenter outlined three main action areas used to craft the draft: making preservice teachers ready on day 1, supporting higher-education faculty development and creating task groups to monitor implementation. The draft documents include indicators, recommended coursework, suggested field placements and suggested course sequences for each standard.

Department staff said institutions already reviewed their syllabi, textbooks and field experiences for alignment. Staff reported using the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) list to classify textbooks as exemplary, acceptable or unacceptable; institutions were asked to use only exemplary or acceptable texts. The department also reported requiring successful completion of the Foundations of Reading assessment (Pearson Test 190) prior to initial certification for candidates, and said many faculty are participating in LETRS training and other professional development.

The higher-education task force — whose members represent multiple universities, including Faulkner University, Auburn University, University of North Alabama and University of West Alabama — described a months-long process of reviewing standards, syllabi and outside models (including KPS and the Barksdale report) and holding face-to-face breakout sessions and revisions. A task-force member said the draft uses a progression of “recognize, explain and apply” for competency statements so faculty and students know how understanding and application should develop.

On a substantive policy point, staff told the board the draft would prohibit the use of a so-called “3 queuing” approach in Alabama EPPs. A staff member said, “Utilization of 3 queuing approach is prohibited in Alabama's EDPs,” and that the committee included the prohibition to make expectations clear to both public and private programs.

Staff described next steps: the department plans to present the draft to the board in January for intent to approve, then post the rule for a 45-day public-comment period with a return to the board in March for final action. Staff asked institutions to begin aligning curricula now, noting that some institutions already have aligned coursework and resources and that the department will support implementation through training and resources.

Board members and presenters said the work is collaborative across higher-education institutions and regional partners. The presentation also highlighted support from the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), collaborations with Pearson for score interpretation, and connections to national advisory experts through the Path Forward cohort.

The draft standards and the higher-education task-force materials will be posted for review when the department posts the formal rule packet. Staff emphasized that the January board item will be an intent-to-adopt step rather than final adoption.

Ending: The board did not take a final vote on the standards at this meeting; staff said they will seek the board’s intent-to-adopt in January, followed by public comment and a March final action date if the board proceeds with the rulemaking.","Alabama Department of Education staff and a higher-education task force presented draft higher-education standards aligned to the Alabama Literacy Act and outlined a rulemaking timeline that would open the draft to public comment after a January intent-to-adopt vote.","actionData","errors"]

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State math office reports rapid rollout of summer math camps, 200 coaches and new 'Fun Zone' curriculum

State board staff present draft higher-education literacy standards; rulemaking to start in January