The Alabama State Board of Education on Sept. 9 unanimously approved a package of budget, regulatory and program items, including the Alabama State Department of Education’s fiscal year 2022 operating budget, the adoption of an updated teacher observation program, approval of an educator-preparation program for Faulkner University and amendments to two administrative-code chapters.

Why it matters: The operating budget funds department operations for the 2022 fiscal year; the administrative-code changes affect instructional services and specialized treatment centers; and the teacher observation program will guide principal and administrator evaluations as the department implements training this fall ahead of 2022 deployment, board members said.

Votes at a glance
- Approve Alabama State Department of Education FY2022 operating budget — Motion by Doctor Reynolds; second by an unnamed board member; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Repeal and adopt Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 290-4-2 (instructional services) — Motion by Yvette Richardson; second (recorded in transcript as "chef Nunn"); roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Amend Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 290-8-8 (specialized treatment centers) — Motion and second recorded; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Adopt Alabama teacher observation program — Motion by Doctor Reynolds; second by Missus West; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved. Board discussion and the superintendent’s report said principals and assistant principals will take training this fall to support implementation in 2022.
- Approve educator-preparation program for Faulkner University — Motion by Doctor Chestnut; second recorded; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Adopt resolution honoring Michelle Wellman as Barbara Fadden Memorial employee of the quarter — Motion by Doctor McCarty; second by Doctor Reynolds; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Proclaim September 2021 as Alabama Workforce Development Month — Motion by Missus West; second by Doctor McCarty; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Recognize Cash for College awards winners for Alabama schools — Motion by Yvette Richardson; second by Missus McRae; roll call unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Board staff conducted roll-call votes on each item and recorded each as a unanimous approval during the meeting. The board recorded no opposition or abstentions on these agenda items.

Background and implementation details cited at the meeting included superintendent remarks that principals and assistant principals across the state are undergoing training this fall to support implementation of the new teacher observation system in 2022 under federal guidelines. Board members also expressed gratitude for award recipients and workforce development partners.

The board did not receive public speakers at the meeting. The items above were approved during the regularly scheduled meeting and will take effect under the department’s normal implementation timelines or on dates specified in the respective rule texts.