The Alabama State Board of Education on May 13, 2021 approved a package of resolutions and administrative actions, including multiple recognitions of student awardees, adoption of career and technical education textbooks, authorization or extension of educator-preparation program reviews, and ratification of selections for the Alabama Charter School Commission.

The board conducted roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of the April 8, 2021 meeting, then considered a series of resolutions and administrative votes. Most items were approved by voice or raised-hand votes and recorded as unanimous; one set of nominations to the Alabama Charter School Commission produced abstentions and required follow-up votes (see separate article on the charter nominations).

Among the formal actions the board approved by motion or resolution:
- Resolutions honoring students recognized by the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing program: Amari Crittendon (Lamp High School, Montgomery County), Aparna (last name variously transcribed; Bob Jones High School, Madison City), Gabriela Hawkes (Sparkman High School, Madison County), Laurel Shugart (Fort Payne High School, Fort Payne City), Marcela Todd (Alabama School of Math and Science), Natalie Sanders (Tuscaloosa Academy), and Vasilisa Douglas (Alabama School of Math and Science). Each resolution was moved, seconded, and approved by the board during the meeting. The board read standardized resolution language describing NCWIT, noting more than 4,228 national applicants and the role of the National Science Foundation in chartering the NCWIT initiative.
- A resolution recognizing Alabama’s Grow Our Own initiative and the Future Teachers of Alabama organization, which the resolution says is a partnership between the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Education Association aimed at encouraging students to pursue teaching careers. The board passed the resolution and invited students from participating programs to the dais for a photo.
- A resolution commending the Tuscaloosa City School System as Alabama’s 2020–21 nominee for the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award; the resolution noted systemwide energy-efficiency projects, bus-fleet conversions to propane, water-conservation measures, upgraded air-filtration systems and community food-security work. The resolution passed by voice vote.
- A resolution to adopt recommendations from the state textbook committee for career and technical education (CTE) clusters including agriculture, food and natural resources; law, public safety, corrections and security; and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The board approved the recommendation by raised-hand vote.
- Authorizations to review educator-preparation programs at multiple institutions: Athens State University and Faulkner University (motions to authorize review were moved, seconded and approved). The board also acted to extend approval of the educator-preparation program at the University of Mobile and to authorize review of the University of West Alabama program; those motions were moved, seconded and approved.
- Procedural and housekeeping motions: approval of agenda, approval of minutes, and a motion to adjourn, all approved by vote.

Several votes were recorded as unanimous on the record; where individual board members abstained or raised concerns, the transcript and meeting discussion include on-the-record explanation (notably on the charter nominations; see separate article). The board also recognized staff and department efforts during Dr. Mackey’s report and asked members to continue advocacy for additional statewide school nurses funding.