Alabama #1 in Improved Student Performance
Alabama has ranked #1 in the nation for improved student performance. Read the article from AL.com:HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Schools throughout the area are still waiting to find out how they fared on Advanced Placement tests, which on Monday Gov. Bob Riley announced had put Alabama first in the nation in improved student performance.
Statewide, students showed a 17.7 percent increase in the number of students scoring a passing grade on AP tests. The state also showed significant improvement in the total number of students taking the tests, as well as the number of minority students participating, and their scores.In a news release from his office, Riley said that the state's success is because of its partnership A+ College Ready initiative and its commitment to funding the ACCESS Distance Learning initiative.
"These results speak for themselves," Riley said. "The innovations we have made in Alabama schools are resulting in more participation and higher achievement in AP courses. That means more Alabama students have the opportunities they deserve, no matter where they live."
Malissa Valdes, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Education, said data has not yet been disseminated beyond the state levels. The data comes from the College Board, which administers AP tests at all schools across the nation.
District-level information will not be available to the public until January.
"Districts can get information online before (January), but it is not even available to them online yet," Valdes said.
Geraldine Tibbs, spokeswoman for Madison County Schools, said that off the preliminary information the county district has received thus far, the report will be good.
"We are expecting great gains," Tibbs said. "We are very pleased with that."
No information for Huntsville City Schools was immediately available.
Madison County Schools did not participate in the A+ College Ready program because it was already succeeding in AP student involvement, said Dr. Camille Wright, director of secondary education for that district.
"We have a total of 26 AP courses," Wright said.