Latest news with #NumeracyAct
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama House of Representatives passes Education Trust Fund Budget for 2026
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Alabama House of Representatives has passed the Education Trust Fund (ETF) Budget and its supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 26. 'As Alabama continues to make remarkable strides in public education, it's vital that lawmakers in Montgomery remain committed to equipping our school systems with the necessary resources to help students thrive,' said Speaker Ledbetter (R-Rainsville). 'This year's ETF is significant for several reasons. It funds paid parental leave for teachers, expands summer and afterschool programs, and increases funding for the Alabama numeracy act, which has been a catalyst for our state's nation-leading gains in 4th grade math. We're making another strong investment in the CHOOSE Act, Alabama's school choice program that is proving to be in high demand. Finally, we are creating the RAISE Program, a student-weighted funding model that funds schools based on their specific needs rather than headcount.' ETF/Supplemental Highlights Include the following: $27 million increase for the Numeracy Act $14.4 million increase for Summer/Afterschool Programs $9.6 million for Paid Parental Leave $15.6 million for Teachers Workman's Compensation $58 million for the RAISE Act $80 million increase for the CHOOSE Act 'I'm proud to have passed another strong Education Budget that positions our school systems for success,' said Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), who chairs the House Ways and Means Education Committee. 'For the first time ever, we are funding schools based off the needs of the specific students they serve instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach and funding on headcount alone. We're also making significant investments in programs supporting teachers and students. Public education is on the rise in Alabama, and I believe that the passage of this budget will help us continue moving in the right direction.' The Education Trust Fund will now return to the Senate floor for concurrence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
04-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
The Trump Administration's 'Long-Term' Play
President Donald Trump declared April 2nd the nation's 'Liberation Day' and implemented wide-ranging tariffs on nearly all of America's trading partners. The administration argues these tariffs will generate trillions of dollars in revenue to offset tax cuts and reduce the national deficit. FOX News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream joins to discuss the motives driving the President's decision to shift U.S. trade policy, provide updates from the Supreme Court, and recap the special election that took place earlier in the week. Department of Education, while Alabama is already taking proactive steps to improve its math scores. In 2022, Alabama passed the Numeracy Act, which emphasizes the importance of mathematics in early education. Dr. Karen Anderson, from the Office of Mathematics Improvement at the Alabama State Department of Education, joins us to discuss how her state has enhanced its educational initiatives and the positive results they have seen because of it. Don't miss the good news with Tonya J. Powers. Plus, commentary from the host of 'Tomi Lahren is Fearless on Outkick,' Tomi Lahren. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama House passes grocery tax cut bill
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — A slate of tax cut bills passed in the Alabama House on Tuesday, and Republicans and Democrats are supporting it. A trip down the aisle at your local grocery store could become less expensive. One bill would slash the grocery tax from 3% to 2%. State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) said it won't jeopardize funding for education, which is where the tax goes. 'We're trying to do some things we can do and at the same time, be responsible in our budgeting because we've been on a sugar high with revenue,' Garrett said. 'Revenue's kind of flattened, but we've budgeted for that.' Garrett said most states don't tax groceries, and that is a good step in the right direction. 'We're making investments in public education: Numeracy Act, Literacy Act,' Garrett said. 'We were the only state to show improvement in the last nation's scorecard. So I think all of these things work hand in hand, and we believe this is a sustainable tax cut.' Democrats agreed. State Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham) said it will help curb prices in the middle of President Donald Trump's trade war. 'Foods that come from other countries, like Mexico. Food that's coming from Canada and other place that we rely on,' Moore said. 'So this will be some relief.' 6-month-old baby dies following dog attack in Alabaster Another bill increases the amount of retirement income that can be tax-exempt. It doubles that amount from $6,000 to $12,000. State Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said these bills don't go far enough. 'You know, let's help 'em out,' Travis said. 'Let's keep giving relief to the working people in the state of Alabama. So this grocery tax is fine, the individual income tax — that's good. But again, just what can we continue to do?' State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) said he's for these bills. 'I think that anytime you tax people on things that are essential for them to live, anytime you can give that money back to the people, I think it's important that we do that,' Kiel said. The bill heads to the Alabama Senate for a committee vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey points to education gains, economic growth in State of the State address
Gov. Kay Ivey delivers the State of the State address in the Old House Chamber in the Alabama State Capitol on Feb. 4, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Will McClelland for Alabama Reflector) Gov. Kay Ivey touted Alabama's improvements in education, infrastructure and economic development in her 2025 State of the State address Tuesday while outlining legislative priorities focused on public safety and workforce participation. Speaking before lawmakers in the Alabama State Capitol, Ivey pointed to education policy changes that may have helped Alabama students improve in national academic rankings, and said 'we are, in fact, not just a football state—Alabama is an education state.' 'When I took office, Alabama ranked 49th in reading. Today, we are 34th. In math, we were 52nd—now, we are 32nd,' she said, crediting initiatives such as the Alabama Literacy Act and Numeracy Act in helping Alabama climb in national rankings for reading and math proficiency. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX While Alabama made significant gains in math and improved overall proficiency in reading, it was largely due to stagnant national scores. Reading scores for 4th graders remained unchanged from 2022, while 8th grade reading and math scores remained flat. Democratic leadership seemed generally pleased with Ivey's State of the State address. Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said he did not think that bragging about being 37th and 32nd ranks in fourth grade math was deserved. 'I think the governor wanted to expand on education and make sure that our students are growing. We want to do that some more,' he said. 'But to brag on our scores at 37 and 32, we got to get a little bit higher.' The governor also said expanding using tax dollars to pay for private education and homeschooling is a key driver of progress, pointing to the CHOOSE Act, a voucher-like program which provides families up to $7,000 per qualifying child for non-public education expenditures, including private school tuition. Currently capped at 300% of the federal poverty line, or around $75,000 for a family of three, the program will eventually be open to all families in Alabama with no cap on expenditure. House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said the speech lacked specificity, especially regarding the governor's praise of the CHOOSE Act. 'When we talk about the CHOOSE Act, I'm trying to understand, we've not seen any results,' he said. 'So, we're promoting something that has yet to tell us exactly what the benefits of it, if any?' Ivey also endorsed a new legislative effort to ban cell phones in schools, saying that social media use is negatively impacting student focus and well-being. 'We have to know the time, the place, and how to use these tools,' she said, calling on lawmakers to pass a bill requiring internet safety policies and social media training for students. On the economy, Ivey said that since taking office, Alabama has secured over $55 billion in new business investments and created 93,000 jobs but said there is 'still a lot of work' to be done to increase workforce participation. Public safety was another theme in Ivey's address, with the governor pledging to crack down on violent crime and illegal firearm modifications. She endorsed a legislative package aimed at increasing penalties for felons caught with firearms; expanding the list of offenses covered by Aniah's Law, allowing judges to deny bond to those arrested for violent offenses,and banning Glock switches, which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons. 'To back the blue, we will provide law enforcement with enhanced legal protections that allow them to carry out their duties courageously and effectively without fear of Monday morning quarterbacking in the courts,' Ivey said. Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, has sponsored bills in the last two legislative sessions to ban Glock switches. The bill passed the House late in the 2024 session with some Republican support but did not emerge from the Senate. Ensler is bringing the bill for the third time this year. 'I'm really glad that she announced that,' Ensler said after the speech. 'It's not a Democrat or Republican issue, it's a human issue. I know people in my district, you know, and a lot of the big cities have really been calling for that.' Singleton and Daniels said they need to see details of the crime package. Singleton said he wants communities to be safer. 'I want protection in my community, just like anyone else. But I want to make sure that what's in that package is going to be something that we can live with in our communities,' he said. Daniels said he has a lot of questions about the package and needs to know what these bills would mean. 'One of the things that really got me alarmed is the immunity, the legal protections. I have to understand exactly, 'What do you mean by that?'' he said. 'You know, you hear rumors about immunity. You hear rumors about tort police, tort reform for law enforcement. I want to know what that means. I guess I need more specificity on those particular items as well.' Ensler said he wished Ivey had mentioned mental health in her speech and he believes that should be a priority of the legislature. 'I think that, you know, that's a huge issue,' he said. 'Look, the state has made some good progress on it, but I think we have to continue to focus on that, and that has to be a priority.' Ivey also announced support for the Second Chance Act, a criminal justice reform measure designed to ensure state prison space is used for the most serious offenders. House Republicans killed a bill in the 2024 legislative session by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, in a procedural vote. Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, said after the speech this is an 'opportunity' to have 'common sense approach when it comes to criminal justice.' 'These are a group of offenders who, if they were sentenced today, would never get anything even close to the sentence they got back then,' Bedsole said. Alabama lawmakers plan to prioritize crime and immigration in 2025 legislative session The governor also said immigration is 'top security concern of every American,' aligning with former President Donald Trump, adding that 'securing the southern border is securing Alabama's border.' Daniels urged caution regarding immigration bills this session. He made the point that artificial intelligence cannot do the work in the construction and hospitality industries that migrants do. 'I think we've got to be very cautious about how it impacts our construction industry, how it impacts our hospitality industry,' he said. 'And so understanding the impact of this and our economy, how that's going to work impact workforce participation.' Ivey also endorsed legislation to provide education and state employees with parental leave. Two pieces of legislation, one by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, for education employees, and another by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, for state employees, gained momentum in the 2024 legislative session but failed after lawmakers said they wanted the bills to be in line with one another. Shaver said she's excited to have Ivey's support and thinks the bill can pass this year. 'This will give mothers time to properly bond their children, and that'll give us more very well-adjusted children, stronger families and better employees,' Shaver said. Amy Marlowe, executive director of the Alabama Education Association (AEA), said in a statement that is a 'step forward for Alabama's educators, their families, and, most importantly, their students.' 'Ensuring educators have the opportunity to care for and bond with their children without the fear of financial hardship is not just the right thing to do—it's an investment in the long-term success of our schools and communities,' she said in the statement. Ivey also backed the 'What is a Woman' bill, which defines gender as strictly male or female. She also called for legislation allowing the Ten Commandments and other historical documents to be displayed in classrooms, a law that Louisiana passed in 2024 and is currently on hold after U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles blocked the law as 'unconstitutional on its face.' In closing, Ivey called for 'responsible budgets that do not grow government' and continued investment in job creation. 'The people of Alabama deserve our very best,' she said. 'Future generations of Alabamians deserve our hardest work today. This is our opportunity—so let's not waste a moment.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama leads growth in reading and math scores, according to Nation's Report Card
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Data released Wednesday shows Alabama is one of few states to grow in reading and math scores nationally since the pandemic. The National Assessment of Educational Progress is based on test scores in reading and math from fourth, eighth and 12th graders across the U.S. The test is given every two years. Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey said he is pleased with elementary math scores but mentioned there's still more work to do. 'You may read in the national news that nationally, reading went down,' Mackey said. 'There were only two states that have recovered to pre-pandemic levels and seen growth, and that's Alabama and Louisiana.' Since 2019, Alabama has jumped from 49th to 34th in the nation for fourth-grade reading. When it comes to fourth-grade math, Alabama moved from 52nd to 32nd in the nation in that time. Mackey said he wants to continue building on that growth. 'So we feel like what we're doing in the classroom is working, but it's going to be summer school. It's going to be after-school care. It's going to be intercessions,' Mackey said. 'What happens outside the classroom is almost as important as what happens in the classroom.' Nation's Report Card: Alabama scores still below national average despite growth in 2024 Gov. Kay Ivey said Alabama is on the right path to continuing improvement. 'We're number two in the nation for the largest gains in reading,' Ivey said. 'So this is good news for Alabama, and we are grateful to the students, teachers and their parents.' Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said the legislature is ready to support those gains in education this year. 'This is the biggest move we've ever made since I've been here,' Ledbetter said. 'So we can be proud that we are more along the national average now instead of being at the bottom, so job well done.' Corey Clements, Chilton County Schools superintendent, said the Literacy Act and improving attendance has been a key to success. 'We'll be starting the Numeracy Act coming up soon, and [we] hope to see as those students progress through the grades, we hope to continue to see our NAEP scores improve like this,' Clements said. Mackey said the Alabama Department of Education will be submitting a record budget request to the legislature in 2025 aimed at helping students improve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
