>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS TOMORROW FOR WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE THE LAST WEEK OF THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION.

THERE ARE FOUR LEGISLATIVE DAYS REMAINING, AND THE PLAN IS FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO MEET TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN A RARE FOUR-DAY WEEK TO END THE SESSION.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY DON'T ALL HAVE TO BE FULL DAYS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE LEGISLATURE GOES UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURSDAY A NEW LEGISLATIVE DAY STARTS AT 12:01 AND THEY COULD ROLL RIGHT INTO IT.

IN ANY CASE, IT IS GOING TO BE A FAST-PACED WEEK IN THE STATE HOUSE AS LAWMAKERS TRY TO GET IMPORTANT LEGISLATION ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

A LOT OF THAT WILL INVOLVE THE HOUSE AND SENATE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE EACH CHAMBER'S BILLS GET CONSIDERED.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER EXPLAINED IN MORE DETAIL.

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>> WE'LL DO A LOT OF CLEAN UP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HOUSE BILLS THAT NEED TO GET OUT OF THE SENATE.

I KNOW THE SENATE IS GOING TO HELP US DO THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SENATE BILLS.

AS OF TODAY, THIS IS THE LAST DAY TO MOVE HOUSE BILLS, GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE COMMITTEES AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE AND THE BODY.

NOW WE'LL WORK ON THE BILLS COMING IN NEXT WEEK.

COMING IN FOUR DAYS AND START ON TUESDAY AND WORK THROUGH.

I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO OUR LAST DAY, THE WAY IT SOUNDS, TALKING TO THE SPEAKER THIS AFTERNOON.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD VETO SO FOR THAT REASON WE'LL PROBABLY COMPLETE THE 30 DAYS.

>> THE HOUSE IS SLATED TO TAKE UP A NUMBER OF SENATE BILLS WHEN IT CONVENES TOMORROW.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGH-PROFILE BILLS.

FIRST UP IS SENATE BILL 200 FROM SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN THAT WOULD DELAY THE RETENTION PROVISION OF THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT BY TWO YEARS.

THIS IS THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THIRD GRADE STUDENTS WHO CANNOT READ PROFICIENTLY NOT BE PROMOTED TO FOURTH GRADE.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND MANY REPUBLICANS HAVE ARGUED FOR A ONE-YEAR DELAY INSTEAD.

SENATE BILL 170 FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR WOULD TAKE NEW NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS' TEST SCORES OUT OF A PERFORMANCE MARKER USED TO ASSIGN LETTER GRADES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ORR SAYS SCHOOLS WITH HIGH NUMBERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, OR ELLS, ARE UNFAIRLY HURT BY THE ANNUAL GRADING SYSTEM USED TO COMPARE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

SENATE BILL 282 FROM SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT CITIES CAN RETAIN FROM TRAFFIC FINES AND FEES.

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE SPEED TRAP SITUATION UNCOVERED IN BROOKSIDE, ALABAMA.

AND SENATE BILL 272 FROM SENATOR DAN ROBERTS WOULD REGULATE AND SET STANDARDS FOR TELEMEDICINE IN ALABAMA.

RIGHT NOW, LEADERS CALL ALABAMA THE WILD WEST WHEN IT COMES TO TELEHEALTH AND SAY THAT COULD LEAD TO SCAMS.

ONE BILL NOT ON THE AGENDA BUT STILL WAITING HOUSE PASSAGE IS SENATE BILL 117 FROM SENATOR WILL BARFOOT.

IT WOULD END THE PRACTICE OF SUSPENDING DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNPAID FINES AND FEES FROM NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MERIKA COLEMAN IS CARRYING THE BILL IN THE HOUSE AND SAID THERE IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR.

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>> WHAT WE FOUND, WE GOT ADVOCACY GROUPS TO COME AND TALK WITH US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE HAVE TO GETTING EMPLOYMENT, TO BEING ABLE TO SECURE, YOU KNOW, A HOME.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS.

AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW FOLKS THAT ARE POOR, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR TRAFFIC FINES OR HAVE FAILURE TO APPEAR BECAUSE PEOPLE MOVE.

LOTS OF LOW INCOME FOLKS MOVE A LOT.

AND THE COURT CAN'T FIND YOU.

AND THEN, THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE IS BEING SUSPENDED.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

FURTHER PUSHES THEM INTO POVERTY.

>> THE HOUSE NOW ALSO HAS THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND THAT PASSED THE SENATE LAST WEEK.

A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY.

HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DANNY GARRETT TALKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HISTORIC TEACHER PAY RAISES INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

>> I THINK IN ANY BUSINESS, WE DON'T HAVE MERIT RAISES PER SE, IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, LIKE YOU DO IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WE FOUND OUT FROM TEACHER STANDPOINT WE'RE COMPETITIVE ON THE UPPER AND LOWER END, BUT IN THE MIDDLE RANGE NOT SO COMPETITIVE.

BUT EVEN WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN THE SURROUNDING STATES, IT ALLOWS THE STEP INCREASES TO HAVE SENSE AND HAVE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STEPS IN AN ORDERLY AND APPROPRIATE YEARS OF MIGRATION FROM YEARS OF SERVICES THAT'S THE LOWER END OF THE TOP THERE.

AND IT'S A REINFORCEMENT OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE MATRIX WHERE WE LOSE TEACHERS.

WE GET THEM IN, BUT NOW WE'RE GETTING FEWER IN, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES WITH TEACHER SHORTAGE.

AND TO RETAIN THE TEACHERS, WE NEED TO DO THIS TO ADDRESS IT.

>> THE SENATE DOESN'T YET HAVE AN AGENDA TO WORK FROM.

BUT PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREGORY SAYS HE EXPECTS TO SEE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS BROUGHT UP ON THE FLOOR.

>> THERE MAY BE CONTENTIOUS THINGS COMING UP, SEVERAL BILLS PART OF PACKAGES FROM THE HOUSE THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TUESDAY, THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, PACKAGES LIKE BROADBAND, BUSINESS PRIVILEGE TAX AND OTHER HOUSE BILLS IN OUR TAX CUT PACKAGE, $160 MILLION TAX CUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

AND SEVERAL OF THOSE ITEMS WILL BE PRIORITIES.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S INTERVIEW, WITH STATE SUPERINTENDENT, DR. ERIC MACKEY.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY DR. ERIC MACKEY, ALABAMA STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION ISSUES AFOOT.

AND WE'RE IN THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE LEGISLATURE, FOUR DAYS LEFT.

THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, ALMOST THERE.

PASSED THE SENATE LAST WEEK AND TALK OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

AND IN IT, RECORD BUDGET $8.2 BILLION AND WHAT STANDS OUT ARE THE TEACHER PAY RAISES BUT THE STEP RAISES LATER FOR THEIR CAREER.

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE MAKER IS THIS FOR ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

>> WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE TEACHERS CALLING AND TRYING TO FIND OUT AND SOME FROM FOLLOWED THROUGH AND RESCINDED RETIREMENT EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT PAST ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE HUGE IN TEACHER RETENTION.

HAVING TEACHERS AT THE END OF THE CAREER TOWARD THE END OF THE CAREER SAYING, I'LL STAY ANOTHER FOUR, FIVE, SIX YEARS FOR THE HIGHER SALARIES.

AND CHANGES PENSION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS FOR THEM TO STAY THERE'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR RECRUITMENT TOOL.

AND I KNOW THAT SENATOR ORR HAVE WANTED TO PUT MONEY IN THE CLASSROOM.

WHERE DO WE DO THE MOST.

NOBODY DOES MORE IN THIS BUSINESS THAN THE TEACHERS.

SO, EVERY POSITION IS IMPORTANT FROM A CAFETERIA WORKER TO BUS DRIVERS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, STATE OFFICE PEOPLE AND ALL OF THE POSITIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

ONE POSITION THAT TOUCHES A CHILD'S LIFE EVERYDAY SINGLE DAY, OVER IN AND OUT, THAT'S THE TEACHERS.

AND I'M PROUD TO SEE SUCH AN INVESTMENT IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

>> RIGHT, THAT'S FASCINATING, EVEN BEFORE IT'S LAW, THEY ARE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT TO RETIRE QUITE YET.

THAT'S WHAT THE STEP RAISES DID, WE HAD THE MATRIX OF, IF YOU ARE THERE FOR 25 YEARS, IT WAS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE AND IT GOES UP AS THE SERVICE GOES UP.

>> RIGHT.

PEOPLE STARTING, IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS, GET A 4% COST OF LIVING AND THAT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND THEN, AS WE GET LATER IN THE CAREER -- REALLY STARTING WITH YEAR NINE.

THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE AND THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE, IT GOES 12, 15, 16 PERCENT AND THOSE THAT TOP OUT, 30 YEARS, THEY GET MORE THAN A LITTLE OVER A 20% RAISE.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE CALLING TO COME BACK TO WORK TOO.

MAYBE IF THEY WORKED 30 YEARS AND RETIRED.

THEY CAN COME BACK, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING BACK INTO THE PROFESSION.

AND WE GET MORE CALLS FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO COME BACK INTO THE PROFESSION THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> AND I KNOW ALABAMA WAS A LEADER IN STARTING PAY, AT LEAST IN THE SOUTHEAST.

BUT OTHER AREAS OUTBID US FIVE, 10 YEARS, THE STEP RAISES INTO THEIR CAREER?

DOES THIS GET US BACK ON PAR.

>> RIGHT, WE HAD THE HIGH STARTING PAY IN THE SOUTHEAST BUT IT PETERS OUT REALLY EARLY AND BY THE 10, 12 YEAR, WE WERE BEHIND MOST OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES.

THIS IS GOING TO PUT US ON PAR WITH ANYBODY IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION.

PUTTING US AHEAD OF MOST.

AND THERE'S ONLY A FEW STANDOUTS, LIKE, NASHVILLE, NOT THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, BUT NASHVILLE IS HIGH WITH SALARIES AND THERE'S A FEW STANDOUTS ABOVE OUR MATRIX BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE'RE AHEAD OF MOST SOUTHEASTERN STATES.

>> Todd Stacy: OKAY.

I TALKED TO SENATOR ORR ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT AND NOT ALWAYS COMPETING OTHER STATES OR CITIES, BUT IN THE REWORKED ECONOMY, YOU ARE COMPETING AGAINST THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> THAT'S OUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR.

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING INTO TEACHING HAS GONE DOWN.

IT WAS DOWN ABOUT 40% BETWEEN 2010 AND 2017 AND HAS ACTUALLY TICKED BACK UP SOME.

BUT THE BIGGER PROBLEM, THE PEOPLE GRADUATING WITH A TEACHING DEGREE BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE MORE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND WE LOSE MORE TEACHERS IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPETING OUT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND THAT'S REALLY OUR BIGGEST COMPETITION.

NOT FLORIDA AND GEORGIA REALLY, STILL HAVE THAT, BUT OUR BIGGEST COMPETITION IS PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

>> Todd Stacy: I TALKED TO SENATOR ORR AND MAJORITY LEADER LEDBETTER, YOU SEE THE RECORD SPENDING BUDGET $8.2 BILLION.

AND YOU SEE PAY RAISES, FIVE, 10, 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE IN THOSE RANGES.

AS LEADER OF THE AGENCY, ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT OVERSPENDING AND CUTTING BACK LATER.

>> FORTUNATELY, I'M NOT.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET.

AND YOU KNOW THIS YEAR WITH THE BUDGET WE'RE PUTTING IT BACK IN SAVINGS AND FULLY PAYING OFF THE PACT DEBT.

AND WE'RE MOVING ALONG TO MAKE THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE BUDGET.

AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE A DOWNTURN, AND WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT IT WHEN THE FEDERAL MONEY PETERS OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT MONEY.

EVEN IF IT'S TIGHT BUDGET, WE'RE OKAY BECAUSE WE HAVE SAVINGS AND WAY DOWN THE ROAD, THE GROWTH IS GOING TO FAR EXCEED THIS SO WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.

BUT WHAT WE MIGHT SEE, JUST TRYING TO PREDICT DOWN THE ROAD, THIS YEAR ACROSS THE BOARD, 4% RAISE AND MULTIPLE, BACK TO BACK, IVEY ADMINISTRATION AND MAY SEE SMALLER STEPPING, SMALLER COST OF LIVING INCREASES BECAUSE THE MONEY IS BUILT INTO THE STEP INCREASES ALREADY.

AND THINK THERE'S COST OF LIVING INCREASES AND WE MAY SEE SMALLER ONES ACROSS THE YEARS.

>> SWITCHING GEARS TO NUMERACY, TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND GAINED A LOT OF MOMENTUM, ALMOST FROM NOWHERE, PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE, ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE STATE IS REALLY ATTEMPTING TO ATTACK THE MATH PROBLEM, THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE MATH INSTRUCTION.

AND FROM THE STATE'S SUPERINTENDENT INSTRUCTION, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE TOOL THAT THIS BILL GIVES YOU TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

>> ABSOLUTELY THRILLED WITH ALL OF THESE NEW MATH COACHES COMING OUR WAY.

AND BACK TO FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN I INTERVIEWED FOR THE JOB, I HAD LAID OUT THREE PRIORITIES AND ONE OF THOSE WAS MATH.

AND I SAID WE HAVE TO HAVE NEW MATH STANDARDS AND HIGH QUALITY MATH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.

AND THE BOARD ADOPTED LAST YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE PUT THE HIGH STANDARDS AND HIGH QUALITY MATH IN THAT PLACE.

AND THE OTHER THING, WE HAD TO HAVE MATH COACHES TO HELP THE TEACHERS TO TEACH AT A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING.

AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY, SHOULDN'T THE MATH TEACHERS KNOW HOW TO TEACH MATH.

BUT YOU KNOW, SOME ARE REPELLED BY HAVING A COACH IN THE ROOM.

BUT ALL OF THE FOOTBALL PEOPLE, THEY HAVE QUARTER COACHES, AND EVEN THE BEST MAKE THE GAME BETTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, NOT TEACHING, ADDING, SUBTRACTING, MULTIPLYING, DIVIDING, THEY DO THAT.

BUT THAT'S NOT GETTING US WHERE WE GO IN THE INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL TEST.

THEY ARE ABOUT DEEP APPLICATION OF SKILLS.

THAT'S WHERE THE COACHES COME IN AND HELP DO THAT.

AND THIS IS THRILLING TO ME THIS.

IS A PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR FOUR YEARS AND THIS IS THE CAPSTONE.

REMIND YOU, REMINDING ALL OF OUR VIEWERS OUT THERE, IT'S STILL A WHILE AND THE MATH COACHES UNDER THE BILL DON'T GO INTO THE CLASSROOM FALL OF 2023.

WE DON'T FULLY IMPLEMENT ALL OF THEM UNTIL LATER IN THE DECADE.

THIS IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD, ONE THAT I WISH WE HAD DONE A LONG TIME AGO.

AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Todd Stacy: I FIND IT INTERESTING, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, ONE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND THE LITERACY ACT, WHEREAS, THE LITERACY ACT, THE ACCOUNTABILITY WAS ON THE STUDENT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO PROMOTE TO FOURTH GRADE UNTIL THEY CAN READ THIS.

IS MORE ON THE SCHOOL OR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IF A SCHOOL CONTINUES TO FAIL OR SHOW LACK OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THERE ARE WAYS THAT THE STATE CAN COME IN AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

AND MUCH LIKE THE LITERACY ACT, WE KEEP SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT RETENTION, BUT PREVENTION.

AND SAME WAY WITH MATH AND NUMERACY.

WE HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.

BECAUSE IF THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING THE WORK ON THEIR OWN, THE MATH COACHES WORKING WITH THE TEACHERS AND THOSE TEACHERS ARE IMPROVING IN INSTRUCTION, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND THE PREMISE IS, IF YOU DO THAT DOWN THE ROAD, IF YOU HAVE SCHOOLS JUST NOT GETTING IT DONE, THEN THE STATE COMES IN, RUN THE SCHOOLS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE AGAIN, JUST LIKE I AM WITH THE RETENTION ^PIECE IN LITERACY, WE DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND GETTING IT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> NOW, I KNOW YOU WERE ORIGINALLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON A NATIONAL PANEL ON EDUCATION ISSUES.

DID THIS COME UP IN NUMERACY.

>> IT DID.

I WAS ON A PANEL WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR COVID FUNDS, FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS TO CATAPULT OUR STATES FORWARD.

AND THE PANEL I WAS ON, INCLUDING MYSELF, INCLUDING SUPERINTENDENTS FROM INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND I WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMERACY ACT.

WE TOOK OUR FEDERAL FUNDS AND INVESTED IN A MATH COACH PILOT PROGRAM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

WE'RE ALREADY DOING THIS.

AND ALREADY DOING, DEPLOYING 50 COACHES FROM ACROSS THE STATE, GATHERING EVIDENCE, SEEING WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK.

AND WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT TO ACCELERATE THE WORK WITH THE NEW STATE-FUNDED COACHES.

>> THERE WAS TALK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WHEN IT CAME OUT, COMMON CORE SOMEHOW BEING SECRETLY INCLUDED IN THE BILL.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT FROM THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT'S POSITION.

>> WELL, DEFINITELY NOT COMMON CORE.

IT'S REALLY ANTI-COMMON CORE.

WE'RE NEVER GETTING BACK TO COMMON CORE.

AND WHERE PEOPLE GET CONFUSED, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW, SOME OF THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE NOW OVERLAP WITH THE COMMON CORE.

NO WAY THAT YOU WILL EVER GET AWAY FROM THAT.

FIRST THING IN KINDERGARTEN, TEACHING CHILDREN TO COUNT.

AND WE TEACH CHILDREN TO COUNT FROM 1-100.

AND COMMON CORE REQUIRES THEM TO LEARN TO COUNT FROM 1-100.

AND IT'S FOOLISH TO SAY, WELL, IF COMMON CORE SAYS THAT, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO COUNT.

WELL, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

NOW, 78-90% WERE OUR STANDARDS.

MATH IS MATH.

SO, I DO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S SOME CONFUSION.

THE BIG THING ABOUT COMMON CORE, WHEN IT CAME IN, MANY OF US WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, WHEN YOU SIGN THE NATIONAL COMPACT.

YOU ARE SAYING, HEY WE'RE GOING TO LET THE NATIONAL GROUP DECIDE OUR STANDARDS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T CHANGE MUCH, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONSTERNATION, I HAD SOME MYSELF, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE LETTING AN OUTSIDE GROUP IN THE FUTURE DETERMINE WHERE WE ARE GOING, WHETHER IT'S MATH, ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE OR WHATEVER.

WELL, WE'VE UNDONE ALL OF THAT.

WE'RE NO LONGER PART OF THAT CONSORTIUM AND ANYBODY THAT FEARS THAT, WHAT ABOUT IF MACKEY IS GONE, DOWN THE ROAD, NEW STATE BOARD SAYS WE WANT TO REJOIN COMMON CORE.

NOW, IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Todd Stacy: I SEE.

ALSO, WHEN THE BILL WAS ON THE FLOOR, WE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM LAWMAKERS WHETHER OR NOT THE TEACHERS COMING OUT OF OUR COLLEGES RIGHT NOW ARE, JUST ON AVERAGE, UP TO THE TASK OF TEACHING MODERN SUBJECTS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT FROM YOUR POSITION.

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT OUR TEACHER PREP PROGRAMS ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF GETTING TEACHERS READY FOR THE BASIC, LET'S GO IN THE CLASSROOM AND DO THE WORK.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING TODAY THAN WE DID 30 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.

ACTUALLY MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE!

OR EVEN 10 YEARS AGO.

WHEN WE LAUNCHED THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE IN THE EARLY 2000S, WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE ABOUT LEARNING.

AND WE WANT TO CONSTANTLY COACH AND GET OUR TEACHERS USING THE MOST ACCURATE, UP TO DATE STUFF.

QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, LIKE TO THE FOOTBALL ANALOGY.

WE HAD WINNING FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE 1960S.

BUT IF YOU WERE STILL RUNNING THE SAME OFFENSE, DEFENSE, AND USING THE SAME STRUCTURES THAT YOU ARE USING IN THE 1960S, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOSING TEAM.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE ABOUT WEIGHT LIFTING, SCIENCE OF ATHLETICISM, MODERN COACHES, THEY ARE PUT ANYTHING THEIR PRACTICE.

SAME THING IN EDUCATION, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO GET BETTER.

>> SO, JUST BECAUSE READING, MATH COACHES ARE VALUABLE TO TEACHERS DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S AN INDICTMENT ON THE EDUCATION PROGRAM OR THE COLLEGES.

>> NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

JUST ABOUT BUILDING NEW SKILLS AND BUILDING YOUR CAPACITY EVERY YEAR.

>> REAL QUICK.

ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW, IS THIS BILL THAT DELAYS THE LITERACY HOLDBACK, I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ALL ON THAT, THE HOLDBACK.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LITERACY.

AND THE BILL FROM SENATOR SMITHERMAN IS GOING TO DELAY IT BY TWO YEARS.

AND THE GOVERNOR ARGUED, NO, LET'S JUST DO ONE YEAR BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE IN.

LET ME JUST ASK YOU, THAT'S ALSO WHAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED, WAS THAT ONE YEAR.

LET'S SAY THEY PASS A TWO-YEAR DELAY.

WHAT'S SOME OF THE CONSEQUENTIAL THINGS THAT MAY COME FROM IT.

>> AS YOU POINTED OUT, ONE YEAR DELAY IS WHAT WE RECOMMENDED.

CERTAINLY A TWO-YEAR DELAY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

WE'RE STILL DOING ALL OF THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF THE CLASSROOMS, TEACHERS, TEACHING USING THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING, WE'RE DOING THAT WORK.

I THINK THAT THE THING THAT WE MAY SEE DIFFERENTLY, IF THERE'S A TWO YEAR DELAY, BY THE TIME IT KICKS IN, THEN STUDENTS AND I UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I LISTENED TO THE DEBATE UP IN THE SENATE.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE BENEFIT OF MORE YEARS POST COVID INSTRUCTION BECAUSE BEFORE THE RETENTION KICKS IN.

SO, THINK THAT OUR NUMBERS, WHEN WE FINALLY DO THE RETENTION ARE GOING TO BE MUCH SMALLER THAN THEY WOULD BE THIS YEAR.

AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS AND DID ASK THE GOVERNOR.

SHE AGREED AND RECOMMENDED A ONE YEAR DELAY.

SO, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE NO DELAY, I CAN TELL YOU.

THAT MEANS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE RETENTION GOING IN, IN ABOUT FOUR WEEKS.

AND STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE TEST THIS YEAR.

SO, THERE WOULD BE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE THIS SUMMER.

SO, WE DO, WE REALLY DO WANT TO BE SURE THERE'S SOME SORT OF DELAY IN THE RETENTION.

AND WE IMPLEMENT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSES.

AND WE KNOW THAT TWO YEARS IS WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR IN THE HOUSE.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Todd Stacy: IS THERE A CONCERN AT ALL, YOU KNOW, THIS COHORT OF STUDENTS THIS YEAR, PERHAPS, AND MAYBE THE NEXT YEAR, IF THEY GO TO FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE, THERE'S AT LEAST A PERCENTAGE OF THEM THAT ARE NOT QUITE ON PAR WITH THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS WITH READING.

ARE YOU GOING TO GET THEM CAUGHT UP?

>> OH, YEAH, WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT ANY WAY BECAUSE OF THE COVID DECLINE.

WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT IN THE WEEDS BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON MIDDLE SCHOOL STRATEGIES AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CALLS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL LETTERS TO BE TRAINED AND WANTING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE ARM FOR READING INSTRUCTION AND INTERVENTION IS ALABAMA READING INTERVENTION WHICH BY LAW ONLY WORKS K-3.

AND WE'VE PULLED FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE HE ESSER PLAN AND PUT TOGETHER LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THEY CAN USE THEIR ESSER FUNDS AND THEY SAY, HEY, WE REALLY WANT TO TRAIN OUR TEACHERS AND THEY CAN DO THAT.

WE'RE BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT FOR THEM.

BUT WE CAN'T SUPPORT THOSE GRADES BEYOND THIRD GRADE WITH THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON AND WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK AFTER THE SESSION TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY GOT PASSED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 11:00 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.