Education
Ozark Library increases parental supervision requirements but doesn’t remove books
OZARK– The Ozark Dale County Library Board of Trustees Wednesday approved new policies that will require more parental supervision of children in libraries but did not explicitly remove or ban any books. The approval came in a meeting that was far less tense – and far less crowded – than a special called meeting in […]
Alabama Public Library Service: It’s ‘essential’ parents determine suitability of books
The head of the Alabama Public Library Service wrote in a letter to Gov. Kay Ivey last week that it was “essential” that parents determine the suitability of library materials for their children. “Children constitute a diverse demographic with varying talents, abilities and needs, influenced by factors such as age, cultural background, sociological context and […]
Five Alabama schools awarded National Blue Ribbon School Program designation
Five Alabama schools were awarded the National Blue Ribbon Schools designation, according to a Tuesday afternoon news release. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has been in place since 1982, according to the U.S. Department of Education website. The program recognizes schools for “overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student […]
States urged by Biden administration to rectify underfunding of land-grant HBCUs
States engaged in decades of underfunding of land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities, leading to a more than $12 billion disparity with comparable white institutions, leaders of the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday. “Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities […]
Alabama State Department of Education mulls additional literacy funding, loss of federal dollars
The Alabama State Department of Education could ask for money from lawmakers next year for reading support beyond third grade, to help with achievement and address an upcoming loss of federal funding. Members of the State Board of Education said during a presentation on the fiscal year 2025 budget Thursday that the department should be […]
Hit the snooze button: States debate later high school start times
California and Florida have become the first states to require later public school start times, a response to reams of research showing significant advantages for high school students who can get more sleep by beginning their day at 8:30 a.m. or later. But such changes come with difficult ripple effects — upended bus schedules, later starts […]
Alabama Public Library Service passes motion to catalog controversial books
The executive board of the Alabama Public Library Service Executive Board Wednesday voted to create a list of books with content that people may find inappropriate for teenagers and children. The proposal, sponsored by Alabama Republican Party chair John Wahl, a member of the board, came after a crowded public comment period. It passed unanimously. […]
Auburn University Montgomery expanding AI courses
Auburn University Montgomery is moving into the artificial intelligence world. But rather than focusing on creating artificial intelligence, the school wants to teach students how to use AI as a tool. “We’re not trying to create a better AI system, we’re not trying to create the computers that run it or anything,” said Ross Dickens, […]
Calls to remove LGBTQ-themed books from Ozark library lead to tense meeting
OZARK — A meeting Wednesday over a call for the Ozark-Dale County public library to remove books with LGBTQ characters and themes drew over 100 people and led to fierce arguments over parental rights and censorship. The meeting came after the library received complaints about two books in the library’s young adult section from Dale […]
Alabama Public Charter School Commission preps for independence
How does a commission become independent? With a lot of paperwork. Alabama legislators this spring approved a bill to make the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, currently under the direction of the Alabama State Department of Education, into its own entity. Now, the commission needs to work through its budget, staffing and legal services. “So, […]
Auburn University Board of Trustees approve 3% tuition increase
The Auburn University Board of Trustees Friday approved a 3% increase in tuition at Auburn and Auburn University Montgomery for the 2024-25 school year. Under the new tuition and fee structure, undergraduate resident Auburn students will pay $459 per credit hour and $12,890 in annual tuition and fees, about $354 more than the current costs. […]
Auburn University president says Toomer oaks are ‘stable,’ rolling will resume
The Toomer’s Oaks at Auburn University are stable, six years after being planted, Auburn University President Christopher Roberts told the Auburn University Board of Trustees on Friday. “I’m excited that we’ll be able to resume our tradition of rolling the replanted oaks at Toomer’s,” he told the trustees. “That tradition will live once again.” Roberts […]