Education
Jefferson County Schools To Go Virtual-Only For First Nine Weeks; Start Sept. 1
The Jefferson County Board of Education voted Tuesday to begin the 2020-2021 school year with nine weeks of online education only and no option for traditional classroom learning.
Health Officer Recommends Virtual Classes For Middle And High Schools, No Contact Sports For Now
Jefferson County's health officer issued strict guidelines about how schools should operate this fall. It's up to schools whether to adopt those recommendations.
Jefferson County Board Of Education Unanimously Approves ‘School Roadmap’
Parents can choose between traditional in-person classes, remote learning with Jefferson County teachers, or virtual learning with outsourced teachers.
Local Districts Will Decide High School Sports Plans
Recommendations around high school sports this fall largely mirror public health guidelines, but the Alabama High School Athletic Association leaves the details to schools.
Birmingham City Schools Will Begin The Year Online
BCS joins a growing list of school districts, including Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville, that will begin the school year with remote learning only.
Birmingham Schools Discuss Plans To Reopen Aug. 24
The Birmingham Board of Education is considering four possibilities to begin the academic school year: remote learning, a hybrid model, traditional school and a virtual school option for the first nine weeks. A final decision will be made July 31.
Selma City Schools Will Begin The Year With Online Learning
Selma City Schools is the first district in the state to announce they’ll be completely virtual to start the academic year. Superintendent Avis Williams said the decision was based on coronavirus numbers plus concerns from teachers and parents.
‘Black At Samford’ Pushes For Changes In The University’s Culture, Treatment Of Black Students
Samford University is predominantly white. Now Black students are pushing for changes to procedures and culture to treat them more fairly and make the campus more multicultural.
Alabama Schools To Open In August, But Parents Have Home Education Option
Alabama public schools will reopen in August despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but parents will be given the option of continuing distance learning.
Traditional Graduation Ceremonies Back On At Some High Schools
Hoover City Schools announced it will move forward with in-person graduation ceremonies this week, and they’re not alone. Parents are divided on the issue.
Players & Coaches Prepare For Uncertain Future In College Athletics
The cancellation and delay of sporting events due to the coronavirus is creating uncertainty for student athletes. College coaches have fewer opportunities to scout new players and they face mounting financial pressure that's led some schools to cut athletic programs.
Some Alabama Graduations Saved By Going Virtual
Most spring graduations are canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. But a few groups and institutions are organizing virtual ceremonies for the class of 2020
Q&A With UAB Med School Dean Selwyn Vickers: Pandemic “Significantly” Shutting Down Clinical Trial Enterprise
BirminghamWatch spoke with the dean of UAB's Medical School about COVID-19's impact on clinical trials.
Birmingham Superintendent Lisa Herring Stepping Down To Lead Atlanta Public Schools
Birmingham school Superintendent Lisa Herring is leaving to become superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.
Schools Faced Social Distancing Hurdles In Meal Prep And Distribution
Since schools have been out statewide, some districts have struggled to continue to provide meals. After a bumpy start, Birmingham and Jefferson County schools have opted to outsource their meal programs.
Working At Home With Kids: How The Pandemic Is Changing The Work-Life Balance
While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people apart, it has also created a common ground for millions — by making many work from home. But many parents are now learning to manage their job and teach their kids at the same time.
Parenting Hotline Shows The Rising Stress Of Coronavirus At Home
Parenting is hard enough as it is, much less during the coronavirus crisis. A parental hotline offers help for those stressing out over their kids.
Distance Learning Begins Monday. What’s The Plan?
Closed through the end of the academic year, Alabama K-12 schools will being distance learning Monday. Jefferson County Schools released information Friday about their plan.
Alabama K-12 Students Will Finish School Year From Home
Amid growing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says K-12 students will not return to classrooms to finish out the 2019-2020 school year.
Alabama Schools Chief Explores Ways To Teach Students During An ‘Incomplete Year’
State education leaders are trying to figure out how to teach students in an era of coronavirus.
Fearing Coronavirus Spread, Many Area Schools Close Immediately
As concerns about the spread of coronavirus grow, more schools opt to close immediately.
Universities Prepare For COVID-19 Ahead Of Spring Break
Samford and UAB are taking precautions in the event coronavirus spreads. There are currently no confirmed cases of the disease in Alabama.
Yoga Still Being Taught To Some Students Despite 27-Year-Old Ban
Alabama is one step closer to overturning a decades-old ban on yoga in public schools. This week, the state House of Representatives voted in favor a bill that would give school systems the option to teach yoga with some restrictions. But Jimi Lee, head of Yoga & Love has led yoga at some schools, despite the ban. School leaders just call the practice by another name.
Voters Could Change How Education Leaders Are Picked In Alabama
When Alabama voters go the polls on March 3rd, they’ll be voting on a constitutional amendment that changes the state board of education. Currently board members are elected. If Amendment One is approved, the governor would appoint school board members.
Construction, Welding, GED: The Impact Of Prison Education
Across Alabama, state inmates are getting GED certificates, learning to fix cars, and even how to code. As Alabama faces mounting pressure to reform its prison system, many state leaders want to increase funding for these educational programs.
Delayed School Start Times Thursday Feb. 6, 2020
Flooding and early morning tornado risks Thursday have led several school systems to delay start times.
Smithsonian Educator Explores Ways to Teach Evolution in Alabama Schools
Briana Pobiner is a paleoanthropologist and educator at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. She's using a federal grant to explore the best ways to teach evolution in Alabama high schools; although some textbooks still contain warning stickers saying evolution is just a theory.
Small Fraction of Students Qualify for Birmingham Promise Scholarship
When it was announced recently that the Birmingham Promise would offer a full tuition scholarship to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, many praised the partnership as a way to give eligible Birmingham graduates a much-needed financial boost. But as it stands, most students wouldn't make the cut.
Education Town Hall Set for Jan. 15
A town hall meeting on the status of education in Birmingham has been set for Jan. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Birmingham and UAB Partner to Offer Free Tuition to City Graduates
The University of Alabama at Birmingham will offer a full tuition scholarship to some graduates of Birmingham City Schools as part of a new partnership with the City of Birmingham.
Court Says Gardendale Must Pay Opponents’ Legal Fees in Failed School System Breakaway
The City of Gardendale will have to pay $850,000 to the lawyers of black students, according to a new court ruling.
Schools Cancel After-School Activities due to Expected Severe Weather
As severe weather moves toward Alabama, several school districts are closing early.
