Birmingham City Schools Emphasize Progress and Goals Before the Start of School
Birmingham City Schools are preparing for the upcoming school year by focusing on improving attendance and math and reading scores. During the superintendent’s performance review meeting held on Friday, several crucial topics were discussed. These ranged from the reading levels of 3rd graders to chronic absenteeism, areas the school district has been diligently working on.
Every Day Counts
Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan attributed the progress in combating chronic absenteeism to the efforts made by the school district. Chronic absenteeism was a significant issue for the schools three years ago, with the rate standing at 29%. However, through strong multi-level collaboration, the district has managed to reduce this number to less than 17%. A significant contributor to this achievement has been the ‘Every Day Counts’ initiative launched by the district in collaboration with the city and housing authority. This innovative program incentivizes school attendance by allowing residents of the Housing Authority of Birmingham District (HABD) to benefit financially based on their children’s school attendance.
Improving Reading Scores
Increased staffing was pinpointed by Dr. Sullivan as the contributing factor to the district’s improved reading scores. The Superintendent elaborated that a partnership with the company Education Staffing Solutions (ESS) has ushered in supplementary support teachers into classrooms. This effort has contributed to shrinking class sizes and, consequently, improved reading comprehension among students. “We have a lot of things in place to really build on the success we had last year,” Dr. Sullivan optimistically commented on this development.
Building on Progress
With the start of school just around the corner, these efforts seek to provide students with the best possible learning outcomes. Another board meeting is set for August 14, during which the board will further dissect the data portraying both the progress of the district and the superintendent’s performance. The board further expects the release of the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) scores later in the fall, which would further illuminate the students’ academic progress and areas that require further enhancements.
Birmingham City Schools remain dedicated to sustaining the momentum of their hard-earned achievements and continuing to make strides in the education sector. Equipping teachers with the necessary resources and fostering a conducive learning environment for students remains at the forefront of their mission.
