Alabama State Board of Education Members Express Concerns Over Virtual School Performance
Members of the Alabama State Board of Education have voiced concerns regarding the performance of virtual schools in the state. During a recent meeting, board members, including Traci West from District 2 and Allen Long from District 7, highlighted issues such as low test scores and a lack of oversight. State law mandates that local school systems provide online education pathways for students to graduate. However, Alabama State School Superintendent Eric Mackey noted the difficulty in tracking student transfers to virtual schools, with many origins unknown. A packet detailing enrollment numbers was provided to board members but withheld from the public due to FERPA regulations. West specifically pointed out that teachers in statewide virtual schools are often employees of private companies, not the school districts, leading to questions about curriculum standards and accountability. Of the three statewide virtual schools, Alabama Destinations Career Academy and Alabama Virtual Academy at Eufaula City Scho...
