1 HJR72
2 210303-2
3 By Representatives Collins, Baker, Meadows, Daniels, Chestnut,
4 Scott, Holmes, Sanderford, Ledbetter, Wilcox, Oliver, Whitt,
5 Crawford, Stringer, Isbell, Estes, Wadsworth, Ingram,
6 Reynolds, Brown (K), Brown (C), Wingo, McMillan, Wood (D),
7 Carns, Kiel, Nordgren, Smith, Gaston, Treadaway, Hurst,
8 McCutcheon, Farley, Clarke, Warren, Forte, Drummond, Boyd,
9 Fincher, Coleman and Ball
10 RFD: Rules
11 First Read: 25-FEB-21
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2 ENROLLED, House Joint Resolution,
3 COMMENDING PUBLIC K-12 EDUCATORS AND ENCOURAGING THE
4 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IN RESPONSE
5 TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
6
7 WHEREAS, the continuing coronavirus pandemic has
8 presented challenges to every individual, and unique
9 challenges to those who are charged with educating our young;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, Alabama educators are worthy of our praise
12 for their valiant efforts in continuing to provide instruction
13 to our children during the most challenging of circumstances;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment
16 Program (ACAP), a new statewide assessment for all students in
17 2nd through 8th grades, originally planned to be administered
18 in spring of 2020, and now planned to be administered
19 in-person in March 2021, is a necessary tool for assessing
20 current student learning and the impact of the pandemic on
21 students and schools; and
22 WHEREAS, it is predicted that the current uncertain
23 climate in the state may have greatly affected the performance
24 of students, resulting in the consideration of skewed,
25 unreasonable, or biased results by state programs that
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1 recognize high performing schools and penalize low performing
2 schools with letter grades and failing labels; now therefore,
3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
4 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we hereby commend and applaud
5 all public school educators in the state for bravely
6 continuing to instruct their students during the current
7 pandemic.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State Department of
9 Education is encouraged to administer, and all school systems
10 and students in the state encouraged to participate in-person
11 in the taking of, the ACAP so that a baseline for the
12 assessment may be accurately established in the state and any
13 learning gaps may be effectively addressed through equitable
14 funding as the state moves forward.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State Department of
16 Education is also encouraged to take any steps necessary to
17 waive all accountability indicators for the year 2021,
18 including, but not limited to, the Legislative School
19 Performance Recognition Program, the school grading system,
20 the designation of schools as failing schools, and the levy of
21 any penalties against school systems, schools, educators, or
22 students, with the goal of promoting the administration and
23 use of ACAP data to best address instructional needs and move
24 Alabama K-12 students forward toward excellence.
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2
3
4 Speaker of the House of Representatives
5
6 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
7 House of Representatives
8 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
9 and was adopted by the House 03-MAR-21.
10
11 Jeff Woodard
12 Clerk
13
14
15
16 Senate 09-MAR-21 Adopted
17
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