Alabama
Will your child have to repeat 3rd grade under Alabama Literacy Act? Some exemptions, opportunities for retesting
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Alabama Literacy Act went into full effect this past Friday after the state released third grade student reading scores for the school year. State education leaders want parents to know that just because your child didn’t meet the reading requirements, it does not mean they have to repeat third grade.
According to the scores, 9% of third graders, roughly 4,800, are not reading well. However, the Alabama Educators Association says under the act, there are a few exceptions made for some students so they won’t have to repeat:
- If a child is in their first two years of learning English language, they will not be required to repeat based off their reading scores.
- If a child has a disability, then they may have an alternative set of learning standards they’re required to meet, excluding them from meeting the reading test scores on the ACAP.
- If child has disability and they have already been retained once in kindergarten, 1st grade or 2nd grade, and have received at least two years of intensive remediation, they may be exempt from repeating the grade.
- If a child has been retained two years, and has received reading remediation for two years, the child can apply to move forward a grade with a continued focus on reading.
There are also opportunities for students to re-test this summer, so if they were close but didn’t meet the proficiency level, they will have the opportunity to try again.
“There’s a lot of data and science behind allowing students to stay with a particular peer group, so all of this is intended to sort of merge the two interests so that the child does not stay too far behind,” said William Tunnell, the Northern Region Manager for the Alabama Educators Association.
State education leaders say you’ll want your child to prepare before they re-test, and they recommend talking with your child’s school to determine a plan for success.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2024 WBRC. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Alabama divorce rate considerably higher than many other states. Where it ranks nationally
Kim Kardashian says Ye’s mental health struggles led to divorce
Three years after her divorce from Ye, Kim Kardashian has opened up about how she and their children navigated his mental health struggles.
unbranded – Entertainment
Divorces in Alabama are climbing, putting the state among the leaders in the nation for marriage splits.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama had one of the highest divorce rates in the country in 2023. Experts point to economic pressures, cultural factors and changing social norms as reasons more marriages are ending legally rather than quietly.
Here’s what to know about Alabama’s divorce rates and where it stands compared to other states.
What is the divorce rate in Alabama?
Alabama’s divorce rate is notably higher than that of many other states. According to the CDC, the most recent data puts the state’s divorce rate at roughly 3.2 divorces per 1,000 people.
A look at state-level trends shows that this hasn’t always been the case. In 1990, Alabama’s rate was about 6.1 per 1,000, but it has declined significantly over time and has stayed relatively stable in recent years.
The divorce trend explained
Experts point to a cultural shift as one reason Alabama’s divorce rate remains high. A recent Times report notes that more women in the state are rejecting traditional “trad-wife” roles, gaining financial independence and confidence to leave unhappy marriages. Psychologist and divorce attorneys say this trend reflects changing expectations around marriage, religion and personal identity in the Deep South.
How does Alabama rank nationally?
Compared nationally, Alabama’s divorce rate is still among the higher end of U.S. states’ rates. Here are the top 9 states with the highest divorce rates in 2023:
- Nevada 3.8
- Idaho: 3.4
- Wyoming: 3.4
- Oklahoma: 3.3
- Alaska: 3.1
- Utah: 3.1
- Alabama: 3
- Arkansas: 3
- Florida: 3
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.
Alabama
Booger McFarland reacts to controversy surrounding Notre Dame over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings
Three two-loss teams were present in the top-10 of Tuesday night’s updated College Football Playoff rankings. No. 8 Oklahoma led the way, followed by No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Alabama. This led to debate amongst many, who believe that the Crimson Tide boast a much stronger resume than the Irish.
Alabama holds wins over four teams present in the latest CFP Rankings (No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Tennessee, and No. 22 Missouri), while Notre Dame is just 1-2 against such teams. The Irish downed No. 15 USC 34-24 on Oct. 14, but kicked off the season with back-to-back losses to No. 13 Miami and No. 3 Texas A&M.
ESPN‘s Booger McFarland broke down why the committee would have put Notre Dame over Alabama in the Rankings during a hit on Wednesday afternoon’s edition of ‘SportsCenter‘.
“I think the fact that they both have two losses lets you know that the committee views Notre Dame as the better team right now,” McFarland said. “Notre Dame is a hotter team. They lost their first two games, but have won eight in a row. And when you look at how they play and their physicality, they’ve got the best backfield in America with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The offensive line is really good. The defense is big and physical. They can cover man-to-man on the outside, and I think CJ Carr, as a young quarterback, is starting to come along.”
McFarland says committee looked at teams ‘in a vacuum’
“I think the committee just looked at these two teams and said ‘in a vacuum, they both have two losses. Who do we think is better right now?’ And I think they deemed that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are just the better team right now.”
“But let’s just remember, this is an incomplete resume. The committee has an enviable task of trying to figure out what the resume is going to look like when it ends, because we still have a couple weeks left in the season.”
Both teams opened the season with a loss, but in Alabama‘s case, it won its next eight games before falling at home to Oklahoma 23-21 on Saturday. Notre Dame opened with an 0-2 record, but is currently in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. With both programs facing unranked teams in their final two games of the season, it may take a win in the SEC Championship Game for Alabama to jump back over the Irish in the final CFP Rankings.
Alabama
Hunter Yurachek spells out why Oklahoma leapt over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings
As usual, head-to-head is a popular topic in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Specifically in the back-end of the top-10, where many figured Alabama and Oklahoma wound up. With the Sooners winning in Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon, they jumped ahead of their SEC foes.
CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained the decision to rank Oklahoma over Alabama. A quite simple answer, saying the head-to-head comes into play.
“Oklahoma, obviously, got the nod based on their two-point win at [Alabama],” Yurachek said.
Both teams hold an 8-2 record heading into Week 13. Alabama previously sat at No. 4, meaning they dropped six spots to No. 10 due to the loss. Oklahoma moved up to No. 8 after previously being No. 11. There might have been an argument to be made for the Crimson Tide’s overall resume but not a strong enough one to overcome the result from around 72 hours before.
Two games remain on the regular season schedule for both. Alabama likely holds the easier path to the finish line, considering FCS Eastern Illinois is next up. However, the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium vs. Auburn is no joke. Head coach Kalen DeBoer knows his team will need to remain focused coming off the loss.
Oklahoma gets two SEC games in Norman, beginning with Missouri on Saturday. LSU then comes to town a couple of days after Thanksgiving, one where the Sooners hope to be celebrating a 10-2 record and birth into the CFP. Tests have flown past Brent Venables all season, passing a few and coming short in others. Two more passing grades get the job done.
Hunter Yurachek answers original question about Miami, Notre Dame
The answer provided by Yuracheck was originally a question about the situation regarding Miami and Notre Dame. In this scenario, the Hurricanes are comfortably below a team they beat to open the 2025 season despite the same record. ESPN’s Rece Davis was wondering if the head-to-head played a role there.
Eventually, Yuracheck got to that side of the equation. In the committee’s eyes, Miami and Notre Dame are not currently in a “comparable range.”
“So, if Miami and Notre Dame are in a comparable tier, comparable range, the head-to-head will be a significant data point that we will use.”
Slightly different than the situation with Alabama and Oklahoma, who are within a group of three. Notre Dame is right between them at No. 9, while Miami is back at No. 13.
-
Vermont1 week agoNorthern Lights to dazzle skies across these US states tonight – from Washington to Vermont to Maine | Today News
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Justice Dept. Says It Will Investigate U.C. Berkeley Protest
-
Business1 week agoDeveloper plans to add a hotel and hundreds of residences to L.A. Live
-
Business4 days ago
Fire survivors can use this new portal to rebuild faster and save money
-
Southwest1 week agoFury erupts after accused teen sex predator dodges prison; families swarm courthouse demanding judge’s head
-
Culture1 week agoVideo: ‘Flesh’ by David Szalay Wins 2025 Booker Prize
-
Washington, D.C1 week agoBarack Obama surprises veterans on honor flight to DC ahead of Veterans Day
-
Politics1 week agoMajor Pentagon contractor executive caught in child sex sting operation