October 25, 2007
The Honorable Joseph B. Morton
State Superintendent of Education
Gordon Persons Building
P.O. Box 302101
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-2101
Dear Superintendent Morton:
I am pleased to approve Alabama's assessment system under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). I congratulate you on meeting this important NCLB requirement.
My decision is based on input from peer reviewers external to the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and Department staff who reviewed and carefully considered the evidence submitted by Alabama. I have concluded that the evidence demonstrates that Alabama's standards and assessment system satisfies the NCLB requirements. Specifically, Alabama's system includes the administration of grade-level assessments and the Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA), an alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards, in each of grades 3-8 and high school in reading/language arts and mathematics.
Accordingly, Alabama's system warrants Full Approval. This status means that Alabama's standards and assessment system meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for reading/language arts and mathematics.
Please be aware that approval of Alabama's assessment system under NCLB is not a determination that the system complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Finally, please remember that, if Alabama makes significant changes to its assessment system, the State must submit information about those changes to the Department for review and approval.
We have found it a pleasure working with your staff on this review. Please accept my congratulations on your State's approved standards and assessment system under NCLB. I wish you well in your continued efforts to improve student achievement in Alabama.
Sincerely,
Kerri L. Briggs, Ph.D.
cc: Governor Bob Riley
Gloria Turner
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