Good evening and welcome to Spotlight on Education, Alabama Public Television's quarterly deep dive into the issues impacting schools students, teachers and families.

Here in Alabama, I'm Todd Stacey, hosting from our studio here in the state House.

As the Alabama legislature is scheduled to begin its 2025 regular session in less than three weeks, education is always a top issue for state lawmakers.

If for no other reason that the Education trust fund budget takes up the lion's share of all state spending.

After multiple years of recor growth in the education budget, partially due to federal relief dollars trickling up through the tax base, revenues are beginning to level off and return to normal.

This year's education budge passed in last year's session, totaled $9.3 billion.

The latest revenue numbers show that there is plenty of money to meet those obligations with enough funds left over for as much as a $500 million in supplemental spending.

Legislative leaders sa that is attributable in part to conservative budgeting practices and saving more funding in rainy day accounts.

While Alabama has celebrated record spending on education in recent years, analysis from AP education reporter Trish Crain reminds us that inflation has not only made those increases necessary, it has also eaten int their impact on the classroom.

According to the latest data from the Alabama State Department of Education.

Per student spending increased over a ten year period from just under $9,000 per student in 2013 to almost $12,500 per student in 2023.

That's the last year that data was available.

But looking here at the chart, inflation has also risen to the point that those ink that increase over ten years when adjusted for inflation is less than $1,000 per student rather than $4,500 per student in actual dollars.

School leaders say that that's why federal relief money was so important over the last four years.

But that federal money is obviously going away in future budgets and hopefully inflation will ease as well.

The state report cards came ou just a little over a month ago and showed some progress for Alabama schools.

This is based on the outcom test taken by students in grades two through eight.

Across the state.

The overall score for the state was an 85, up two points from 83 in the 2023 school year.

There were also gains in academic achievemen in college and career readiness.

Also positive was the decline in chronic absenteeism from 17.9% in 2023 to 14.8% last year.

At the local school level the news is mostly good as well.

The number of schools earning A's and B's continued to rise and the number earning D's and F's continue to fall.

Those earning DS and FS are labeled priority schools under the state's Accountability Act and those fell from 209 schools on the list in 2023 to 156 last year.

Turning to career readiness, the Alabama Community College System is partnerin with the State Board of Nursing in addressing the state's health care worker shortage by expanding its health science programs into 2025.

This includes a new certification aimed at filling thousands of critical roles in the health care field.

Apt's Jeff Sanders explains how this initiative could impact the state.

The demand for health care workers in Alabama is reaching a critical level.

In response, the Alabama Community College system is ramping up effort to expand health care training programs at community colleges statewide.

We are in a position where hospitals literally are beginning to close, and a lot of the rural areas.

Jimmy Baker, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, joined representatives from Alabama's health care industry and the Office of Workforce Development to highligh the expansion of health science programs available throug the state's community colleges.

It's a great career, a good paying career for many of our young students.

They can go in in a short period of time, receive enough training to be effective as a worker in the health care industry to address a statewide decline in nursing support staff.

The Alabama Board of Nursing ha introduced the STC credential.

This initiative is described as a critical step toward solving workforce challenges caused by ongoing shortages in the health care industry.

We hope to fill anywhere from 2 to 4000 vacancies currently in health care related to this program, and one of the first thing we did was reached out to Isaacs and said Do you want to be a part of this and can you help us?

The system is also launching dual enrollment opportunities for high school students, enabling them to earn nursing credentials early and paving a direct path to careers in health care.

Greg Reed serves as the Governor's senior advisor on workforce transformation.

The governor stands ready.

I think the legislature stands ready to do what's necessary to support this effort in regards to training health care professionals so our economy can continue to grow and we can all receive the care and our families can receive the care better.

So both paychecks and the Alabama Community College System already offers more than any health science programs at 22 colleges across the state.

For Spotlight on Education, I'm Jeff Sanders, and I'll talk with Dr. Bryant Kline of the Community College System and Peggy Benson of the Alabama Board of Nursing in more depth on this issue later in the show.

As the legislative session approaches, lawmakers are hearing from education leaders about their priorities on funding and policy, early childhood education and the state's first class pre-K program were among the key topics at a recent precession round up for lawmakers here in Montgomery, APS.

Randi Scott has more.

Say the word education and you'll get the attention of everyone in a room.

That's the case at this gathering of state leaders, business leaders and concerned citizens.

The goal is to start 2025 off on a good note by addressing hot topics such as education.

We want to make sure that we're educating policymakers as well as families and educators about the importance of early childhood education, the importance of talking with your children, reading to children, building those skills that ar foundational for later literacy.

Jan HUME is the acting secretary for Alabama's Department of Early Childhood Education.

She says work should start early to help children get off on the right path for success.

Just having those conversations interacting, building their language and vocabulary, allowing the children to hear words and to interact with their parents.

That's how we build a future successful leaders as well as well-educated individuals.

Secretary HUME says families should understand they have tools to help their children.

These efforts will mean progress not only for students but for the state as well.

From improving Alabama' workforce to helping the state economy not only are four year olds our future workforce, but also we're building an early childhood educator workforce.

We're supporting the fact that those are the most important parts of our workforce.

They allow all of us to work.

Secretary HUM says this meeting has generated new plans to help improve Alabama's education system.

And she says that gets an A for effort.

Anybody that has a child needs quality child care, quality early education settings.

And so we want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to make that happen in Montgomery.

Rand Scott, spotlight on education.

Take care of your teeth and they'll take care of you.

With the school year started back at the Alabama Department of Public Health is celebrating children's oral health with its eighth annual Share Your Smile with Alabama photo contest.

Two third graders have been chosen to represent the campaign for 2025.

The initiative highlight the importance of oral health, especially during February's National Children's Dental Health Month.

Here's Dr. Scott Harris Alabama state health officer, on why oral health is so crucial, particularly for children.

You know, oral health is really just health, right?

It's just another part of what we try to do to make sure people stay safe and healthy and enjoy the best and healthiest lives that they can have.

We want to remind people that the mouth is the gateway to the body.

And so we would recommend that through the recommendations of the ADA to make sure you brush brush at least twice a day, clean between your teeth at least once a day.

We know that oral health problems are the number on reason that kids missed school.

Actually, the number I have her is that about 8.6 million kids between six and 12 missed school last year due to oral health problems.

That doesn't count.

Routine visits, normal, healthy visits.

But actually, those are kids who miss because of health problems.

So when kids miss school, parents miss work.

Families get disrupted.

There's a lot of things that happen.

And so it's so important for u to promote these good, healthy activities in our young people now that will follow them actually throughout the rest of their life.

Coming up next on Spotlight, I'll sit down with a senior education reporter, Trish Crane, to go over some of the biggest storie of the past few weeks, including how the state is implementing the Choose Act.

After that, Dr. Bryant Kline of the Alabama Community College System and Peggy Benson of the Alabama Board of Nursing join me to discuss their new partnership on health care training programs.

And a special treat.

Later in the show HP Family Engagement Specialist Becca Benford is in studio to share all the ways families can take advantage of AP resources.

And we're the nex Be My Neighbor Day with Daniel.

Tige is taking place.

Stay with us.

Most children in Alabama don't have access to formal pre-K program to help them prepare for school.

But all children in Alabama have access to the children's programing on Alabama Public television.

And these programs are proven to help children start school better prepared to succeed.

Just watching programs like Sesame Street Super.

Why and Curious George can have a profound impact on how well kids do from kindergarte all the way through high school.

AP also provides training and resources to parents and child care providers throughout the state to help them make the most of these great programs.

It's on air pre-K every day on Alabama public television, and AP encourages parents to watch these valuable programs with their children.

Welcome back to Spotlight on Education.

Lots going on in the education space in Alabama.

And joining me next to talk about it is Aptos senior education reporter Trish Crane.

Trish Thanks for coming on the show.

Great to be here.

Thanks.

We always need your expertise and analysis when it comes to everything is going on in education.

We just report on a lot that's going on.

Based on your reporting.

So I wanted to start with the Choose Act.

You've done a lot of reporting on this.

It's a big month for that.

Right.

Basically went into effect in terms of people can apply to see and families appl and actually won't start really in terms of children and schools until the next school year.

But based on your reporting, what have you seen in terms of the developments around the Choose Act?

So as it gets closer, right, people kind of have more questions.

You get into the details.

The Alabama Department of Revenue has a website up, really, really helpful class wallet who is sort o administering the payment part.

They've been doing webinars.

But we have seen great interest in applications as of earlier this week.

There were 7800 applications for 13,400 students.

That's a lot.

You know, it's only been open for two weeks.

January the second.

So we're seeing a lot of interest there.

There are we're seeing th participating schools sign up.

Right.

They and that applicatio process is open all year round.

There isn't a window where schools or education service providers have to apply.

So that list will get updated.

Looks like they're updating it weekly.

Most of the participating schools are private schools.

Right.

But we do have a couple of public schools also.

Mm hmm.

I want to ask you about that.

But just to kind of clarify, so it's the $7,000 or up to $7,000 education savings account, some peopl call them vouchers or whatever.

And so it's kind of sounds like it's sort of a two way street because, number one, a family who wants to take advantage of that needs to apply.

Right.

But schools, you know, they have to apply to to be a part of the program to participate in school.

So you can have a private school out there that says, yeah, this really works for us.

Mm hmm.

You can also have schools that say, no, we don't necessarily want to produce.

It doesn't work with what we do.

So they're not forced to participate.

Exactly.

And even if you participate, you're not forced to take a student with an essay.

You can still choose.

But, you know, the Catholi schools very excited about this.

They've held some of their own webinars to inform their families about it.

So they're all in.

And then, you know, the Alabama Independent Schoo Association is doing what it can to talk with its families about, you know.

Yes.

You want to be a part of this.

And remember, the first two years there's income eligibility.

Right.

You know, in the third year, it becomes universal where everyone is eligible to apply for an essay.

But this for the first two years, it is families adjusted gross income can be no more than 300% of the federal poverty level, which is about 93,000 95,000 for a family of four.

Okay.

Now, anybody can apply right now.

Right.

But you may not be the income threshold might apply to you.

You know, you'll find out that way.

Exactly.

And in fact, the Department of Revenue encouraged people to apply, even if they think they don' qualify just to gauge interest.

They said lawmakers will be they'll want to know how many people are interested in this.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

That's what we're waiting o is some some data, which is why we like having you around all of your reporting data.

So what you're you're kind of breaking news this week was about a public school component to this, because every time we talk about Choose Act, an education savings account, it's just sort of baked in that we're talking mostly about private schools.

So you've reported tha there's actually a way for folks seeking other public schools t also take advantage of essays.

Tell me more about this.

Yes.

So it's a part of the law.

It's there in the law.

Again, it just didn't really get fleshed out until we got closer to the application date.

If you're a if you are a public school student full time enrolled in a public school and you go to a participating public school that charges you tuition, which that's only going to happe if you're going out of district.

Right.

So you're like choosing to leave your zoned public school for a different public school.

Right.

So that's the school choice component.

Right.

So the essay, assumin you meet all other eligibility requirements, a public school student can get an essay and have access to that full $7,000 if they're charged 1500 dollars in tuition, they can use the remainder for eligible educational expenses at the participating public school.

Interesting.

We don't know exactly how many kids that might be, but that that is a way for public schools and public school students to take advantage of this educational freedom.

We've got this interesting flowchart that you created, kind of walk us through how this actually works.

Okay.

So the public school student there is a it's kind of a gateway, right?

The gateway for a public school student, a full time public school studen to even get access to an essay.

Is it They have to attend a public school that charges that student tuition like you said, moving districts or.

Right.

Right.

Moving districts.

Right.

So charter schools don't charge tuition.

So that's not any is.

Right, right, right.

They could not their students, the public school student would not be eligible for any.

Right.

But then if they do attend a public school that's participating in that charges them tuition, they're eligible for an essay.

And of course, the asterisk is, you know, they must meet all of the other eligibility requirements to on the public school side, all they have to do is say, yes, they'd like to participate.

And if they do, the they can receive essay payments.

And if they don't, then, you know, a kid who goes to that school could not use their essay.

So you're probably not going to see that because if a kid is going to a public school and looking for a participating public school, they're probably a kid who's getting are you has to pay out of district tuitio and they've gone for that essay.

Right.

But I could see I could see a district saying, okay, not only this, you're going to get state money following the child and everything, but you're also going to get that other, you know, could be a way to to boost budgets if you have the availability.

And that may not be everybody's situation.

Let me ask you this, though, STEM.

Choose an essay for a second.

I remembe when the bill was being debated.

Really any time school choice comes up, there is always concern from public school advocates about money, about public tax dollar being sent to private schools.

I know that's not the way everybody sort of sees it.

Right.

But this look, this passed overwhelmingly.

It was the governor's huge priority.

I mean, it was not even close.

But as this data starts coming out, as we learn more about how many students, how many schools, how much tax dollars and things like that, do you see any revisions even being addressed in this law, or do you think it's maybe too early to tell?

At the moment?

It's too early to tell, but I do think I've talked with lawmakers who are they are awaiting the data.

They want to know who's using it.

Is it is it families who are already in private school?

Is it students who are in public school and who choose to leave public school for private school?

That this essay gives them the freedom to do where the may not have been able to do it?

Is it home schoolers?

You know, let's not forget that's a component to use it.

And and there will be some very detailed records.

I don't know how much will be public, but there will be very detailed records of what parents are spending the money on because, remember, the money doesn't go to the parents.

The family never gets the money.

They have to do all of their transactions through class wallet, which is the third party program platfor that all of the payments will be sent through.

So they're going to have detailed records goin through revenue to subsequently kind of like a tax credit and all that.

Yeah, right.

Yes.

As you said, you know, it sort of depends on how you look at this.

Is it a tax credit?

Is it education funding?

Is it kind of both?

It is.

It is, but it's primarily referred to as a tax credit by officials.

Okay.

Well, that's interesting.

And look, there's there's so much more about the Choose Act that we're going to be reporting on going forward.

But I really appreciate you getting us up to speed.

Another topic you recently reported on was really going back and looking at how the legislature has allocated surplus tax dollars.

Right now, a lot of this, you know, we've had this these record budgets, sort of the trickle up from a lot of this COVID relief money, record budgets, and they can only spend so much per rolling reserve.

So they end up with these very large hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus spending bills.

You reported on where all this money went.

What can you tell us from the high points?

Well, it was a lot of money.

Number one, it was a lot of money.

You know, one year it was $2.8 billion with a B and that's o top of the education trust fund.

Right.

Right.

And so lawmakers kind of tweaked some of the language in the Rolling Reserve Act to make some of these automatic transfers where they might into reserve funds, wher they might not have been before.

They created a new reserve fund called the Educational Opportunity Reserve Fund, which is kind of like what can it be used for?

We think pretty much anything lawmakers want to use it for.

But what I found was that, you know, typically we think about education trust fun budget says about two thirds of it goes to K-12 and a third of it goes to higher ed.

That was not the formula that was followed.

There was no formula.

You know.

When I spok with Chairman Garrett, he said, you know, it's about needs, right?

They're looking at how do we best spend this money to set Alabama up i a strategically strong position.

So there were a lot of needs on the higher ed side, the community college side, deferred maintenance.

You know, deferred maintenance is just always I mean, at my own house, I have deferred maintenance.

You know, there is a lot that needs to be done, I' sure, to these older buildings and even the newer buildings and the community college and the universities were able to, I guess, make their argument and and were able to receive a lot of that money.

K12 wasn't shut out, you know, but it did not receiv I think they felt shortchanged.

I think that's fair to say.

I heard each year as we would go throug these supplemental allocations, there was grumbling on the K-12 side to say, you know, if this had gone through the regular budget process, they're used to that split, right?

See sort of a it's an unwritten sort of thing.

But at the same time, I remember and you know, a couple of year into this that, you know, hear from higher ed here and fro community colleges that, look, you know, we've got needs that have that haven't been addressed.

We've been shortchange by the state going back decades.

So maybe they felt like it wa their opportunity to finally get and this is one time money.

It's not like right in perpetuity.

So I guess you heard some of that, too.

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah.

I mean, higher education officials, really, they needed it, is what they'll tell you.

You know, that they this is capital expenditure.

Some of it is expanding programs like career tech programs.

You know, building up an automotive workforce training center, something like that.

But yeah, it all the idea behind it was it would be one time expenditures.

Now I think in terms of but down the line it's going to have its own deferred maintenance right.

Everything you build it must be taken care of.

But I mean there were som really interesting projects in in that and I'm looking forward to following up on them.

You know what got built, what maybe didn't.

What what has been stalled.

Chairman Garrett said that they hope to follow up.

They're planning to follow up on these projects to see what got done.

Yeah.

Accountability is always important when it comes to taxpayer money, even if it's hundreds of millions in surplus money that we'll never see again.

Right.

Okay.

Well, while I've got you, I want to ask you about the national assess the National Assessment of Education Progress.

Got it?

Yes.

NAPE.

Yep.

This has been a big deal for a while, but can I get interrupted a little bit by COVID?

But it sounds like we have one coming up.

It's known as the nation's report card, but that could be kin of a misnomer.

Talk about nape.

Yeah, NAPE is a really interesting assessment because, number one, it was never designed to rank states, Right.

The idea behind is that all the states give the same test to a sampling of students, fourth and eighth grade reading and math.

Right.

And they'll say over and over again, the researchers will say, please don't rank your states, you know, and hey, we're in the top 30.

We're in the top 25.

You wait.

Yeah, but we naturally, our brains naturally want to say we're in the top half.

Yes.

We want to compare.

But it was designed fo the state to compare to itself, because you can break it down by groups.

You can break it down by race.

You can break it down by top performer and low performers on the tests.

Like there is a this is a huge, you know, the federal government's way o like presenting all this data.

So somebody like me, I love it.

You know, I can't wait to dive in.

I want to see what's happened since 2022.

You know, Alabama held its own really in 2022.

We did not suffer as much of a loss as other states did.

I don't know the sort of double negative.

I don't know.

But but but at least it i I think education K-12 educators felt good about what they were able to sort of salvage during the pandemic.

You had so many states, really most states outright, almost all with so much education loss, learning loss, I guess, is the right way to say that.

And yet we didn't we didn't have and some people credited that to a lot shorter shutdown over COVID than other states had.

But so is this taking place this year then?

Yes.

Yes.

So just in a couple of weeks, we're going to get the NAEP results for all of the state for the spring 2024 assessment.

Right.

So it's given back in 20 spring of 2024 to fourth graders and eighth graders.

One thing that researchers have asked reporters to do is to remind people that the fourth graders that that took this test were finishing up their kindergarten year when COVID shut schools down.

Okay.

So then their first grade year was interrupted, their second grade year was interrupted.

A lot of people have heard state Superintendent Dr. McKee say this has been like the first normal year that they've had in K-12 schools since the pandemic hit.

So, you know, I don't know what those results are going to show.

I'm I'm looking forward to it.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Alabama's students are continuing to learn more and more every year.

And, of course, we want that progress.

But more than anything, we want an accurate assessment of where we are.

Kind of like what the cap does, which is the test everybody takes.

Right.

But we want to know and contex is important because, you know, we were just no seeing the full implementation of the literacy act.

We're probably not quite to the full implementation of the Numeracy Act.

That's obviousl reading and math, big, big deal.

So that's important context fo appreciating just what this is.

And so I appreciate you adding that context for Let you Go.

One more thing.

Okay.

Lawmakers are talking about changing the funding formula for how schools across the state or allocated money.

It's a very complicated subject.

And I know we've talked about this a little before, but I know that there are some decision time lines coming up with the legislative session approaching.

Yes.

Yes.

So there's a meeting next week of the K 12 Joint Legislative Task Force on School funding.

I always have to have a long name, sure.

But they are in that meeting.

They've met a few times and they all public meetings are actually livestreamed and they're archived online.

So you can see what they've been discussing.

But this meeting is one wher we expect to see real numbers.

Okay.

And by real numbers, I mean, you know, they're considering a weighted student funding formula.

So what are those weights going to be?

Are we going to give additional money?

Is the state going to provide additional money for English learners, for students with disabilities, for kids who are in poverty, for kids who are in school where poverty is concentrated?

Like that's another factor because it costs more to educate that job.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

And rural schools, small schools like there are a lot of different factors that you can use to wait, wait, the funding.

So it might be, you know, 1.4 times 140% of the ordinary fundin if your child has a disability.

Right.

So there are questions.

A lot of K-12 school districts are anxious to see, are we going to be able to like the deal is no one loses money, right?

Everybody gets more money and you can kind of say that year to year anyway.

People generally schools generally get more money, but they're trying to do it without raising taxes, use some of these reserve funds.

So they want to see schools, want to see a five year projection.

What is it they lawmakers are saying we would probably implement this over a five year period.

So some sort of hybrid program for the next five years.

And we'll see.

We'll see where lawmakers are.

Yeah, yeah, I could see that baby steps.

But it is important to address because we would be one of the last states to really finally modernize our our funding formula.

Right.

Trish, we're out of time.

But before we go, our folks may in the education community may be watching.

Maybe they have ideas, story ideas, things we should be paying attention to.

How do they get in touch with you?

You can pretty much Google m and come up with phone numbers and email addresses, but my email address is t crayon.

Crayon.

I think maybe you'll be on television at AP TV dot.com dot org board that org.

Sorry.

Yeah.

So, you know, I always want to know ideas like they are.

Some of the best ideas come from people who oh you may not be interested in this.

And then it turns into this really interesting thing.

There are great things going o in schools and higher ed, but, you know, some of those people call with whistleblower type tip like we want to hear those, too.

Yeah, absolutely.

Utilize that dress.

Thanks again.

Look forward to having you back on soon.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

Alabama public television is your place for quality educational services, free professional development for educators and child care providers, access to free curriculum, online videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS, Learning Media, and all the PBS kids programs Parents Know and Trust, Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP TV or slash education to learn more.

Montgomery native Percio Julia was an internationally acclaimed chemist, the third African-American to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry.

He specialized in the chemistry of natural products and their synthesis in the laboratory.

This technology is very important in medicines, food products, paint and firefighting foams.

Among other things, Julianne received many awards, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Welcom back to Spotlight on Education.

As we reported earlier, the Alabama Community College System is partnering with the State Board of Nursing to expand its health science programs in 2025.

Here's a clip of one such success story.

My mom went down fairly quickly.

She had a stroke on both sides of her brain.

And I saw how the nurses were taking care of her and our rewarding, it seemed to them.

And I'm like, Hmm I would really like to do that.

So Southern Union, their nursing program, the LPN program, is amazing.

Ms.. Brown She allows you to practice every skill that comes up.

She also hangs back while allowing you to experience and build on those skills.

So the union in preparing us for the nursing world.

I think they did an amazing job.

I found a job while in school, so it takes no time.

I mean, nurses are in demand.

I had not even taken my board and I had already had a job here at Oak Park.

I come here every day with the same attitude.

Some of them keep me laughing and some of them just want to talk and they just want a listening ear.

So I stand there 3 to 5 minutes, just listening to them whatever they're talking about.

I have one resident that every day I come back and she's like, I'm happy you're here, Kim.

I'm glad you're here.

It just reminds me of why I got into nursing.

It's very rewarding and it keeps that constant reminder that I'm here where I thought I would be.

And joining me next is Dr. Bryant Cline of the Alabama Community College System and Peggy Benso of the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Thanks for coming on Spotlight.

Thank you.

We all had this big announcement this week about, you know, nursing support technician and what the Alabama Community College System can partner with the Alabama Board of Nursing to really fill thi gap and partner with each other to offer students a pathway into this, you know, career that really needs it.

And Peggy, I remember going back and talking to yo all about this about a year ago, about maybe the roots of this.

So talk about this new credentialing program, where it came from and why it matters.

Well, back in August of 23, I met with the health care task force on the health care vacancies from the legislative session.

And we came up with lookin at developing a nursing support tech certified position.

And this came out of that group as a recommendation to the legislative session.

What was going to be required is that the Board of Nursing had to pass a law to issue permits for nursing support techs.

We done that from historica perspective because we had about 12 to 14000 workers working i hospitals currently in Alabama, all under different titles such as 16 different titles.

And we knew that if we could go ahead and have one title, one workforce working unde a standardized curriculum and a regulatory vetting process it would increase public safety.

So it came out as a recommendation from the committee and we passed the law this year.

And so we just recently rolled this out.

We developed standards of practice and a scope of practice for nursing support techs, and they would be certified through a test that a six has developed and we will be able to permi them as soon as the application process has been approved.

And then we created a competency validation progra through EC's schools of nursing so that we can further vet that These individuals have been trained and appropriately that it through the process.

Hmm.

Well, yeah, it didn't take y'all long at the community college system to say, look, this is absolutely up our alley with all that y'all do to connect students with careers.

Talk about how this lined up with your vision and what you do at the health care sciences ranks.

Well, one of the things that we do and we and the partners that we have with our state organization, we really try to make sure that each organization has something in how we can impact workforce across the state.

And one of the things when they speak of this and brought this to our table along with Ken Kirkland, we put this together and we wanted to provide opportunity for our students o growing stackable credentials.

So as they as they gain these these things, that's going to basically be beneficia to knowledge of the workforce, but it's also going to help them in their own personal career.

If they decide to move on to nursing, they can, but they also have this going to allow them to also move on to other associate degree programs that we offer to our two year colleges that'll be beneficial to them and once again beneficial to our state.

All right.

To talk about that, because I understand this is not just I mean, at the community college of you all really do a ton of dual enrollment.

So I'm guessing there will be some dual enrollment opportunities with this progra to begin students on a pathway before they're even graduate high school, especially as well.

Yes.

We have talked to we'r going to start a dual enrollment for the in Stacie, and that will roll out sometime in 25, maybe even as late as 26, so that they can have this and the 12th grade and then they'll graduate as an STC and be able to enter the workforce.

We're also doing and do enrollment is LPN.

So that will open up this year in 2025.

So students who don't want to go to LPN route can take the in-stat route and enter the workforce.

Our goal is that if we can get students into the health care arena early, they can see all the various roles within healt care and help fill in the gap.

Now the Nest See is designed to support the nurses at the bedside and to give you a little bit bigger background of that is that they will have their own scope of practice and they will work under the supervision of the nurse providing those services that it does not take a nurse to provide, but it assists the nurse in overall care.

So this is a tremendous opportunity.

Not only that, bu to hopefully get them actively in health care and actively engaged and wanting to pursue further education and training in the health care arena.

Mm hmm.

Well, that's interesting because it talks about the pathways, right?

Because you're right.

That's a great career unto itself.

But it also starts you out in a field where the opportunities are endless, Right?

That career pathway that I know that a lot of community colleges really put people on that path.

So with the community colleges, one of our things that w always look into is to find out so and this is just make some people or everyone is not meant to just start off at a four year institution.

So when we start looking at that, we look at it from not only from a high school standpoint, from a first year or first gen standpoint, but we also look at it from an adult standpoint.

We have a lot of people that want to get back in health care and some have been out of school for a very long time and some have just previously just finished school.

So when we design these programs, we have these programs in place.

Not only do we look for the need across the workforce, but we also find out ways that we can start them off with a in a sense, a stepping stone to gradually build them back into health care.

So if they decide that they want to follow their education, have that pathway.

Mm hmm.

When we talked last year, I believe you were here with Senator Weaver.

Yes.

He's obviously very involved in the nursing profession.

You'll talk about the shortage facing and it spoke to that a little bit earlier.

Talk about that.

What ou our needs really are out there in terms of the nursing shortage and how this partnership, how this new endeavor might bridge that gap.

Well, we know from the nursing standpoint, we're going to lose to retirement 38,000 nurses in the next four years.

Wow.

So we have a lot of nurses coming in that will be new graduates and really the nurses need this help at the bedside to be to give the supportive care that they need, because not everything at the bedside requires a licensed nurse to do so.

But we also know we have vacancies and support nursing roles as well.

We have close to 4000 vacancies in the state.

We want to have students coming in and begi to actively participate in this, but we also want the older worker to consider going back to school and looking at a new career field as well in nursing.

And at that, what better way is to start out with the nurse Stacey, which is about an eight week course that they can take through a six colleges and campuses and some of it they can take online through the AA IX Innovation Center, who helped design this online program.

It is an opportunity for many people who thought, well, I don't really I'm too old.

I shouldn't be pursuing nursing or a different career in health care.

It will open the door for those individuals who thought they missed the opportunity.

Fresh out of high schoo or they never finished college.

But here is you an entry poin and we're willing to work with you, and X is willing to look a a stackable credential for you so that you get credi for these courses that you take.

So as you decide to later on, after you've worked for two or three years is that in a state or even less?

You are welcome.

And it's easy for you to go back to school and to continue the education and health care.

Mm hmm.

Please.

And to chime in with that.

Two of our colleges have health science for of have health science programs.

And with this, with this being a pathway, regardles of where you are in the state, you now, as you said, you now have a built you're building a bridge to a a greater outcome.

We have a lot of ou we have several of our colleges that offer certificate programs along with this.

And this is just going to be added on to it.

And she's already spoken about building upon dual enrollment and for those in a one for associate's degree.

Mm hmm.

Well, there might be people out here watching that.

Maybe they're students, maybe they're teachers you know, high school teachers, parents who see this and say, man, okay that's a wide open career field.

Here's a you know, you're rolling out the red carpet, making it tremendously easy, it seems like, or just seamless, at least to to pursue that.

So if I'm a teacher, I'm a student.

If I'm a parent, how could I learn more about how to start out on this pathway?

A I'll start with you, Dr. Klein.

Well, one of the thing that you have to do is you know, you have to do your research.

I won't I won't sit here unti you fill in the lie about that.

But there are several websites that you can find.

I know a lot of the system offices start edu.

It'll provide you if you.

We have a health science sector on there where when you go to that section, it will provide all the resources and thing that you need to get in contact with the school that you may want in your particular area.

And the same thing with the Board of Nursing.

They have the w so we call inside our websites.

So if they're looking for NSD or if they're looking for LPN or they're looking for AURION, if they were to click on that school, what happens is the school will have bringing out a drop box.

That drop box say, Hey, this is the program you're looking for in your area.

And so and then once they click on it, the Board of Nursing, really, I mean, the website is Bada because what happens is it provides all the information that they need to proceed to that.

And then after that, it's up to the students to get to the institution, the institution then take care of it.

And then, as you say, we try to make it a seamless as possible because we want them there.

If that is your interest, we want you to have all the resources that you need to be successful.

Yeah.

All about that workforce and connecting students with careers.

Y'all really do specialize that in that.

It asks.

And I want to have you back on to talk about that for for some of the other issues you.

What would be your message to those parents who those students or teachers who are mentors, advisors of these students about wh why pursue a career in nursing?

You know some might be apprehensive, don't like the sight of blood or something like that.

But what would be your messag to those who might be interested or are not intereste in pursuing a career in nursing?

Well, this looking at the nurse to certification role is a good entry point, especially for an high school student.

You're going to know by the time you finish this and you start that job in health care, whether or not this is a career that you would want.

And that's what's so important about getting them in the hospitals, especially in the rural communities.

You want them to work in those hospitals, you want them to feel engaged and want to stay there and provide the services for their community.

But once you get them in the hospital and they see all the various roles and the things that are how they can give back to their community and to patients at large, most of those kids and even adults will be so engaged and so enlightened by the health care profession that they want to remain in that profession, and it just gives them something to aspire to by starting early in this.

And you're going to sort of know if they're going to be committed to it for the long term.

Yeah, and then that helps them actually, if you start working in a lot of facilities, they will provide tuition reimbursement for them to go back and become an LPN or an R in and further their education from there.

So it just opens many doors for them.

Had I had something like thi in high school in Walker County, I would have embraced it.

And I think we've come so far.

And the last I won't tell ho many years that it's been many.

The opportunities are almost limitless.

So if a parent is like I think nursing be good, but they might want to start out with an STC and then to determine whether or not they want to go on for that, because I'm telling you, once they get into the health care arena they're going to want to go on.

And you don't know what you don't know, right?

You don't kno until you are exposed to that.

And I know that y'all that's kind of y'all's mantra throughout what you're training system do for all across the workforce.

Well, look, this is great information.

I really appreciate it.

You know, we try to, on Spotlight, talk about different things.

It's not all about K-through-12, Education's not all about community.

It's not all about higher ed.

It's the whole mix.

And so much of this is about connecting students with opportunities.

And I think you've really hit on something that's going to be exciting to watch for the state going forward.

So thank you for coming on and explaining it.

I hope I'll have you back next year to talk about al the successes I do to charity.

So thanks again.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

We'll be right back.

What time is it?

It's Science Time.

Hi, I'm Mr. C, and today I'd like t introduce you to my new series, DIY Science Time in partnershi with Alabama Public Television.

We've created a show that is dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math.

DIY science Slime gets students and families excited about learning and encourage viewers like you to give science a try with a simple of DIY.

I've been an educator for 19 years and I know one thing always holds true learning.

Science is fun and can be done by everyone.

A little bit of guidance mixed together with a DI activity is the perfect recipe to inspire all of us to explor science in our everyday lives.

Fridays at 2:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.. Welcom back to Spotlight on Education.

Joining me next is Becca Benford, family engagement specialist here at Alabama Public Television.

Becca thanks for coming on Spotlight.

Thanks for having me.

Well, I'm eager to have you on because I really want to talk about be my neighbor day.

We'll get to that in a minute.

But can we start with what is an engagement, family engagement specialist?

What talk about your role here at AAPT.

Yeah.

So I stay really busy at my job as a statewide position.

So I cover all of Alabama and try to get as many communities as I can and I really want families to know what resources are in their community as well as what resources AAPT has.

Absolutely.

And we've talked a lot, not just on this program, but on Capitol Journal, about all the resources that AAPT has to offer to families.

And, you know, in this education space, starting from a very young age, how, you know it can be such a great resource, but also through high school and continuing education into teachers and everything.

So it's really great that you all are starting so early with families.

And speaking of that, be my Neighbor Day.

It's one of our favorite things that we do at AAPT.

But it's worth reminding our audience about what is be my Neighbor day and just kind of its origins and what happens with that event.

Yes, so be My neighbor Day is an annual event we have and we move around the state.

So each year we take it to a different region.

This year we were going to Boaz will b at the borough's public library and we get all kind of organizations to come together again just to show the families what's there, what they have that's available to them.

And we get Daniel Tiger out.

We sometimes we have a DJ's, we'll be dancing we packed bags for different like a health clinic.

So the activities range from doing things that you give to neighbors.

But then also things that kids get to take home because we know they want stuff to you.

Oh yeah, you want that swag, but you really want that photo with Daniel Tiger Absolutely.

That's that's why we love Daniel Tiger.

So he'll be at the Boaz event and all of you will be there.

That's right.

I remember seeing the events in mobile I think, a couple of years ago, and it was Dothan.

That was last year before that.

Okay.

Yep, last year.

And just the turnout at thes events are is really impressive.

Familie wanting to come engage in person with what they watch on TV, on PBS app every day.

Absolutely.

Yes.

I know once they see Daniel Tiger's going to be there, that kind of gets them a little more motivated to come out.

And what's really neat is that people from cities previously have asked if we could come back and do it again.

So that's a good feeling, knowing that we all had such a great time.

Hmm.

Well, yeah, when Daniel the tiger becomes like all be, the tiger has to be in multiple places.

Apologies to our worldwide counterpart.

Well, speaking of that, speaking of be my neighbor, I mean, that's there's no accident in that phrasing in that framing of the event.

And I grew up with Mister Rogers neighborhood and the impac that that had on my upbringing.

And I know I'm not the only one.

There are generations that came up with, you know, Mister Rogers inviting us into his neighborhood, his home and Mr. Rogers.

Talk about that legacy and how that's continuing with events like these and the programing.

Yes.

So we my neighbor day came about from Daniel Tiger's neighborhood, which, of course, Daniel Tiger was the puppet on Mister Rogers neighborhood when they went to land of make believe.

So it's just an effort to keep that going.

I know we all love Mr. Rogers, but you want to keep it relevant?

Not that that's not relevant, but.

Right.

Yeah.

Just have somethin that families can keep watching and as families are encourage to watch Daniel Tiger together, studies have shown that it's best when parents watch with their children because it gives them strategies on parenting and different things that our kids are going to experience.

Okay, So Daniel Tiger is not just a kid's show.

It's supposed to be a family.

It's supposed to be a family.

So, yes, we understand that sometimes you have to get some dishes done or laundry clean, but it's it's beneficial to watch it together.

Well, that's that's good to know.

Yeah, well, I know when you all do these events, you know, what type of local and maybe state organizations do you look to partner with sometimes when you kno going to a local community or, you know, maybe one for the first time, like I'm assuming Bo as it's probably their first time to host this event.

That's right.

So we work with statewide organizations, so typically reach out, read, we'll come out parents as teachers parenting assistance line, but then we'll reach out to community organizations.

So of course, the library will be there.

And then we have differen groups that are specific to us.

So kind of once we started talking to the library, then they have these connections that they will reach out to and then it just kind of starts from there.

Interesting.

Now there might be organizations, people from organizations watching this very program wondering, well, that sounds like an awesome event to partner wit and be a part of that community.

How do they get in touch with you in terms of, you know, asking about how they could be a partner for be my neighbor day this time or maybe in the future?

Yeah, absolutely.

So they can email me.

So my email is are Benford RB and if I already aptiv dot org or they can call me at 2058423623.

I'll be careful you might get more than your you're asking for.

Oh I hope so.

We want to we want everybody there.

Absolutely.

And remind us again of the date and tim for Be My Neighbor Day in Boaz.

Yeah.

So Boaz is be my neighbor Day will be February eight from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boaz Public Library.

Absolutely.

If you're near there, you bette be there and especially in the final days.

Becca, thanks so much for all you do here at AAPT, and thanks for coming on Spotlight.

Yeah, thank you for having me.

We'll be right back.

Most children in Alabama don't have access to formal pre-K program to help them prepare for school.

But all children in Alabama have access to the children's programing on Alabama public television.

And these programs are proven to help children start school better prepared to succeed.

Just watching programs like Sesame Street, Super Y and Curious George.

Can have a profound impact on how well kids do from kindergarte all the way through high school.

AP also provides training and resources to parents and child care providers throughout the state to help them make the most of these great programs.

It's on air pre-K every day on Alabama public television, and AP encourages parent to watch these valuable programs with their children.

St Stephen's was chosen as Alabama's first seat of government and served as its territorial capital between 1817 and 1819.

The first session of the Alabama Territorial Assembly met in the Douglas Hotel, the once bustling frontier town.

The settlement of St Stephen's sat atop limestone bluff overlooking the Tom Bigby river.

Today, the long abandoned town is referred to as Old St Stephen's and is an historical park and archeological site.

Thank you for watching.

Spotlight on Education.

Remember you can follow education topics throughout the legislative session by tuning in to Capitol Journal that airs Monday through Thursdays at 1030 and Friday nights at 730 and Sundays at noon here on Alabama Public Television.

For our 18, I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.