Editorial: State AP test scores shine despite education budget cuts

By: Editorial | Opelika Auburn News
Published: August 26, 2009

Education in Alabama is treading through stormy seas. Teachers and administrators continue to tread in the wake of massive budget cuts that bring the sense of uneasiness to the future of schools in this state.

Last month, Gov. Bob Riley announced that school-spending cuts will increase from nine percent to 11 percent, attempting to maintain the education budget in the $5.7 billion range.

The money just isn’t there and Riley understands the necessity behind a streamlined cash flow.

Gloom and doom. Even Alabama Education Association Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert chimed the same sad tune in a column published last month in the Alabama School Journal.

“No one knows for sure when all the excesses created during the “bubble” years will be squeezed out of the economy and our schools will have a dependable stream of revenue again,” he wrote.

“Until that happens, we will be struggling to keep the school doors open.

“We are now in funding waters we have not navigated since the 1930s. It is impossible to cut our schools over $1.5 billion during a two year period without seriously affecting programs that help our students learn better.”

Certainly a sad situation.

But you know what? Amid the budget cuts and fears of further cuts in the future that can hurt the potential for higher learning by our children, Alabama was a shining star when it came to Advanced Placement test scores.

According to the Alabama Department of Education, the state enjoyed an 81 percent increase in passing scores, 67 percent increase in passing scores by minorities and a 202 percent increase in exams taken.

The state’s increase in passing scores for math, science and English was 22 percent.

The rest of the nation enjoyed just a 5.7 percent increase in such scores.

Yes, these are dire economic times that require massive cuts and strict budgeting. That’s right. Alabama outdistanced itself from the nation.

The education budget hasn’t been spared by the men and women making our laws. But it’s good to see that some Alabama students can excel in these difficult college-level exams despite the fund-slashing taking place in Montgomery.