Governor Kay Ivey on Monday proclaimed Public Schools Week in Alabama, using the occasion to spotlight academic gains and education initiatives implemented during her administration.
“Every child deserves a high quality education, and every teacher deserves the right training and support,” Ivey said in a statement. “Together, Alabama’s students and teachers are proving that by focusing on the fundamentals of education and by working hard in the classroom, we can unlock a promising future for every child and for our state. Strong students lead to a strong Alabama, and a strong Alabama is our goal.”
Education has been a central focus of Ivey’s administration since she took office in 2017. Shortly after becoming governor, she launched the “Strong Start, Strong Finish” initiative aimed at strengthening the connection between classroom learning and workforce preparation.
The state has expanded its nationally recognized First Class Pre-K program and implemented the Alabama Literacy Act and Numeracy Act, which emphasize early reading and math proficiency.
According to the governor’s office, Alabama has seen measurable improvements in national rankings over the past several years. In 2017, Alabama ranked near the bottom nationally in fourth grade math and reading. Today, the state ranks 32nd in math and 34th in reading, and officials say Alabama has recorded the largest increase in fourth grade math scores in the country. The state also ranks first nationally in math recovery and third in reading recovery.
Ivey has also emphasized student attendance and workforce readiness. State officials report that Alabama currently has the lowest percentage of chronic absenteeism in the nation and ranks among the top five states for computer science participation.
In 2022, Ivey launched the Turnaround Schools Initiative to provide additional funding and support to some of Alabama’s lowest performing elementary schools, many of which serve high poverty communities. The initiative focuses on leadership development, teacher growth and strengthening classroom instruction.
Alabama’s high school graduation rate currently stands at 92 percent, according to the governor’s office, with a College and Career Readiness rate of 88 percent, an all time high for the state.
Teacher pay has also been a priority during Ivey’s tenure. Since she became governor, teachers have received nearly a 20 percent pay increase, and Ivey has proposed an additional raise this year.
In her 2025 State of the State address, Ivey declared, “We are, in fact, not just a football state… Alabama is an education state!”
The proclamation of Public Schools Week recognizes the work of educators, students and families across Alabama’s 67 counties.
