Montgomery, AL – On Monday, Kay Ivey officially proclaimed Public Schools Week in Alabama, recognizing the progress made by students, teachers and schools statewide and emphasizing the importance of continued investment in education.
“Every child deserves a high-quality education, and every teacher deserves the right training and support. 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,” said Governor Ivey. “Strong students lead to a strong Alabama, and a strong Alabama is our goal.”
Throughout her administration, Ivey has identified education as a top priority. State leaders note that recent national coverage has highlighted Alabama’s strategies for improving education outcomes, with the governor stating that Alabama now serves as a model for other states seeking to strengthen learning and workforce readiness.
In her 2025 State of the State address, Ivey underscored the state’s focus on education, declaring, “We are, in fact, not just a football state… Alabama is an education state!”
Shortly after taking office in 2017, Ivey launched the “Strong Start, Strong Finish” initiative, designed to create a seamless pipeline from classroom instruction to workforce development. The state has since continued to invest in early learning through the expansion of the First Class Pre-K program and implementation of the Alabama Literacy Act. Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program has been recognized nationally for nearly two decades as the highest-quality state-funded pre-kindergarten program.
According to state officials, Alabama’s public schools have demonstrated measurable progress in recent years. In 2017, Alabama ranked last in the nation for fourth-grade math and 49th in fourth-grade reading. Current data shows Alabama now ranks 32nd in fourth-grade math and 34th in reading, with the state leading the nation in math recovery and ranking third in reading recovery.
The administration’s education strategy has focused on strengthening foundational skills through full implementation of the Literacy and Numeracy Acts and improving student attendance. State leaders report Alabama has the lowest rate of chronic absenteeism in the country and ranks among the top five states for computer science education.
In 2022, Ivey launched the Turnaround Schools Initiative, which provides additional support and funding to some of Alabama’s lowest-performing elementary schools. The program emphasizes leadership development, teacher growth, classroom improvement and positive school environments.
Alabama’s high school graduation rate currently stands at 92%, among the highest in the nation, while the College and Career Readiness Rate has reached a record 88%. Officials report that more than 500,000 additional credentialed workers have entered the workforce in recent years.
Teacher recruitment and retention have also remained a focus. Ivey has supported multiple teacher pay raises during her tenure and recently proposed another increase. State leaders say teacher salaries have risen by nearly 20% since she took office.
State officials credit the combined efforts of educators, students and families across all 67 counties for Alabama’s recent education gains, noting that Public Schools Week serves as an opportunity to celebrate those contributions and the continued focus on academic achievement statewide.
