MONTGOMERY, AL - Randy McKinney, Alabama State Board of Education Vice President, has been selected to serve on a year-long study group - Common Ground: Education and the Military Meeting the Needs of Students. The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) panel will examine the skills and knowledge youths need to become strong students and leaders as they transition from postsecondary education to the next phase of their lives. McKinney has represented District 1 on the Alabama State Board of Education since 2003. McKinney, who previously served as president pro tem, was elected Vice President in 2008.
“Giving all students the best possible education is our goal in Alabama,” said McKinney. “The military has an outstanding record in training that includes more than 150 different career paths. The Army provides an ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] test at no charge to students or school systems. ASVAB helps students identify their aptitude in various career interests. The military’s application of discipline and strong standards coupled with high expectations is of great interest to me in applying this to the field of education. We can learn from each other in improving our educational system.”
As a member of the 2010 national study group, McKinney will meet with other state board members, researchers and policy analysts to delve into areas in which educators and the military have shared goals, and examine how specific curricula and assessment programs developed by and for the military may be adapted to improve public education. Common Ground is about exploring every option available as boards explore how to best help students develop into accomplished, confident and productive high school graduates.
The 2010 study group members will examine the coordination between K-12 education and the military to meet the needs of students, and explore several key issues including:
· Building a comprehensive understanding of postsecondary choices for students;
· Improving graduation rates;
· Improving the health and fitness of high school students;
· Expanding career exploration/assessment and test preparation resources for educators and students; and
· Elevating the need for well-trained teachers, particularly in the areas of science and mathematics.
The Common Ground study group will issue a comprehensive report in October 2010 at the NASBE Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. The group’s policy recommendations will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders including Congress, federal officials, governors, chief state school officers, local education policymakers, and the education and military communities.
NASBE represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen State Boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. NASBE conducts annual study groups to provide professional development to members of State Boards of Education, set organizational direction and priorities, and inform the state education policymaking process on key issues. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.
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