This session will focus on how to be aware of skill gaps of struggling readers in the upper elementary, middle, and even high school classrooms in order to teach reading strategies that will improve their reading skills in every subject area. The session is open to teachers and administrators of any content areas or grade levels. Attendees will gain a repository of strategies that will help bridge learning gaps and enhance instruction for students needed targeted support.

For over 20 years, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) has conducted research on the thinking and behaviors of those who commit acts of targeted school violence in an effort to prevent future tragedies. Key findings from this research indicate that establishing multidisciplinary threat assessment teams and encouraging school communities to report concerning behaviors are critical steps in the prevention of targeted violence.

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), School Safety Task Force, will offer a monthly safe schools training. This virtual training will provide school leaders with training opportunities to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure schools are safe and conducive for learning.  Trainings will include but are not limited to the following: safety drills, bullying prevention, relocation, reunification, fire codes, lockdown, emergency operation plans, mental health awareness, and more. 

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), School Safety Section, will offer a training entitled “School Safety Summit”. This in-person training will explain the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) requirements for the state of Alabama. During this training, participants will learn how to enter documentation in eProve for Compliance Monitoring Review. Safety coordinators, school administrators, central office staff, and anyone preparing fiscal year 2025-2026 Compliance Monitoring Review, and any individual who is responsible for entering information into the nSide School Safety platform are strongly encouraged to attend this training.

This course seeks to help youth-serving professionals define and understand the complexity of military-connected students’ lives, their families, and the implications of military service. Participants will analyze current practices for successfully supporting military-connected students and recognize the importance of supportive schools and partnerships.

This virtual course contains recorded sessions, resources, and discussion questions for an introduction and 15 of the 22 identified high-leverage practices for students with disabilities. Participants can choose to participate in 1-16 one-hour sessions allowing for partial credit to be given.

An overview of all ALSDE initiatives and special education updates will be provided.
Topics Include: Special Needs Transportation, Educator Certification Opportunities, EdTech: Using ACCESS and ALEX for Success with Special Populations, Secondary Transition: Beyond Grade 12, LRP: Using Special Ed Connection and DirectSTEP to Save Time and Effort, The Practice of Bridge Building, Year in Review

After completing this online learning, administrators should be able to understand the legal implications regarding the education of students with disabilities, the administrator's role in overseeing the IEP process for students with disabilities, and the key procedural and substantive requirements of developing and implementing a high-quality IEP.  Specific administrator actions taken before, during, and after IEP meetings will be discussed to ensure services and supports outlined in the IEP are implemented with fidelity. 

Based on guidance from the USDOE, this PLU provides school leaders with an opportunity to understand federal regulations to address discipline issues for students with disabilities. Participants will assess their current understanding, review national, state, and local discipline data, complete asynchronous learning, apply learning to real-life cases, and develop a plan of action to address discipline issues leading to days of lost instruction for students with disabilities and school safety concerns.

Based on guidance from the USDOE, this PLU provides school leaders with an opportunity to understand federal regulations to address discipline issues for students with disabilities. Participants will assess their current understanding, review national, state, and local discipline data, complete asynchronous learning, apply learning to real-life cases, and develop a plan of action to address discipline issues leading to days of lost instruction for students with disabilities and school safety concerns.