6. 2010 ACT composite scores of states testing at least 70% of students 21.0 20.3 * Source: College Board Advocacy and Policy Center, 2011 Nat. Avg. AL 20.3 20.7 22.0 19.4 20.1 22.9 18.8 22.1 21.5 20.0 19.6 21.8 20.0 AK IL KS KY LA MN MS NB ND SD TN UT WY

7. ACT Performance: Average Composite Score - 1995-2010 20.3 21.0 20.2 20.9 20.2 21.0 20.0 * Source: College Board Advocacy and Policy Center, 2011 ** National Composite Data Not Available for 1995

8. 66% 65% 52% 48% 45% 32% 30% 22% ACT Performance: Percentage of students meeting key benchmarks * Source: College Board Advocacy and Policy Center, 2011

9. HS graduation rates --AL, U.S., SE percent progress 1998 - 2008 Nation * Source: Diplomas Count 2011, Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, www.edweek.org/rc AL FL LA TN SC NC GA MS Nation AL FL GA LA MS TN SC NC 71.7 64.8 58.8 59.6 61.4 76.9 58.6 72.8 63.9 + 6.1 + 7.5 + 12.4 + 6.6 + 3.6 + 4.6 + 20.0 + 7.9 + 15.4 65.6 56.0 50.8 52.2 56.8 56.9 57.4 51.6 57.3

10. 64.8% 71.7% * Source: Diplomas Count 2011, Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, www.edweek.org/rc 57.3% 65.6% Alabama HS graduation rate: State average vs. national average +7.5% +6.1% 87.65%

12. REMEDIATION More than 1/3 of our HS graduates require it * Source: Alabama Commission on Higher Education, 2011 Alabama high schools with highest remediation rates Loachapoka HS Lee County 74% Autaugaville HS Autauga County 73% Calhoun HS Lowndes County 72% Hubbertville HS Fayette County 71% Bessemer City HS Bessemer City 70% Edward Bell HS Tallapoosa County 70% G.W. Carver HS Birmingham City 70% Notasulga HS Macon County 69% Parker HS B’ham City 68% Ashford HS Houston County 68%

13. The 2010 6-Year graduation rate: Alabama’s public 4-year colleges 67% 48% 66% 40% 45% 40% 37% 37% 35% 34% 29% 28% 22 % * Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS 2009-2010 Graduation Rates ** Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPDES 2006-2007 Graduation Rates State Average: 46.9% National Average: 55.9%**

15. Signs of progress: Alabama leads in advanced placement gains Our successful A+ College Ready program proves that Alabama students and teachers at every Alabama public school can achieve high standards and reach high goals with the right support

16. % of public high schools in Southeast states offering AP in 4 core subjects 33.9% 20.1% 48.6% 59.9% 44.9% * Source: College Board Advocacy and Policy Center, 2011 NationalAverage AL FL GA SC LA TN MS NC 11.7% 28.6% 28.3% 50.2%

17. 387 269 150 76 2 5 17 27 12 23 43 64 INCREASED AP INVESTMENT 2008 - 2012 A+ College Ready Improvement - 1 * Source: A+ College Ready, A+ Education Partnership, 2011

18. 2011-12 scores pending 13,401 8,900 5,385 1,671 2,705 743 2,673 INCREASED AP INVESTMENT 2008 - 2012 A+ College Ready Improvement - 2 * Source: A+ College Ready, A+ Education Partnership, 2011

19. How Alabama AP test scores compare: A+ CR - 3 Scores of 3 or Greater in Math, Science and English per 1,000 Jrs and Srs Enrolled First Year APTIP Cohort 1 First Year APTIP Cohort 2 First Year APTIP Cohort 3 159 78 102 108 183 218 137 132 124 96 67 47 62 51 59 42 116 * Source: A+ College Ready. As of August 8, 2011, College Board, state DOE’s for enrollments, US average in public schools, 2011 is estimated. AL Cohorts 1, 2 and 3 are A+College Ready Program Schools

34. From The Alliance for Excellent Education Equipping Students and Classrooms with the Tools Necessary for Online Learning Matt Akin, Piedmont City Schools, Alabama In September, Piedmont became one of the first school districts in Alabama to, in Akin’s words, “engage in a bona fide one-to-one laptop initiative that provides a computer for students’ use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for all students in grades four through twelve.” Innovations for TOMORROW: DIGITAL LEARNING

35. With the help of a federal technology grant, the district acquired 800 MacBooks through a lease-purchase agreement. As a result, the project—called MPower Piedmont—has put a computer in 500 homes that never had one before… But Akin didn’t stop there. Realizing that 65 percent of his students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, he worried that wireless access might not be available to them at home. So he worked with local businesses and churches to bridge the digital gap. As a result, two of Piedmont’s three fast food restaurants now offer free Wi-Fi access. Additionally, churches are now offering free wireless access and supervision of students. Innovations for TOMORROW: DIGITAL LEARNING

39. Building a Blueprint for Education Reform