PARCA’s work is a critical part of the public conversation, frequently used on both sides of an argument, enriching those debates and discussions with credible facts and analysis. Our research and events are also covered by the news media and our research is relied upon by  decision-makers across the state:

• Over 300 miles of roads need major work in county (02/23/20)
• Voters could change how education leaders are picked in Alabama (02/21/20)
• Alabama voters will decide whether to fire the state school board (02/19/20)
• THE PORT RAIL: Be doers, not just hearers (02/17/20)
• Montgomery occupational tax hearing set for Tuesday (02/17/20)
• Sheffield High touted in state report on workforce development (02/13/20)
• Private sector leaders from across Alabama call for the state legislature to back Ivey’s $25M pre-k expansion (02/13/20)
• Business, community leaders call on lawmakers to support Gov. Ivey’s push for more Pre-K funds (02/13/20)
• Mayor Tommy Battle and local leaders urge Huntsville community to participate in census (02/12/20)
• Ivey’s 2020 State of the State Address set for Tuesday evening (02/04/20)
• Ivey tells PARCA to vote yes on amendment one (02/03/20)
• Alabama Governor Kay Ivey in Birmingham Friday (01/31/20)
• Report describes steep challenges for state’s primary workforce development goal (01/30/20)
• State needs 500K skilled workers by 2025 (01/29/20)
• Report: Better collaboration, alignment needed to meet state workforce needs (01/29/20)
• Business Education Alliance releases workforce development report (01/28/20)
• Alabama headed for jobs crisis as skills disappear, study says (01/28/20)
• Alabama facing shortage of skilled labor, report finds (01/28/20)
• Committee focuses on community centers in second occupational tax meeting (01/21/20)
• We need to talk about the homeless (01/19/20)
• Why Alabama’s taxes are unfair (01/14/20)
• Committee formed to discuss proposed occupational tax in Montgomery (01/07/20)
• Montgomery councilman to reintroduce occupational tax proposal (01/07/20)
• Montgomery councilman to reintroduce occupational tax proposal (01/7/20)
• Alabama state and local governments collect less taxes than any other state (12/23/19)
• Music can be a shining example of unity for Shoals (12/4/19)
• State launches ‘Born Ready’ parenting movement (12/4/19)
• State Lawmakers, Pre-K Advocates tour Coleman Center (11/13/19)
• Holt: Florence’s quality of life helps economy (11/8/19)
• Alabama stands to lose out in upcoming Census (11/6/19)
• SPEAKER’S STAND: Forward 4 All is about positive change (opinion) (10/25/19)
• Highest graduation rates ever reached by Phenix City and 2 counties, early data shows (10/08/19)
• Elba City Schools staying above state average as it closes gap between graduation rate and college and career ready (10/03/19)
• Alabama Men’s Hall of Fame Lunch celebrates Brewer and Brock (10/01/19)
• Jones cosponsors school design safety bill (09/30/19)
• Getting them ready: City, county schools get high marks for college, career prep (09/27/19)
• Tourism launches new website to attract more visitors to the Shoals (09/23/19)
• Woodfin announces plan for free college tuition to city graduates (08/28/19)
• Alabama 6-cent gas tax increase to start September 1 (08/26/19)
• Good Neighbor Pledge is a step toward the metro area we could be (08/19/19)
• Birmingham Councilor says city has increased its dedication to public transit (08/14/19)
• Stunning figure shows impact of Kidsville News! (08/13/19)
• Opelika ranks among nation’s best in economic growth potential (08/07/19)
• United Way of Central Alabama and allies to expand nationally successful First Class Pre-K program (08/03/19)
• Build prisons or turn prisoners lose (08/01/19)
• Pre-K program lowes discipline rates for students’ middle and high school years (07/29/19)
• Alabama must build more prisons but taxpayers don’t have to foot the bill (07/29/19)
• (Our View) A big step for education (07/27/19)
• HEART Academy getting First Class Pre-K (07/25/19)
• Dad-deprived homes reach crisis level in Alabama (07/14/19)
• Progressivism is Not Progress (06/25/19)
• A Greater Shoals (06/25/19)
• Dad deprived homes reach crisis-levels in Alabama (06/20/19)
• Dora High students increase ACT scores (06/21/19)
• Jasper High ranked fifth for improved ACT scores (06/20/19)
• Boldness needed to address Greater Shoals issues (06/19/19)
• Study: Some Shoals-area cities should consider service mergers (06/18/19)
• Steering committee: Today’s report signals start of change (06/18/19)
• Greater Shoals gathering is Tuesday (06/13/19)
• Average ACT score at PLAS exceeds national benchmark (06/12/19)
• Alabama cities suffocated by a system designed for failure (06/09/19)
• The importance of Pre-K: don’t let it fadeout (06/07/19)
• Trending Up: School systems improve average ACT scores (06/05/19)
• Several Alabama schools significantly improve ACT scores (06/04/19)
• Alabama residents asked to vote away power to elect state school board (05/31/19)
• Why millions of local tax dollars are funding Alabama’s state courts (05/30/19)
• Mobile bridge comments: people want crossing, but not the tolls (05/24/19)
• Study shows low proficiency rates for Alabama public school students (05/23/19)
• Greater Shoals work group emphasizes FAME promotion (05/16/19)
• Group wants expanded purpose for development fund (05/15/19)
• Greater Shoals work group wants unified tourism board (05/09/19)
• Group envisions local utilities as high-fiber provider (05/07/19)
• Greater Shoals recommendation session start today (05/07/19)
• Alabama’s voluntary First Class Pre-K program named highest quality state-funded Pre-K program in the nation (05/02/19)
• Colleges revamp remedial work (04/26/19)
• Momentum shifts on bill to repeal Common Core (04/25/19)
• Group ponders feasibility of consolidating various services (04/15/19)
• Scholar Dollars: a treasure to be celebrated (04/25/19)
• Cohesiveness a theme at Greater Shoals meeting (04/24/19)
• Alabama sees drop in college freshman taking remediation courses (04/23/19)
• Alabama senator says Christians ‘should speak out’ over prison conditions, sparking reaction (04/22/19)
• Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program tops in nation for 13th straight year (04/20/19)
• PARCA ranks OHS tops for better scores (04/19/19)
• Gov. Ivey responds to President’s major disaster declaration for the state (04/18/19)
• Greater Shoals workgroup: we need input from youth (04/18/19)
• Ivey announces Alabama’s First Class Pre-K as nation’s top program (04/17/19)
• Alabama’s Pre-K program ranked highest quality in nation (04/17/19)
• Freshman needing remedial courses decreases (04/17/19)
• Study shows slight decrease in ACT scores (04/17/19)
• Upper-level fire, police get grade hike (04/17/19)
• Work group challenged: think out of the box (04/17/19)
• Regional cooperation pact may be Birmingham’s turning point (04/15/19)
• MY TURN: Times are good but we must position Tuscaloosa for the experience economy (04/14/19)
• Survey: Most Alabamians say too little is spent on education (04/14/19)
• Editorial: Prison reform must go further (04/14/19)
• SEDA Board could expand executive committee (04/14/19)
• Prison reform is more than new buildings (04/14/19)
• Survey shows majority of Alabamians support prison rehabilitation programs (04/11/19)
• PARCA survey says Alabamians want fewer non-violent criminals in prison, more money for education (04/11/19)
• Bill to close AL payday loan loophole gains bipartisan support (04/11/19)
• Tourism group identifies strengths, weakness of Shoals (04/11/19)
• What Alabamians think of taxes, schools and prisons (04/11/19)
• More than 20 Jeff Co mayors sign no poaching pact (04/04/19)
• Superintendent: Common Core standards have paid tremendous dividends (04/02/19)
• PARCA group exploring tourism unity, not consolidation (03/31/19)
• Officials stress importance of being counted in Census (03/24/19)
• Community schools: How the concept started and failed in Montgomery (03/22/19)
• 6 committees formed from PARCA study (03/22/19)
• Tweak it, but don’t dissolve SEDA (03/21/19)
• PARCA group to broaden definition of economic development (03/19/19)
• Report explores “crisis” in Alabama’s prisons (03/07/19)
• Pre-K task force endorses Gov. Ivey’s first Pre-K expansion recommendation (03/06/19)
• Sales tax increase starts today (03/01/19)
• Groups to work on expanding industrial development fund uses (03/01/19)
• Reflecting upon PARCA’s “Pathway” for the Shoals (02/28/19)
• Keep driving, Alabama: you’ll pay a toll (02/27/19)
• PARCA shares study results at “Pathway” kickoff (02/22/19)
• Ivey addresses PARCA event (02/19/19)
• Ivey addressed PARChttps://www.al.com/news/2019/02/keep-driving-alabama-youll-pay-a-toll.htmlA event (02/19/19)
• Alabama agencies working to get more in labor force (02/15/19)
• America’s Roundup (02/14/19)
• Proposal: Residence would determine Decatur Pre-K placement for more students (02/14/19)
• Love for literacy gala promises fun evening for good cause (02/11/19)
• Raising Alabama: the need for more revenue (02/11/19)
• Decatur pre-k faces multiple challenges (01/16/19)
• Wilsonville Elementary boasts first-class playground thanks to help from volunteers (01/15/19)
• PARCA Issues 2018 Study: How Alabama Taxes Compare (01/14/19)
• Former Alabama Pre-K students score better in reading, math (12/27/18)
• Why American cities are so weirdly shaped (12/22/18)
• PARCA Roundtable announces class of 2019 (12/19/18)
• PARCA Study confirms payday lending reform should be high priority of Alabama Legislature (12/3/18)
• Alexander City residents like lottery, Facebook poll says, but ministers do not (11/30/18)
• Alabama Pre-K Program Tops National Report (11/23/18)
• Hoover considering property tax increase to support its school system (11/15/18)
• Healthcare has been top-of-mind for voters, politicians in election cycle (11/3/18)
• Alabama election issues 2018: What voters need to know (11/02/18)
• Lawrence schools starting fiscal 2019 with more than expected (11/02/18)
• Fate of Alabama lottery could hinge on November elections (10/28/18)
• Here’s what Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have to say about education (10/27/18)
• Nonprofit organization studying independent school system (09/26/18)
• What happened to the GOP’s handshake with Alabama (09/12/18)
• This is the biggest issue facing Alabama: Voting results (09/09/18)
• What is the biggest issue facing Alabama: You decide (09/03/18)
• City likely to trash garbage changes, increase fees and gas tax to cover cost (08/23/18)
• Sanitation and gas tax changes dominate first public budget talks (08/21/18)
• How do Montgomery’s revenues compare to other big cities (08/13/18)
• Proposed city budget puts $9 million to miscellaneous funds. Here’s where the money is going (08/09/18)
• Alabama’s pre-K program featured in documentary (07/06/18)
• Judicial funding shortfalls garner national attention (06/27/18)
• ACT Scores, college/career readiness gap highlights MPS’ magnet/nonmagnet disparity (06/26/18)
• PARCA discusses Alabama Priorities report on Capitol Journal (06/22/18)
• Polarized? Not in Alabama, study says (06/20/18)
• Blacks, whites agree on most Alabama priorities, PARCA report says (06/16/18)
• Alabama voters’ priorities: Education, healthcare and government ethics (06/18/18)
• Alabama House Democrats to hold ‘Pro-Growth’ conference in Florence (05/29/18)
• Candidates for Governor Pitch Ideas During PARCA Roundtable Forum (05/17/18)
• Gubernatorial candidates speak to PARCA Roundtable (05/17/18)
• Alabama expands nation’s best pre-k program to 1,040 classrooms (04/30/18)
• Governor: Alabama to add more than 100 pre-k classrooms in fall (04/30/18)
• Limestone population growth up 14 percent, but most other counties down (04/29/18)
• Alabama First Class Pre-K named nation’s highest quality pre-kindergarten program for 12th consecutive year (04/19/18)
• Annual Reminder: Alabama is last in state, local tax collection (04/19/18)
• Alabama First Class Pre-K tops nation in quality for 12th year (04/18/18)
• With MPS near the bottom in millage rate, more begin asking to raise property tax (04/17/18)
• Alabama needs to choose fiscal sanity (04/18/18)
• Lag in growth will be costly to state (03/18/18)
• Alabama growth lagging behind (03/18/18)
• Study finds that Alabama prekindergarten boosts math, reading (02/27/18)
• City to study public safety salaries, benefits (02/21/18)
• Alabama Gov. Ivey aims for reading proficiency in all third-graders by 2022 (02/03/18)
• Governor Ivey announces new policy initiatives as part of “Strong Start, Strong Finish” (02/02/18)
• It’s time to reform payday predatory lending in Alabama (01/30/18)
• Kids Count: Poverty rates are up; hunger stats have stabilized (09/25/17)
• Alabama teen pregnancy rate is at historic low, while poverty remains high (09/18/17)
• Birmingham needs regional vision to thrive in future (08/25/17)
• Gulf Shores approves city school study (08/01/17)
• Will Gulf Shores form a city school? A long process begins Monday (07/30/17)
• Gulf Shores to consider city schools study (07/26/17)
• Gulf Shores latest in Alabama to look at city-county school split (07/25/17)
• United approach to community development blueprint for success (07/09/17)
• Why this successful Birmingham CEO wants to see more regional cooperation (07/05/17)
• New Report: Lack of Regional Cooperation Hinders Birmingham’s Growth (07/03/17)
• Denver, Charlotte offer lessons for Birmingham on regional cooperation (06/29/17)
• Fiefdoms, fragmentation and flat growth: Inside the bold bid to transform Birmingham (06/29/17)
• Alabama commission approves two new public charter schools (06/27/17)
• Test scores show room for improvement, officials say (06/26/17)
• ACT score averages, by school, help officials tweek instruction (06/25/17)
• New report says Birmingham metro area has had almost zero job growth since 2000 (06/22/17)
• Regional cooperation leads to job growth, overall prosperity, says report (06/22/17)
• Why Birmingham still ranks last, and how to fix it (06/20/17)
• 20 Alabama schools with the lowest average ACT scores (06/18/17)
• Birmingham has lost population, prominence due to fragmentation of government: Study (06/16/17)
• New report explores solutions for Birmingham’s fragmentation (06/15/17)
• Tom Spencer of PARCA discusses latest study (06/12/17)
• PARCA survey indicates lack of confidence in state leaders (05/25/17)
• Exclusive: Ranking Birmingham’s top public school systems (05/10/17)
• Study recommends $1 million increase in administrative costs for Decatur schools (05/05/17)
• Alabama’s toxic lending problem: Who cares? (05/03/17)
• Alabama lawmakers have high interest in keeping payday loan interest high (05/02/17)
• Birmingham’s top performing schools and school systems (04/27/17)
• Majority of Alabamians say state lawmakers don’t care what they think, survey states (04/19/17)
• Tuscaloosa City, County education leaders speak on challenges and opportunities facing schools (03/29/27)
• State and local superintendents address education issues (03/28/17)
• Alabama superintendent scraps proposals after board pushback (03/09/17)
• County education officials react to proposed career tech changes across the state (03/08/17)
• Payday lending amendment would cap interest at 36% (03/07/17)
• Alabama superintendent upsets educators with changes to career tech (03/04/17)
• State leaders look for ways to expand Alabama First Class Pre-K program in Lee County (03/01/17)
• Lee County Schools to apply for four new Pre-K grants, officials seek increased funding (02/28/17)
• Student performance lauded as top in state among majority poverty students (02/21/17)
• DCS accepting applications for 7 Pre-K units (02/07/17)
• Austin senior says language is toughest challenge for Hispanic students (01/30/17)
• Mayors say education, infrastructure greatest needs (01/28/17)
• Bentley: State future bright despite infrastructure list error (01/27/17)
• Group hopes to get First Class Pre-K Program fully funded by 2023 (01/26/17)
• Advocates ask Alabama lawmakers for $20 million to expand First Class Pre-K, add 160 classrooms (01/26/17)
• A look back at Governor Albert Brewer (01/10/17)
• Former Gov. Albert Brewer left a lasting impact on Lee County and Alabama (01/08/17)
• Albert P. Brewer, a Former Governor of Alabama, Dies at 88 (01/07/17)
• Fake News Challenged Former Governor Albert Brewer in Fierce Election Campaign (01/04/17)
• What if Albert Brewer had beaten George Wallace? (01/04/17)
• Editorial: Gone but not forgotten (01/03/17)
• Former Alabama Governor Albert Brewer dies (01/03/17)
• Governor Brewer’s Legacy in Alabama (01/03/17)
• Former AL Gov. Albert P. Brewer passes away (01/02/17)
• Former Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer has died  (01/02/17)
• Investigating Alabama’s graduation rates: What we know and what we don’t know (12/14/16)
• Poverty doesn’t always predict test results in Alabama (11/27/16)
• Pike County Elementary marches to the ‘Bulldog Beat’ (11/23/16)
• ACT Aspire fueling efforts to deliver better quality instruction (11/23/16)
• GUEST COMMENTARY: ACT Aspire fueling efforts to deliver better quality instruction (11/18/16)
• Aspire scores expose Decatur’s challenge with poverty (11/14/16)
• Find your school’s ACT Aspire Results (11/13/16)
• PARCA: 2016 ACT scores reflect increase (11/11/16)
• PARCA says Alabama’s scores on ACT shouldn’t be compared to national scores (11/09/16)
• Amendment 11 ‘another tool’ for economic development, supporters say (11/07/16)
• What is Amendment 14 on Alabama’s Nov. 8 ballot? (11/04/16)
• 14 statewide amendments on ballot, five local amendments in Baldwin (11/02/16)
• Vote ‘yes’ on Amendments 3, 4 (11/01/16)
• Poverty remains a tough challenge for local school districts (10/30/16)
• A look at 14 statewide amendments on Alabama ballots Nov. 8 (10/28/16)
• Alabama general election constitutional amendments explained (10/28/16)
• Study finds 64 percent of Alabama high school grads go on to college (10/18/16)
• Decatur exposes students to local career opportunities (10/15/16)
• The fault for Alabama’s prison problem (10/06/16)
• Birmingham looks to rebate part of grocery tax (09/15/16)
• Birmingham looks for ways to rebate sales tax on groceries back to some residents (09/14/16)
• PCES tapped for excellence in performance (09/09/16)
• OCS receives accolades for math gains (09/02/16)
• Property tax proposal goes untouched in special session (08/27/16)
• How Alabama Compares in the Latest ACT College and Career Readiness Report (08/24/16)
• Pre-K enrollment rises as funding increases (08/21/16)
• Muscle Shoals ranks top 10 in systems producing academically proficient students (08/18/16)
• Study: Muscle Shoals schools in top 10 of academic proficiency (08/17/16)
• Here’s what makes Alabama’s best schools the best (08/16/16)
• Improving student performance is Decatur City Schools’ Focus (08/10/16)
• Finalists for Alabama’s school superintendent: What they said (08/04/16)
• DCS center will target raising English proficiency (07/10/16)
• As municipal elections near, experts say voter turnout is declining (07/03/16)
• Graduation Rates increase in Tuscaloosa (06/30/16)
• DCS gives local employees 4 percent pay raise (06/15/16)
• Poverty can affect student success in public education (06/11/16)
• Superintendents tell about plans for future (06/09/16)
• Local education summit Wednesday in Tuscaloosa (06/08/16)
• Alabama’s investment in Pre-K is paying off (06/07/16)
• Transitioning to middle school (06/03/16)
• Cutting Medicaid drug coverage is no way for Alabama to save money (05/21/16)
• Cutting Medicaid in Alabama is a terrible idea (05/18/16)
• For the tenth year in a row, Alabama is the best Pre-K (05/13/16)
• Alabama’s First Class Pre-K Named Nation’s Best (05/12/16)
• Summer extended day program moves to Brookhaven Middle (05/08/16)
• Challenges face next superintendent (05/01/16)
• Anniston educators to seek new state pre-k money (04/28/16)
• Fuel Education and LTS Education Systems Partner to Deliver Personalized, Game-Based Digital Learning Solution to Schools and Districts (04/27/16)
• Superintendent takes blame for Decatur Test Scores (04/27/26)
• Social media campaign started to advocate state Medicaid support (04/20/16)
• Officials learn about kindergarten, pre-K program during tour (04/15/16)
• City, county schools fare well in WorkKeys testing (04/08/16)
• CHS Ranks Sixth In Alabama For ACT College Readiness (04/06/16)
• EA ACT score one of highest in state (03/23/16)
• Measuring College Readiness: Remediation Rates (03/22/16)
• Reality Check: More than 1/3 Murphy High seniors failing (03/21/16)
• Jacksonville ranks high on rate of college-bound students; Piedmont, Anniston low on list (03/18/16)
• MPS has Three Schools in the Top 25 for ACT Scores in Alabama (03/17/16)
• 25 Alabama high schools with the best ACT scores (03/16/16)
• Jacksonville School Board Approves $25,000 for field house renovations (03/14/16)
• Alabama’s courts are severely threatened by underfunding (03/07/16)
• Column: 90% high school graduation rate would add millions to area economy (03/02/16)
• Pre-k advocates seeking funding in Alabama (03/01/16)
• Opinion: Court cuts compromise justice system (02/23/16)
• One failing school is too many (02/18/16)
• Alabama teacher shortage looms (02/13/16)
• Report: Mountain Brook, Ramsay Highs Send 92, 93 Percent of Students to Higher Ed (02/09/16)
• A Busy Week in Education Policy News (02/07/16)
• Governor Talks Poverty Reduction, Prisons in Birmingham Speech (02/05/16)
• Gov. Bentley: “We rank dead last in some of the things dealing with people’s lives” (02/05/16)
• Alabamians see what politicians don’t (02/03/16)
• Education should be Alabama’s top priority (02/01/16)
• 13 Things Shorter Than Alabama’s Constitution (02/01/16)
• How Alabamians Feel About Public Education (02/01/16)
• The people have spoken, education should be Alabama’s top priority (02/01/16)
• Majority of Alabamians Willing to Pay More for Education and Healthcare (1/29/16)
• Majority of Alabamians support tax increases to fund state services, new poll claims (01/29/16)
• How will you help make Dr. King’s dream a reality? (01/18/16)
• Three local school districts above state average on graduates attending college (01/06/16)
• Go cheap; get shoddy (12/14/15)
• Report: Alabama has lowest per capita tax collections in nation (12/11/15)
• State grant enhancing Pre-K programs in Mobile County (12/03/15)
• Research shows Alabama’s Pre-K program makes a difference (11/13/15)
• Pre-K advocates say Tennessee study not applicable to Alabama program (10/12/15)
• Coalition unites central Alabama school superintendents, community partners (09/29/15)
• All children should have access to pre-k (09/20/15)
• TCS ranked among top 10 school systems in ACT testing (09/17/15)
• What will Alabama become? We are about to find out. (09/10/15)
• Cuts to Medicaid would result in reduced care for poor children, elderly (09/08/15)
• PARCA names new executive director (08/25/15)
• Why incentives for teachers could enhance the quality of education in Alabama (08/18/15)
• Teachers Matter: The need to rethink how educators are rewarded and retained (08/17/15)
• Research shows Tuscaloosa city, county schools have areas of concern (06/17/15)
• Research group issue report on Tuscaloosa area schools (06/16/15)
• Don’t punt Alabama prison reform for another generation: Guest opinion (05/16/15)
• Birmingham is committed to charitable giving, but will even more be required? (05/05/15)
• What do you want? The People Speak in Broad Terms About What They Expect from Local Government (04/22/15)
• Early investment in quality Pre-K education critical for future workforce (03/30/15)
• Baldwin school tax forum features elevated emotions – and voices – as vote draws near (03/24/15)
• Ken Hare In Depth: Tax earmarking handcuffs Alabama elected officials (03/11/15)
• Tax Reform? Here’s how Alabama compares to the rest of the Southeast (02/28/15)
• The General Fund Budget Pie (02/27/15)
• Editorial: New taxes? (02/24/15)
• Raising taxes in Alabama: Most options are difficult (02/22/15)
• Our View: Bentley drops the ‘T-word’ (02/17/15)
• Governor Bentley and the Sound of Boldness: Opinion (02/16/15)
• Bentley considers Medicaid expansion (02/14/15)
• Governor: ‘The next four years we’re going to raise taxes’ (02/14/15)
• Alabama Governor Robert Bentley says tax increases necessary  (02/14/15)
• Alabama Governor Says Tax Increases Necessary (02/14/15)
• Gov. Bentley: taxes will be raised in the next four years (02/13/15)
• Bentley: Taxes to Increase (02/13/15)
• Survey finds Alabamians open to some tax increases and that’s an opportunity for Gov. Bentley: Opinion (02/12/15)
• Call for transparency in Indian grandfather case, Birmingham approves a tax, and skepticism about a Muscle Shoals magic kingdom in AL.com opinion roundup (02/12/15)
• Regardless of party affiliation, Alabamians agree on what is important (02/12/15)
• PARCA surveys Alabama for opinions on school funding, prison reform and Medicaid expansion (02/6/15)
• Research group finds Alabamians can live with tax increases; little trust in lawmakers’ ability to spend wisely, however (02/6/15)
• UA Names Wade Director of Economic Development Academy (11/17/14)
• Voters pass Alabama constitutional amendments: What will change? (11/05/14)
• How to make sure your child is getting First Class Pre-K: opinion (09/22/2014)
• Rising graduation rate lifts Alabama (08/12/2014)
• Here’s why Alabama has it backward: Opinion (08/10/2014)
• Education crucial for prepared workforce (08/09/2014)
• Researchers offer a business case for supporting Plan 2020 at the Business Council of Alabama conference (08/02/2014)
• Link to economy emphasized in Education Summit in Tuscaloosa (06/18/14)
• Events focus on Tuscaloosa-area schools on Tuesday (06/17/14)
• How much does spending differ among Alabama’s school districts (06/16/14)
• Tuscaloosa to host State of the Schools education summit (06/14/14)
• PARCA gives last look at ARMT (06/01/14)
• Quarter billion transferred from city’s capital fund since 2004 (4/30/14)
• PARCA report to break down student test scores (4/29/14)
• PARCA at 25: Still Challenging Government to Perform at its Best (Samford University’s Seasons Magazine) (03/2014)
• Alabamians say state spends too little for education but at ballot box voters say something else (Connecting Alabama) (2/4/14)
• PARCA: Alabama’s workforce crisis will return with stronger economy (1/31/14)
• Group shows how local schools rank (6/8/13)
• Business community has big stake in quality of local education (6/7/2013)
• Education a major topic in Tuscaloosa (6/7/13)
• School board OKs academic coaches (6/5/13)
• Trace Crossings Elementary parents in Hoover concerned about falling test scores, property values (5/31/13)
• New software could help school administrators, board members crack the budget code (5/29/13)
• THE FIRST DEGREE: High school diplomas crucial for graduates and state’s economy (5/26/13)
• Property taxes in Mobile remain low compared to other AL cities (4/22/13)
• Magnet school issue remains polarizing (3/6/13)
• Wide gaps in achievement among Birmingham-area school systems, PARCA research shows (2/28/13)
• Council to vote on credit for recovery (2/4/13)
• Industry recruiter moves to think tank (1/15/13)
• Wade named PARCA chairman (1/14/13)
• PARCA appoints Neal Wade chairman (1/14/13)
• PARCA names Neal Wade as new chairman (1/14/13)
• Suspensions Linked to Lower Graduation Rates in Fla. Study (1/10/13)
• Alabama’s 72 percent grad rate puts the state in 40th place (11/26/12)
• Alabama Municipalities “Dangerously Vulnerable” (11/21/12)
• Alabama cities relying on volatile sales taxes, some hit hard by recession, study shows (11/16/12)
• Enterprise schools closing achievement gaps (11/1/12)
• Voters to consider twelve amendments for election (10/24/12)
• Metro Birmingham’s cities struggle to cut spending as revenue dips (10/12/12)
• PAUL DeMARCO: With county manager, Jefferson County has come a long way (10/1/12)
• Justice Inc.: Governments must ensure rights are protected, experts say
• Alabama’s state, local tax collections per person second-lowest in U.S. in 2010
• Analysis: Mobilians are taxed moderately and the city has little debt
• State’s budgets won’t have surplus
• Magnet high school could combat dropout rate (Your Word)
• Stats review mixed bag for city schools
• WBHM Magic City Marketplace: A recent study suggests Jefferson County pulls in a similar amount of revenue relative to other large Alabama counties — even without an occupational tax. (Audio)
• Study: JeffCo ranks high in state for tax collection
• Birmingham schools’ finance reform hampered by bloated central office
• Alabama research council analyzes Jefferson County revenues
• Mobile County High School Graduation Week
• Bob Davis: Off the charts on Goat Hill
• Academic achievement gap narrowing in Oxford schools
• Thinkin’ Mobile
• Alabama getaway: How to drive relocating companies away Read more: Anniston Star
• Report shows many Alabama high school graduates unprepared for college
• New tax needed in Baldwin, supporters tell commission
• Chamber board: Raise revenues, cut expenses and find a long-term solution
• EDITORIAL: Hunting fees, under the sofa
• State budget cuts are bitter pill (editorial)
• School lunches go up in nutrition and price
• Magnet programs a success for city schools
• Making strides in proficiency
• Deferred projects get back on track for cities in Birmingham metro area
• EDITORIAL: Jobs bill needs study
• Job Creation in Alabama
• Creating jobs top priority
• Spend less but create more jobs (editorial)
• Bob Davis: The visionary that Alabama needs
• Alabama survey: Jobs are top worry
• PARCA survey: Most Alabamians believe state can maintain services ..
• VIDEO: Mobile Area Education Foundation – 80 by 20: Graduation Ready.
• City, County Schools Excel in High Level Test Scores
• Does Alabama Have Too Many Public Employees?
• School board, public get details of plans for Huntsville Center for Technology
• Huntsville City Schools tightening business ethic
• Huntsville school district’s business practices under internal review
• Huntsville Superintendent orders review of district business practices
• Time for some prudent unearmarking? (editorial)
• A Tale of Two Budgets: Jeffco Could Learn a Lot from Birmingham
• Baldwin County Education Coalition holds first summit
• Hundreds show up for Education Summit in Baldwin County
• Baldwin County Education Coalition set for first summit on Friday
• Alabama collected less in taxes per state resident than governments in any other state in fiscal 2009, study shows
• Baldwin County Education Coalition hosting summit Nov. 18
• If football coaches used Teach for America logic
• Constitution Revision Commission takes up home rule (See presentation here)
• PARCA report says Dothan City Schools doing a lot with a little
• OUR VIEW: Closing the disparities between schools is crucial to the success of our community Rethinking a flawed education agenda
  • To see educational test score results by system, by year, click here.
• Wiregrass Foundation phasing out FACES
• OUR VIEW: The three-day sales-tax holiday doesn’t offer nearly enough relief, especially to those who need it the most
• Governor Bentley Makes Appointments to Constitutional Revision Commission
• Constitutional revision appointees don’t strictly reflect commission’s stated goal of diverse inclusion
• Mobile City Council OK’s GulfQuest debt; Bess Rich and John Williams vote no
• PARCA study shows city’s shortfalls
• Working the Plan
• Mayor Jones Needs $3 Million More
• B.C. Rain, Palmer Pillans to be revamped with $9 million federal grant
• PARCA study sets table for debate over city funds (editorial)
• Early PARCA analysis expresses further concerns about city’s reserve funds
• Study: Mobile not spending enough on infrastructure
• PARCA: Mobile spending too much on extras, not enough on infrastructure
• PARCA study shows 12 percent of city’s capital improvements budget is used as intended
• Calhoun County life expectancy found ‘not keeping pace’
• JSU trustees have connections to would-be contractors
• City will cut services without sales tax increase
• WBHM, Dan Carsen reports on Closing Coporate Tax Loopholes
• WBHM’s Dan Carsen reports on Lynch vs. Alabama
• Anniston City Council resisting McClellan land swap proposal
• (Video): Erskine Bowles Speaks to Leadership Alabama and The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama
• Bob Davis: Bitter medicine to cure nation’s fiscal ills
• Ex-Clinton aide Erskine Bowles warns federal debt crisis is urgent
• Alabama’s Jefferson County Scrambles as Local Tax Disappears
• Editorial: Measure would make state finances more transparent
• Alabama voters feel voiceless in Legislature, according to poll (Political Skinny)
• UAHuntsville OIPS to host Moldovan leaders during visit to Alabama
• Governor Bentley Appoints Members to Serve on the Alabama Commission on Improving State Government
• Mobile Mayor says CitiSmart saves
• Re-thinking the mandate
• Alabama: Focus on economy
• OUR VIEW: Confronting a grim financial picture three weeks into his term, it’s no wonder Gov. Robert Bentley already feels like he’s been in office forever
• TOM SCARRITT: Hear the people to win back their trust
• Survey: Kill grocery taxes
• Bentley appoints Ivey to head new commission
• Bob Davis: State government, the Waffle House way
• Bentley talks proration at PARCA
• Bentley: dramatic changes coming for state gov’t
• Alabama offices will see budget cuts
• Racial achievement disparity in Huntsville schools
• Yes We Can Dothan provides example for Baldwin County’s educational initiative
• The City of Guntersville Receives Smart Government Honor From Revenue Discovery Systems
• Editorial: Teaching is what matters most
• Large achievement gaps based on income and race persist in Huntsville schools
• Mobile schools win praise for education of black students, poor students
• Bob Davis: Can you hear them now? Special session may show what’s possible in Montgomery
• Editorial: Take a close look at schools’ budget
• Mobile County school system spends more on administrative costs than other districts
• Schools’ ARMT scores strong but need work, data shows
• Elementary school test scores higher in Mobile County; high school scores better in Baldwin
• Officials: Mobile schools doing better, but need to improve grad rate
• Jefferson County school superintendent gets glowing evaluation
• City’s future must be fiscally responsible
• The coming year might bring best chance for ethics reform in Alabama Legislature
• This is about our community
• Report reveals performance gap among Dothan schools
• Florence, a ‘great town’ for a reason
• Dothan schools show across-the-board increases in standardized …
• City’s financial shape? Good
• City School Funding Among the Lowest in the State
• City’s financial shape? Good
• Decatur council hires think tank to help with budgeting
• Advertiser Editorial: Morris students achieve despite hurdles
• Decatur to face another deficit?
• Editorial: Improve Standards
• PARCA can help city with budget
• No outside budget help for Decatur
• OUR VIEW: Alabama’s low tax burden
• OUR VIEW: Alabama’s taxes don’t feel like the country’s second lowest, because they’re so unfair
• State’s high school graduation rates could be deceiving Alabama Taxes Ranked Among Lowest
  • Click here to see study on dropouts in Mobile:
• Alabama tax load is U.S.’s second least
• Investing in recreation: Anniston’s making wise choices
• Anniston parks officials hope new leisure offerings will attract tourists
• Council Authorizes Efficiency Firm Study, Concerned Over Role in Recommendations
• Political pork from Goat Hill to Anniston
• Jones Gives Briefing on Sales Tax Increase
• Outside group to study Mobile’s efficiency; City also looks to overhaul its budgeting process
• Audit’s findings reveal minor problems for BOE
• OUR VIEW: It would be nice if good-government advocates in Alabama had less to keep them busy (Birmingham News Editorial Board)
• Advertiser Editorial: Principal changes can help schools
• Vanzetta McPherson: Make connection
• Alabama Voices: Eye on performance
• Good work gets more money
• City Council, school board in Decatur want to budget expenses based on need
• Advertiser Editorial: Analysis finds school strengths, problems
• Alabama Voices: More work to do
• Report: Seventh-, eighth-graders in Montgomery County public schools behind
• Alabama stays on sidelines while municipalities crash
• Business as Usual: Anniston doesn’t owe a whole lot of money to anyone. That’s a good thing — mostly
• Calling for a Look Into Government Accountability
• Dothan city schools spend more than average on administrative costs
• Nichols answers questions about cuts, consolidation
• Politicians should pay attention
• Birmingham schools could lose 200 jobs due to funding cuts
• Let’s Get Serious about Tax Reform
• The people have spoken
• A slice or two of reform
• One vote shy, and that’s ok
• Where do we go from here?
• A New Year’s Resolution
• What does Alabama’s independent research group say about taxes?
• Can legislators change budget process now? (2009)