The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama has launched the PARCA Education Research Center, a dedicated center within PARCA that Read the full release.
Alabama’s future depends on a vibrant and growing workforce. The ability to grow and retain talent will determine the long-term career prospects for our state and its people. PARCA studies school performance and the process of aligning training programs to industry needs, which develops a cradle to career talent pipeline.
PARCA provides:
Analysis of statewide school performance.
Deep dives into school systems’ performance, including by student sub-groups.
Comparisons of school system expenditures to recognized best practices.
Implement technologies to simplify schools’ budgeting and reporting.
New PARCA Education Research Center opens with statewide survey on school funding and choice – Alabamians say schools are underfunded and split evenly on the CHOOSE Act.
Alabama Sees Third-Grade Reading Progress Slow
After multiple years of progress, Alabama third grade reading performance plateaued in 2026, with 11.8% of students scoring under the Read the full release.
Graduation and Readiness Rates Continue to Rise
Seniors in the graduating class of 2025 set records on two measures: 93% of seniors graduated on time four years Read the full release.
Fewer 2025 High School Grads Passed Workplace Readiness Test
Despite the increasing emphasis on college and career readiness in Alabama high schools, fewer students are earning work-readiness certifications through Read the full release.
Houston County: Building A System for Success
The Houston County School System ranks 129th out of 140 school systems in Alabama in per-pupil expenditures. More than half Read the full release.
ACT Scores Edge Down; Struggle to Recover from the Pandemic Continues
The average ACT score for 2025 Alabama public high school graduates decreased slightly compared to 2024, stalling what had been Read the full release.
Keys to Success in College and Career Readiness
This spring, all Alabama high school graduates will have to earn a marker of college and/or career readiness in order Read the full release.
PARCA Partners with VOICES on the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book
VOICES for Alabama’s Children published the 2025 Alabama Kids Count Data Book yesterday. For the 10th year in a row, PARCA worked with Read the full release.
Higher Expectations Set and Met
The Business Education Alliance of Alabama (BEA), with PARCA as its research partner, has released its 2026 report, HIGHER EXPECTATIONS Read the full release.
New Form Clouds Picture of Public School Enrollment Trends
A federally required change in reporting on student race and ethnicity in Alabama public schools has led to a precipitous Read the full release.