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.

The Poverty vs. Performance Challenge

PARCA continues to explore the results of the state’s new standardized test, the Aspire, and is developing new ways of Read the full release.  

Setting the Course for Continuous Improvement in Tuscaloosa City and County Schools

Thanks to Plan 2020, the state’s strategic plan for improving the state’s public schools, schools and the communities they serve Read the full release.  

How does your school compare on the Aspire?

Take a look at the 2014 ACT Aspire results for Heard Magnet Elementary school in Dothan. The following images show Read the full release.  

PARCA’s school analysis for Dothan

Each year, PARCA travels to Dothan to present data on the city school system to educators, parents, and the public. Read the full release.  

How does your school system compare with state averages?

PARCA has been working on a new system for presenting information about Alabama’s public schools. In the next few posts, Read the full release.  

2014 Remedial Education Rates by High School

Alabama public high schools produced more graduates in 2014 than they produced the previous year, and more of them enrolled Read the full release.  

PARCA Poll of Public Attitudes on Taxes, Education, Corrections and Medicaid

According to a new poll of public opinion commissioned by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, state residents would Read the full release.  

PARCA Winter Quarterly Tackles Budgeting, Corrections, Medicaid, and Education

The PARCA Quarterly Winter 2015 edition provides perspective on Alabama’s budget challenges and reform efforts in education, Medicaid, and the Read the full release.  

ACT Aspire Statewide Results

The Alabama Department of Education this week released statewide results of its Grades 3-8 assessment tests, broadly known as the ACT Read the full release.  

The Potential Economic Impact of Raising the High School Graduation Rate

Raising Alabama’s high school graduation rate to 90 percent would produce an economic impact to the state’s economy similar to Read the full release.