Year-end thanks to @greezbock.bsky.social, @kristajohnson.bsky.social, @laurapowellesq.bsky.social, Kelsey Piper, Ekemini Ekpo, Alisha Thomas Searcy, and many others for their insights and contributions! alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/the-grades...

Some personal news…. This project was my last for @aldotcom. I’m starting a new position at Tulane’s Cowen Institute this week, where I’ll continue to work with education data to help improve outcomes for New Orleans students.

🧵 For some students, Alabama is a uniquely challenging state to pursue a college degree. Thanks to a grant from @edwriters.bsky.social, I was able to spend the past year speaking with 20+ Latino students and staff about how they're navigating higher ed today. www.al.com/educationlab...

Our second story in this mini-series is out today: www.al.com/educationlab...

In Alabama, millions of dollars in taxpayer money are going to private schools that teach that humans lived among dinosaurs, and that rock music and mental health conditions are signs of rebellion. Our latest story on the rollout of the state’s new CHOOSE Act: www.al.com/educationlab...

@al.com has been exploring Alabama's dramatic expansion of school choice -- and what it means for both public and private schools. @greezbock.bsky.social visited a school that just opened and is taking tax credits. www.al.com/educationlab...

Alabama's 2025 ACAP scores are out, and lots of schools have good news to share. 🧵

Teacher churn is a solvable problem, experts say. Here’s how one Birmingham program is tackling it: www.al.com/educationlab...

New: Birmingham City Schools officials tell me upcoming test scores will mark a record high for the district. www.al.com/educationlab...

Did you attend or work at a private school in Alabama that used common curriculum from Abeka, Bob Jones University or Purposeful Design? How did it prepare you for other school or work? Please reach out to reporter @greezbock.bsky.social at [email protected].

Law enforcement agents are on track to arrest twice as many immigrants without legal status in Alabama as last year. www.al.com/news/2025/07...

If you will be affected by the termination of Grad PLUS loans (or any financial aid change in the budget bill) and attending an Alabama college, hit me up! [email protected] Looking to find stories of how students will overcome the deficit. #JournoRequest

More good news for Alabama schools: New test score results show progress across nearly all grades and subjects. www.al.com/educationlab...

The first installment in a series of stories about private school enrollment is out today. @williesha.bsky.social and I spent a ton of time nailing down the numbers and talking with schools and parents about how Alabama’s newest school choice program is unfolding. www.al.com/educationlab...

*Only* at @al.com: a comprehensive list of tuition data for more than 200 Alabama private schools. A labor of love I'm elated to see published. With in-depth reporting from @greezbock.bsky.social.

New: A federal review could put $68 million in funds for Alabama after-school, English learner and professional development programs at risk as schools work to make hires and finalize budgets before the new school year. www.al.com/educationlab...

New data: See which types of schools Alabama’s CHOOSE Act recipients came from — and where they’re going now. www.al.com/educationlab...

After several years of reporting on literacy efforts in Alabama, it's great to be able to publish good news. Story by @greezbock.bsky.social for @al.com : www.al.com/educationlab...

So neat to have this data: Where are Alabama high school students going to school in the fall? Which schools are the most popular in your area? (I did pivot tables, so I'd appreciate a read and share LOL) Latest for @al.com www.al.com/educationlab...

"I don’t want to be treated like a delinquent. I’m from Venezuela and have tattoos. For [Trump], that means I’m a criminal.” Sad but important read from @greezbock.bsky.social and Sarah with @al.com in collaboration with @apnews.com and @hechingerreport.org www.al.com/educationlab...

We finally have some numbers, y'all. Here's how much Alabama's new school funding program could give local school districts: www.al.com/educationlab...

Alabama teachers won't get raises this year. But the AEA says recent investments in workers' comp, parental leave and PEEHIP coverage far outweigh the pay bump. www.al.com/educationlab...

Trump and some universities have made it riskier to be a college journalist. But the student press, including the Crimson White, is doing its job anyway. Latest blog post (3 min): www.tomarenberg.net/blog/2025/4/... @grammarpurist.bsky.social #studentjournalism #UniversityofAlabama

Republicans are walking back a bill that would have originally required Alabama schools to start their day with a Christian prayer. www.al.com/educationlab...

A bill that would compensate Alabama teachers and other education employees for workplace injuries is on its way to the governor's desk. www.al.com/educationlab...

The Trump Administration has pulled hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent federal pandemic relief money from public schools. Alabama's Selma City Schools, recently struck by a deadly tornado, was one of them. www.al.com/educationlab...

Alabama lawmakers are putting a price tag on a new school funding model. If the budget passes, the state plans to send $100 million to high-needs schools in 2025-26 and will increase amounts in future years. www.al.com/educationlab...

My colleague @greezbock.bsky.social analyzed the data about applicants for Alabama's first year of its private school voucher program. Get all the details for @al.com here. www.al.com/educationlab...

Updated with LinkedIn post from his fiancé, who posted a fundraising link.

More info on the Iranian University of Alabama student who was detained by ICE for @al.com. www.al.com/news/2025/03...

I've been digging around to see how the closing of the Institute of Museum and Library Services would impact Alabama. We stand to lose about $3 million. My latest for @al.com www.al.com/news/2025/03...

@johnsharp99.bsky.social wrote a great piece for @al.com about Fairhope Library's funding and how it was unexpectedly paused. www.al.com/news/2025/03...

New data: One in four students who have applied to the CHOOSE Act so far attend public schools. www.al.com/educationlab...

After two years of scrutiny, Nancy Pack was terminated effective immediately as Alabama Public Library Service director. My latest for @al.com More to come on other updates involving the state board. www.al.com/news/2025/03...

ICYMI: Trump announced the closure of the DOE weeks ago. He's only just now getting to signing the EO. I determined Alabama is the 10th highest state receiving federal funds for colleges. Excellent reporting and graphics from @greezbock.bsky.social for @al.com. www.al.com/educationlab...

Several plaintiffs chatted with me about how the anti-DEI law has affected them. I've actually been working on this story since before the lawsuit, but now that @uofalabama.bsky.social has responded, it's published. Latest for @al.com. www.al.com/educationlab...

Pretty surreal to see this. Nikki Carter, a Demopolis mom of three, opened me up to her home a couple of years ago after she was banned from local schools. No lawyers would take her case. Now she is the lead plaintiff on a class action lawsuit against the US DOE. www.al.com/educationlab...

Here's an update on a recent federal funding glitch, and what Alabama K-12 leaders are watching as the US DOE adjusts to a historic reduction in force: www.al.com/educationlab...

The Alabama state BOE approved a takeover of Dallas County Schools today. A recent investigation found the district lacked “significant operational oversight,” costing it more than $12 million in federal grant repayments. www.al.com/educationlab...

Alabama students won't have access to farm fresh produce now that the USDA canceled its $16 million contract with the DOE. My latest for @al.com. www.al.com/educationlab...

#JournoRequest: If you are an Alabama parent/guardian (or know of some) who has applied for CHOOSE Act funds or you simply have questions about private schools, please hit me up! Looking to chat some time this week for a story. [email protected].

Hundreds came out to Railroad Park today to protest research cuts. “It doesn’t just hurt us in Birmingham or in Alabama or in this country, it hurts the world.” www.al.com/educationlab...

Some Alabama schools and colleges rely heavily on federal funds. State leaders are warning institutions to brace for change if the US DOE closes. With @williesha.bsky.social: www.al.com/educationlab...

If you received an "End DEI" email and work in higher education in Alabama, let me know. You can contact me anonymously using Signal (wmorris.07) or use your personal email address to [email protected]. abcnews.go.com/Politics/dei...

The FOCUS Act would ban students from using wireless communication devices in class, and would require school districts to adopt policies and coursework on internet and social media safety. www.al.com/educationlab...

New: Two bills filed this afternoon would give Alabama teachers and state workers up to 8 weeks of paid parental leave. A previous effort failed to gain steam, but the governor is now backing a new set of bills. www.al.com/educationlab...

Via @alander.bsky.social: The rally in Birmingham drew at least 500 people, who marched chanting “Say it loud and say it clear, immigrants are welcomed here.”

Yippee Ky-yay. Git along little DOGEy.