Too late for the Secretary's Report but laudable nevertheless, it appears that Alabama is stepping up its teacher licensing standards in order to meet NCLB requirements. On September 9th, the state's board of education is expected to vote in favor of instituting mandatory subject matter tests for beginning teachers?signaling a seismic shift in a state policy that until a few years ago had made it literally illegal to test a teacher.

The genesis of Alabama's distaste for teacher testing was a court decision in 1981 that ruled that such tests were discriminatory. Since then, school leaders have been unable (assuming they tried) to develop new tests that were capable of meeting court-mandated guidelines. To meet NCLB requirements, Alabama faced either offering a subject matter test to teachers or relying exclusively on the only other available NCLB option, having a college major in the subject (an option that on its own would really box states in). Wisely, the state decided to adopt the Educational Testing Service's Praxis II tests. The Praxis II will be required for both new teachers and those transferring into the system. Governor Bob Riley has been a big supporter of the move and Judge Myron Thompson is expected to consent.

In the words of the governor, ?It has been a long time coming in Alabama.?