Governor Riley Announces 100 New ACCESS Schools

MONTGOMERY – September 3, 2007
With Governor Bob Riley’s recent announcement of 100 new sites, ACCESS – Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, & Students Statewide – continues to grow and expand the educational opportunities for Alabama high school students.

ACCESS links Alabama classrooms from Arabe High School in north Alabama to Washington County’s Leroy High School in south Alabama. Each of the new sites receives $85,000, a total of $8.5 million out of the $20.3 million state appropriation for ACCESS in fiscal year 2008.

“Our ACCESS distance learning program is expanding at an incredible pace, and it is offering students world-class opportunities to learn. It levels the playing field so students throughout the state have more chances to take advanced coursework, regardless of where they go to school,” said Governor Riley.

Recently featured in the national technology education magazine Converge, ACCESS is Alabama’s statewide distance learning initiative that uses integrated technology and allows high schools to help other high schools by offering advanced level courses and electives that might not otherwise be available. Governor Riley announced ACCESS in his 2005 State of the State and 24 pilot sites started classes in January 2006. ACCESS funding for fiscal year 2008 is $20.3 million, with $8.5 million going to the 100 new sites.

“In just two short years, we will have established 21st century ACCESS sites in 170 out of approximately 400 high schools,” said Dr. Melinda Maddox, Director of Technology Initiatives for the Alabama Department of Education. “If ACCESS Distance Learning is funded as requested for the next two years, by 2010, ACCESS Distance Learning will be able to provide a 21st century distance learning classroom for every Alabama high school and serve 45,000 students statewide.”

ACCESS Distance Learning links Alabama students with quality instruction and coursework by blending:

· Web-based and interactive videoconferencing (IVC) courses taught by Alabama certified and highly qualified teachers

· A technical infrastructure to deliver approved Web-based courses and connect IVC labs via a statewide network
· Three regional support centers to hire, train, evaluate, and support E-teachers
· Statewide coordination, scheduling, and support for distance learning

“A landmark for Alabama will be reached for the ACCESS initiative this fall!” said Alabama Supercomputer Authority CEO Randy Fulmer. “ACCESS has enabled the expansion of the Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN) to ensure that all high schools in Alabama will have broadband capability to accommodate online and interactive videoconferencing classes. AREN supports ACCESS with a statewide broadband network providing students in Alabama with equitable access to information and educational opportunities. AREN is managed by the Alabama Supercomputer Authority (ASA) and provides a single statewide broadband network connecting public schools, colleges, universities, and libraries,” explained Fulmer.

Randolph County Superintendent Wayne Wortham said, “I am so happy about Wadley High School. Randolph County High is already an ACCESS site. Adding a second school will only enhance the choices and elective course offerings for our students. Economics and environment has a lot to do with how well students do. ACCESS is something rural school systems really need. We can afford our students the same opportunities as other systems.”

Currently, the Randolph County School System has one Spanish teacher who rotates between schools. Through ACCESS, this teacher can teach students at both schools. In addition to Advanced Placement and elective courses, ACCESS enables schools to step up their remedial education as needed. “With the ACCESS enhancements to our computer lab, we’ll be able to offer remediation in all subjects on the graduation exam to every student that needs it,” said Wortham.