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The Best Practices Center was established in mid-1999 by A+ as a public/private partnership to focus on improving student achievement by raising the quality of teaching through professional development. The concept of the Best Practices Center emerged during the work of the Task Force on Teaching and Student Achievement, organized by A+ to study and make recommendations about ways that the state could improve student achievement in Alabama.

In the report, "Teaching and Learning: Meeting the Challenge of High Standards," the Task Force on Student Achievement recommended that a statewide "Teaching Innovations Center" be established to "help provide schools with the ready access they need to information, training and networking opportunities " to achieve high quality classroom teaching.

A+ concurred with the Task Force's recommendations and worked to establish a "Best Practices Center" as a public/private partnership. A+ sought and received start-up funding for the Best Practices Center (BPC) from the BellSouth Foundation. Meetings were also held with the Governor's staff and key members of the Alabama Legislature to seek the state funding portion for this new entity. This resulted in a line-item appropriation to the Best Practices Center for $250,000 with the promise of an additional $250,000 as a conditional appropriation.

A+ conducted focus groups and interviews in early 2000 with State Department of Education staff, superintendents, teachers, State Board of Education members and other interested parties to introduce the Best Practices Center and to learn more about critical needs.

In September 2000, A+ convened an advisory committee to enrich the thinking and work of the Best Practices Center. Membership of the Advisory Committee was expanded by the Legislature when it provided funding to the Best Practices Center. During the late fall, the Governor, Lt. Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House and State Board of Education appointed their representatives to the committee.

Do you have questions or comments about the Alabama Best Practices Center? Contact Cathy Gassenheimer, President and Acting Director