STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Thomas R. Bice State Superintendent of Education
Alabama State Board of Education
Governor Robert Bentley
President
Matthew S. Brown, J.D. District I
Betty Peters District II
Stephanie Bell District III
Yvette M. Richardson, Ed.D.
District IV President Pro Tem
Ella B. Bell District V
Cynthia McCarty, Ph.D. District VI
Jeff Newman District VII
Vice President
Mary Scott Hunter, J.D. District VIII
Thomas R. Bice, Ed.D. Secretary and
Executive Officer
GORDON PERSONS BUILDING • P.O. BOX 302101 • MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36130-2101 • TELEPHONE (334) 242-9700 • FAX (334) 242-9708 • WEB SITE: www.alsde.edu
January 4, 2016 M E M O R A N D U M TO: City and County Superintendents of Education FROM: Thomas R. Bice State Superintendent of Education RE: Alabama Chess in Schools Initiative – Pilot School Application The Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Chess Federation (ACF) are proud to announce the second year of the Alabama Chess in Schools (ACIS) Initiative, an exciting and unique pilot program. This initiative offers opportunities for students to participate in chess as an integral part of the school curriculum, and it is among the nation’s first teacher-driven chess in schools programs aligned to the Alabama College- and Career-Ready Standards (ACCRS). We are pleased to report that the first cohort of the ACIS Initiative pilot schools is off to a flying start. Forty-five teachers and 1,500 students in six school districts are currently participating. We will soon select a second cohort of the ACIS Initiative to start the 2016-2017 school year. Research suggests that chess benefits students both cognitively and affectively, increasing abilities such as focusing, strategizing, problem solving, critical thinking, perseverance, and self-confidence—all necessary to increase school performance. Read more about the ACIS Initiative at the following link: http://www.alabamachess.com/cmsms. At the elementary and middle school levels, the program requires at least two general education teachers and one gifted specialist, counselor, or administrator per pilot school to attend professional development that will acquaint them with chess basics and the curriculum. Classroom instructors will teach one to two chess lessons weekly linked to the ACCRS. The required professional development will be provided free along with supplementary interest-based centers, chess or chess-related curriculum, and basic chess tools for use in chess classrooms. Each participating school in selected feeder patterns will be required to commit to pilot the program for a three-year period. Additional candidate selection considerations and requirements are located on the application pages. Interested applicants must complete and return the application form to Mrs. Nancy Johnson at [email protected], or through regular mail at 3330 Gordon Persons Building, P. O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36130-2101, no later than January 29, 2016. TRB/NJ/SH Attachment cc: City and County Coordinators of Special Education Mrs. Sherrill W. Parris Dr. Linda Felton-Smith Mrs. Nancy Johnson
FY16-2018