Auburn's College of Education hosts inaugural PARCA Alignment Institute for Alabama educators

Educators from across Alabama gathered at Auburn University's College of Education last week for the inaugural Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) Alignment Institute, a first-of-its-kind event designed to support educator preparation programs in preparing for upcoming PARCA literacy evaluations hosted by Auburn University.

Led by Auburn College of Education Professor Vicky Cardullo and developed through a collaborative partnership between the Department of Curriculum and Teaching (C&T) and the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling (SERC), the institute brought together approximately 60 participants representing more than 21 institutions of higher education throughout the state.

“We are truly honored to bring together educator preparation providers from across Alabama, along with our partners from the Alabama State Department of Education and PARCA evaluation coordinators,” Cardullo said in her opening remarks. “Your presence today reflects a shared commitment to strengthening teacher preparation and ensuring that our programs are aligned, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of Alabama’s students and teachers.”

PARCA, a nonpartisan research organization that provides research, data analysis and program evaluation across Alabama, plays a key role in reviewing literacy preparation programs statewide. As educator preparation providers work to align coursework, assessments and program evidence with Alabama State Department of Education standards, the need for collaboration and shared learning has become increasingly important.

Cardullo said institutions can no longer work in silos. Instead, meaningful progress depends on educators coming together to share resources, examine evidence, learn from one another's experiences and develop common understandings of expectations. The PARCA Alignment Institute provided a unique opportunity for faculty and program leaders across Alabama to engage in this work collectively while strengthening partnerships that will support continuous improvement in educator preparation statewide.

The PARCA Alignment Institute was intentionally designed as a hands-on working session where participants could engage directly in alignment activities, examine evidence, exchange ideas and learn from colleagues facing similar challenges. Attendees included educator preparation leaders, faculty members, assessment coordinators and accreditation representatives from across the state.

Curriculum and Teaching Department Head Paul Fitchett emphasized the importance of the institute and Auburn's commitment to literacy leadership across Alabama.

“Literacy is foundational to learning,” Fitchett said. “All students deserve an opportunity to learn to read, write, and experience the joy of communicating in meaningful ways. The Alabama Reading Initiative and the corresponding review by PARCA have created an opportunity for C&T and SERC to work collaboratively on this essential educational building block, bringing together our collective expertise on how students learn and creating unique curricular partnerships.”

Attendees started the morning with coffee and networking before being welcomed to the event by College of Education Dean Jeffrey T. Fairbrother.

“Today's institute was intentionally designed as a working session rather than a traditional conference,” Fairbrother said. “As all of us prepare for PARCA evaluations, there is tremendous value in bringing colleagues together to examine expectations, align evidence, review assessments, share effective practices and learn from one another's experiences.

“Our hope is that every institution leaves today with practical tools, stronger connections and a clearer path forward.”

Panel discussions, workshop sessions and roundtable conversations filled the remainder of the day, with attendees examining topics such as syllabus and standards alignment, literacy requirements, program challenges, course design and evidence preparation. The first session of the morning included current IHE reviewers for PARCA and representatives from PARCA and the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), who provided attendees with key insights into the PARCA review process.

Lydia Davenport, director of Alabama A&M University's Center for Educator Preparation and Certification Services, said she valued the opportunity to share ideas with fellow educators.

“This gathering gives us the chance to collaborate with other institutions about the great things they’re doing to improve their Science of Reading courses,” Davenport said. “It was tremendously helpful to learn more about the alignment of indicators for the assessments and how everyone is presenting their evidence for state review.”

Chelsea Scott, an elementary education lecturer at the University of North Alabama, noted the institute’s many resources and opportunities for collaboration.

“The institute has been very enlightening about expectations and has equipped us to accomplish our goals successfully,” Scott said. “It has been well-organized, and I appreciate that we have access to all of the resources and materials discussed to use going forward.”

Throughout the institute, Auburn University faculty shared practical tools, alignment templates and evidence-organization strategies developed to support educator preparation programs as they navigate PARCA literacy evaluations. By fostering collaboration and providing actionable resources, the institute reinforced Auburn's commitment to serving as a statewide leader in literacy education and continuous program improvement.

Attendees gathered in the College of Education Building Commons to close out the day and heard remarks from Margaret Flores, head of the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling.

“Today reaffirmed something we all know to be true: strengthening educator preparation requires collaboration, continuous learning and a shared commitment to excellence,” Flores said. “Together, we remain focused on ensuring that our educator preparation programs meet the highest standards of quality while preparing future educators to serve Alabama's students with confidence and skill.”