April 2012                                                                                                                      http://parca.samford.edu

In This Issue
Alabama College Readiness
Alabama's State Debt
PARCA Friends on the Move

 

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Greetings from PARCA

 

Dear PARCA Supporter,     

 

This issue of The PARCA Perspective provides you with a more in-depth research analysis, because it includes our second online edition of The PARCA Quarterly.  Taking on a challenging issue throughout the country, the Quarterly examines the college readiness level of Alabama's children.

  

Please continue to share our information with others who may be interested in our mission of improving state and local government in Alabama. 

 

You can also get additional news and updates throughout each month on the PARCA Facebook page. 

 

Thanks so much for your support!

 

Marci Edwards

Director of Communications

The PARCA Quarterly

 

In the Spring 2012 edition of The PARCA Quarterly, we map the percent of students who take remedial courses at Alabama colleges and universities by county.  We find that there is a relationship between the percentage of students taking remedial courses and the scores from students in school systems on the Alabama Reading and Math Test in the 8th Grade. 

 

To read the complete analysis, click here.

 

Alabama's State Debt

 

The combined debt of all states totaled more than $4 trillion for fiscal year 2011. Where does Alabama fit into that statistic? According to data provided on Governing.com, Alabama ranks sixth lowest in the nation in state debt per capita.

 

At only $385 of state debt per capita, Alabama is the second lowest within its surrounding states. Tennessee comes in slightly below at $307, while Florida owes four times as much debt per capita as Alabama with $1,630.

The following map shows a gradation scale of state debt. Figures were compiled from the "ratio of outstanding debt by type" listed on each state's most recent CAFR report. Click on the map to view actual state-by-state debt calculations.


State Debt  

 

PARCA Friends on the Move

 

-  Public FA, led by newly elected PARCA Board member Phil Dotts, has joined PFM Group of Philadelphia.  To read more about this acquisition, click here.

 

-  Publisher of the Press-Register and PARCA Board member Ricky Mathews will become Publisher of the Times-Picayune in New Orleans later this year.  Read more here.

 

-  The PARCA Roundtable, our member-based organization of young, civic and business leaders interested in state and local government, welcomed it's 2012 class of members this month.  To view the Roundtable's newest members, click here.