The Alabama Policy Institute (API) has launched a new series of infographics called By the Numbers to help folks get quick facts on important issues in Alabama.
The first three one-page By the Numbers infographics are made up of statistics that show where Alabama stands in regard to energy, K-12 education and Medicaid. A few notable stats from the infographics include:
Energy – 28% of our electricity is generated by coal-fired plants; 0% of our electricity is produced from solar and wind plants; and we currently rank 6th in the United States as an electricity generator.
Education – 58% of children in Alabama public schools qualify for free or reduced lunches; the average teacher salary of the 47,573 public school teachers in Alabama is $48,003; and our total high school graduation rate is 71%.
Medicaid – Alabama has experienced a 67.9% increase in Medicaid expenditures since 2001; 22% of all Alabamians received at least one service from Medicaid in 2011; and net payments for Medicaid in Alabama in 2011 were $5,234,351,464 … of which $228,373,392 were administrative costs.
“We understand that people who want information don’t always have the time to process complex public policy issues,” API Policy Director and General Counsel Cameron Smith said. “The new By the Numbers series acknowledges that reality and distills API’s research into fact-based information that fits on one page.”
If you’ve been reading this site for any decent amount of time then you probably already know I’m a big believer in the power of infographics (see: here, here, and here for just a few examples on Yellowhammer).
“An informed electorate is a powerful force,” Smith said. “Our By the Numbers series provides a basic, easy-to-comprehend snapshot that will educate Alabamians on the issues that matter most.”
You can check out API’s new By the Numbers infographics below (click for larger images). API’s studies, white papers, issue briefs, editorials and other resources are also available on their website.
On the issue of teacher pay, you are all quite correct to note the disparity between what the AEA would have us believe and the actual facts, but it is even worse in my view. Keep in mind that their salary might well be their least advantageous form of payment. They also have very good health benefits for extremely low cost and a most lovely taxpayer-funded pension. Assuming a 4 year degree and perhaps a year of student teaching and job hunting, most start about age 22 or 23. How long before retiring with a lifetime pension? 20, 25 maybe 30 or 35 years if they want max benefit? Getting paid for not working starting in one’s 40s? At worst 50s? Really tough! How much salary would you trade now to get that? As for the 9 month work schedule – not even close! This fails to note 2 weeks at Christmas, almost a week at Thanksgiving, a week of Spring Break and every holiday known to mankind. I think it’s actually more like 7 months – so that’s a gross annualized pay approaching the mid 80K range. Then, they STILL get sick and personal days. Now what’s it worth? But wait, let’s keep in mind that, once tenured, they essentially have near iron clad job security. How many others get a lifetime guarantee of our job? Well, at least they’re held to strict standards and paid on merit, hahaha. Yet NOBODY complains more or enjoys more public sympathy. Growing weary of it.
Wait… Average teacher salary is $48,003?!?! The AEA would have you believe that it’s somewhere around $15-20k. (For comparison, the 2011 average income per person in Alabama was $33,945… whats a $14,000 swing, folks)
Also, a little surprised that there are only 3 hydroelectric dams in the state. With all of our rivers/fresh water I assumed there were more.
Awesome infographics! Kudos to API (and you, Cliff, for posting them).
To have the AEA tell it, teachers are paid a loaf of bread each week and flogged daily after each class period. It’s mind boggling that people (especially our great teachers) cannot see that organization for what it truly is.
Agreed.
Which means they make 5333/month. If they worked a 12 month contract, they would make nearly 64000/year. They want to make out that they are so underpaid for their degree but they don’t keep in mind that they only work 9 months out of the year. Still 48,000/year is higher than the average salary in Alabama so I don’t understand the complaining.
#! in reading gains? That was an unexpected stat.
I was surprised by that too. But still only 25% are proficient.