PLEASANT GROVE, Ala. (WIAT) — Governor Kay Ivey ended her back-to-school tour Tuesday with a stop at Pleasant Grove Elementary, where she underscored the link between education and responsible citizenship.

Students greeted the governor by waving American flags as she delivered her message: being a good student goes hand-in-hand with being a good citizen.

“The thing I am most focused on is making sure all of you have the best education possible,” Ivey said.

She pointed to Alabama’s recent gains on national assessments. According to results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Alabama climbed to 32nd in 4th-grade math in 2024 (up from 52nd in 2019).

In 4th-grade reading, Alabama’s rank moved from 49th in 2019 to 34th in 2024.

Pleasant Grove Elementary Principal S

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