SB316 - PREP Act of 2016 Summary

• Creates the Preparing and Rewarding Educational Professionals (PREP) Act of 2016 establishing procedures for evaluating teachers, principals, and assistant principals based on performance and student achievement, effective starting the 2017-2018 school year.

• Increases tenure requirements from 3 to 5 consecutive years of employment with 3 consecutive ratings of "satisfies expectations" or higher; allows evaluation of tenured teachers every other year unless they receive poor ratings, triggering consecutive annual evaluations.

• Appropriates $10,000,000 from the Education Trust Fund to the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program, $5,000,000 to the Alabama Teacher Recruitment Fund (for bonuses of $2,500-$3,500 for teachers in failing/high-poverty schools), and $3,000,000 to the Alabama Teacher Mentor Program, all for fiscal year ending September 30, 2017.

• Establishes the Legislative Teacher Advisement Committee with 9 teachers and 2 principals to advise the Legislature and State Board of Education on evaluation systems and classroom instruction issues.

• Requires implementation of the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program by September 1, 2016, and amends Code of Alabama sections 16-6C-3 and 16-24C-4 regarding school performance recognition and tenure procedures.