SB129 Summary - Alabama Education Budget FY 2018

• Appropriates funds for public education support, maintenance, development, debt service, and capital outlay for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, funded primarily from the Education Trust Fund (ETF), federal and local funds, and other designated sources.

• Provides major appropriations including $4.8+ billion for local boards of education Foundation Program, $1.0+ billion for the Alabama Community College System, and $4.1+ billion for the University of Alabama system and other higher education institutions.

• Sets specific funding allocations for numerous education programs including teacher salaries using established pay matrices, school nurse programs, Alabama Reading Initiative ($40.8 million), workforce development ($43.2 million), early childhood education ($103.9 million), and various student financial aid programs.

• Establishes the State Employees' Insurance Board (SEIB) rate at $930 per month per full-time employee and allows local school boards flexibility in line-item expenditures while protecting earned teacher units and support personnel positions.

• Becomes effective October 1, 2017, and includes provisions for conditional appropriations, reappropriation of unspent FY 2017 funds, and specific restrictions on use of funds for certain programs like the Alabama Reading Initiative and workforce development training.