HB506 Summary

• Expands virtual education options from grades 9-12 to kindergarten through 12th grade, effective beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

• Allows students enrolled in virtual programs to attend any Alabama public virtual school operating in the state, rather than being limited to their zoned district's program.

• Students attending virtual programs remain enrolled in their zoned school's average daily membership for funding and receive diplomas from that school, unless attending a non-zoned virtual program.

• Exempts boards of education from traditional instruction requirements (staffing, transportation, facility, physical education) that conflict with virtual delivery and removes restrictions on online courses imposed by the State Department of Education.

• Requires the State Department of Education to maintain the ACCESS virtual platform with required courses for students in grades kindergarten through 12 at no local cost.