AL HB604

Creates a standing Accountability Council by July 1, 2026, to review Alabama's K-12 accountability system and recommend revisions focused on improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps

Council membership includes 5 Governor appointees (including a national accountability expert and business representatives), chairs of education committees from both chambers, and appointees from various education and workforce organizations

Chairs of the House and Senate Education Policy Committees convene the initial meeting; council elects its own chair annually and must meet at least once per year

Requires the Alabama Workforce Board, with support from the State Department of Education and Alabama Commission on Higher Education, to develop a data system tracking student outcomes tied to college and career readiness indicators

Annual legislative report must include postsecondary enrollment and persistence, military enlistment, industry-recognized credentials, income within six years of graduation, and employment in high-wage, high-demand sectors