Education Policy

Public K-12 education; Accountability Council created; Alabama Workforce Development Board, State Department of Education, and Alabama Commission on Higher Education to develop system to analyze student performance data

K-12 education, schools with Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) required to offer to home schooled and private school students who are dependents of active duty military parents performing certain covered military service

Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Salary Schedule Program; participating teacher with over 20 years of advanced contract criteria service may be offered contract for up to five years instead of required offer of five years

Public high schools; students excused from class for scholarship acceptance, college commitment, military enlistment

Higher education, Educator Preparation Provider Report Card requirements established, annual review and publication by the State Department of Education required; funds allocated

Student Athlete Eligibility and Career Transition Act; tracking of public high school student academic and athletic progress; informing students of available paths post graduation; individualized transition plans; State Department of Education to develop implementation guidelines

Public K-12 schools; required to adopt policies for broadcast of Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week during school hours

Ten Commandments; required to be displayed in certain public schools, subject to the availability of donations

Public K-12 schools; home school students authorized to attend career and technical education programs in certain circumstances

Teacher certification; American History and Civics Initiative, created within the Department of Education; online course of study and endorsement for high school teachers, provided for; one-time stipend, provided for; State Board of Education, required to adopt rules

Teacher certification; Military Veteran Temporary Teaching Certificate established

Education; public K-12 schools, completion of approved computer science course required

School report card, academic achievement of students transferring from a failing school not considered for first three years following transfer.

Alabama Student Grant Program; independent postsecondary online institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama added to approved institutions for which students may receive grants to attend

Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services

Public institutions of higher education; accreditation standards further provided for; adverse actions taken by accrediting agencies against public institutions of higher education for compliance with state law, prohibited; civil actions against accrediting agencies for violations, authorized

Public school grading system, revised to include and weight specific indicators for schools that include a 12th grade class and schools that do not include a 12th grade class; Alabama Workforce Development Board and State Department of Education to develop system to analyze student performance data, Accountability Council created

Public K-12 education; Advanced Math Pathway created and provided for

Imagination Library of Alabama Program, Department of Early Childhood Education to administer through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

High School athletics, right to compensation for name, image, and likeness

University of Montevallo; board of trustees terms of office revised; quorum for meetings of board of trustees revised; and office of president qualifications revised

Education; broadcast of public K-12 school sporting events further provided for

Vaccines; religious exemption for K-12 students further provided for, religious exemption for students at public institutions of higher education provided

Public high schools, required to designate time and space for military recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery to students on campus on a voluntary basis

Alabama Teacher Paperwork Streamlining Act, State Department of Education required to develop unified digital platform for consolidating and sharing documentation relating to the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama Numeracy Act, Individualized Education Programs, and other educational programs

Sudden cardiac arrest; placement of AEDs on school property and at sporting events, further provided for

Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act, providing for a nontraditional high school diploma option for students 17 years of age and older who withdraw from school through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System; to provide for the sharing of data on students who drop out of high school; and to provide that participating students are eligible for driver's licenses

Public K-12 Schools, broadcast of the Star-Spangled Banner required weekly, proposed constitutional amendment

School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act, amending definitions

University of South Alabama; membership of Board of Trustees revised, meetings of the board further provided for

Public schools, colleges, and universities; immunity provided to students and teachers who decline to use certain pronouns or names

Public K-12 education; violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation instruction required before graduation from high school, State Board of Education required to adopt standards

Public schools; athletic associations required to adjust athletic classification under certain circumstances

Ten Commandments; required to be displayed in the common area of public K-12 schools

Public K-12 education; use and teaching of social-emotional learning concepts prohibited, parental consent required for certain surveys, violations constitute neglect of duty

Public K-12 schools, ultra-processed foods, prohibited and defined

Public K-12 schools; playing nonpublic schools in post-season athletics, membership in certain athletic associations, competition against certain schools; prohibited

Dual enrollment programs, all local education agencies required to allow student participation in programs offered by two-year and four-year colleges and universities

Three cueing system prohibited in public K-12 education

City Boards of Education; impose restrictions on power to acquire property in a different municipality or an unincorporated area

Public K-12 education; State Board of Education required to adopt model student cell phone use policy, local boards of education required to adopt cell phone use policy

Local boards of education; maximum compensation of board members, increased; continuing education requirements as condition for compensation, required

Public education employees; exclusion of students from classroom, provided for; principal authorized to suspend, expel, or recommend for alternative school certain students excluded from classroom; civil and criminal immunity provided to education employees; local boards of education authorized to reimburse or compensate employees for certain legal fees; rebuttable presumption, created; Board of Education, required to adopt rules

Public K-12 education, employment of assistant superintendents, assistant chief school finance officers, and assistant principals by contract provided for local boards of education

Public K-12 schools; nonpublic school transfer students excluded from certain assessments determining school or school district grade.

Public and nonpublic schools, sudden cardiac arrest, required to develop and implement cardiac emergency response plan

Public elementary school, admittance of children to kindergarten and first grade, demonstration of first grade readiness

Teachers and school employees, state retirement benefits terminated upon conviction of certain sex crimes involving minor.

Postsecondary Education, circumstances under which unlawfully present aliens are prohibited from attending further provided

Alabama Workforce Pathways Act, different pathways for high school diplomas based on future career plans

Law enforcement officers, further provides for authority of officers working for the Univ. of Alabama System

Public institutions of higher education, annual reports of funding received from foreign countries of concern required, exceptions provided

Virtual education, administration of state assessments through closed browser remote testing

Public preK-12 schools, campus chaplains, public schools authorized to hire or accept as volunteers, local boards of education and governing bodies required to vote on whether to allow, limitations provided

Jacksonville State University, membership of board of trustees revised

Public K-12 schools, sex education curriculum further provided for, sexual risk avoidance established as exclusive sex education curriculum, local boards of education prohibited from using services of org. that endorses other approaches to sex education, parent or guardian notice of sex ed curriculum required, cause of action for violations established

Education, instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in public K-12 schools, prohibited

Virtual education, administration of state assessments through closed browser remote testing

Public K-12 education, remote early enrollment of transferring military children with special needs

Local boards of education; maximum compensation of board members, increased; continuing education requirements as condition for compensation, required

Public K-12 Education, posting of curricula on school websites required, parents or guardians authorized to examine materials upon request

True School Choice for Alabama Act, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

Relating to alternative teacher preparation programs and teacher certification; to amend Section 2 of Act 2022-239, 2022 Regular Session, now appearing as Section 16-23-3.1, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide additional requirements for programs.

Relating to city boards of education; to amend Section 16-11-2, Code of Alabama 1975; to prohibit a mayor from membership on a city board of education.

Relating to elected county superintendents of education; to remove the requirement that the salary of the superintendent be set before the beginning of the term of office; and to provide for a retroactive effective date.

Relating to K-12 public education; to amend Section 16-1-14, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide legislative findings; to provide a uniform system of procedural due process protections for students facing suspension or expulsion for violating the student code of conduct or state law; and to require the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement this act.

Relating to credentials and the workforce; to create the Alabama Credential Quality and Transparency Act as a new Division 9, commencing with Section 41-29-350, Article 3, Chapter 29, Title 41, Code of Alabama 1975; to create the Alabama Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics on Career Pathways Act as a new Division 10, commencing with Section 41-29-360, Article 3, Chapter 29, Title 41, Code of Alabama 1975; and to establish the Alabama College and Career Readiness Act by adding Section 41-29-298 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to provide for the creation of a free, searchable public online registry of educational and occupational credentials; to restrict the release of personally identifiable information; to provide procedures for handling data breaches; to establish a statewide definition of college and career readiness; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Relating to two-year and four-year public institutions of higher education; to amend Section 16-1-52, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit a biological male from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for females; to prohibit a biological female from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for males; to prohibit adverse action against a public K-12 school or public two-year or four-year institution of higher education for complying with this act; to prohibit adverse action or retaliation against a student who reports a violation of this act; and to provide a remedy for any student who suffers harm or is directy deprived of an athletic opportunity as a result of a violation of this act.

To amend Section 16-28-4, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the minimum age for attendance at public schools; to require a child to complete kindergarten or demonstrate first grade readiness before entering the first grade; to provide for circumstances under which a child who is under five years of age on September 1 may be admitted to public kindergarten; to provide for circumstances under which a child who is under six years of age on December 31 may be admitted to public school first grade; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

To amend Sections 16-6C-2, as amended by Act 2022-374, 2022 Regular Session, 16-6D-3, 16-6D-4, 16-6D-6, 16-6D-8, and 16-6D-9, as amended by Act 2022-390, 2022 Regular Session, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the public K-12 school grading system and the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013; to change the designation of a failing school to a lowest sixth percent school and the designation of a nonfailing school to a highest 94th percent school; and to require the State Board of Education to reflect those changes in terminology when amending or adopting rules.

To amend Sections 16-13B-1, Section 16-13B-4, and 16-13B-5, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to competitive bidding on contracts of city and county boards of education; to increase the minimum amount for contracts subject to competitive bid from $15,000 to $25,000; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Relating to education; to amend Section 2 of Act 2022-290, now appearing as Section 16-40A-5, Code of Alabama 1975; to prohibit classroom instruction related to gender identity or sexual orientation in public K-12 schools at certain grade levels and in any grade level in a manner that is not age or developmentally appropriate; to require parents to be notified if there is a change in services or monitoring relating to his or her child's mental, emotional, or physical health; to require parents to be notified of health care services available to students and to allow a parent to opt his or her child out; to require parental consent for certain health care screenings or questionnaires for K-12 students; to provide parents with procedures to express their concern with a local board of education's compliance with certain policies; and to provide a remedy in certain situations.

To amend Sections 16-6C-2, as amended by Act 2022-374, 2022 Regular Session, 16-6D-3, 16-6D-4, 16-6D-6, 16-6D-8, and 16-6D-9, as amended by Act 2022-390, 2022 Regular Session, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the public K-12 school grading system and the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013; to change the designation of a failing school to a fully supported school and the designation of a nonfailing school to a non-fully supported school; and to require the State Board of Education to reflect those changes in terminology when amending or adopting rules.

Relating to religious expression; to amend Section 16-1-20.3, Code of Alabama 1975; to require a local board of education to provide certain school resources to students to facilitate student-led prayer.

Public schools, restrooms or changing areas, required to be used based on individual's biological sex, kindergarden to fifth grade classroom instruction, limited regarding sexual orientation or gender identity, St. Board of Education to adopt rules

Literacy Act, reading proficiency, third grade retention requirement postponed until 2023-2024 school year, additional duties to State Superintendent of Ed. re implementation of law, Sec. 16-6G-5 am'd.

Schools, failing, scholarships for students assigned to in order to attend another public or nonpublic school, income tax credits for contributions to scholarship granting organizations increased, Sec. 16-6D-9 am'd.

Alabama Numeracy Act, established for K-5 public school students, Elementary Mathematics Task force and Postsecondary Mathematics Task Forces created, Office of Mathematics Improvement created, use of assessments, intervention services, summer programs, and mathematics coaches provided, use of Common Core State Standards in K-12 schools terminated and prohibited

Education, issuance of professional educator certificate to individuals completing approved alternative teacher preparation programs, further provided for, St. Board of Education to adopt policies, Sec. 16-23-3.01 added; Sec. 16-23-3 am'd.

Education, virtual education, to expand option to include grades K-12, to allow a student to attend any Alabama public virtual school operating in the state, Secs. 16-46A-1, 16-46A-2, 16-46A-3 am'd.

Public K-12 education, State Department of Education required to develop a program to address the mental health of students (Tier II students) who are considered at-risk for developing inadequate social-behavioral skills, such as ADHD or anger management issues

Education, school grading system, certain English language learners exempt from proficiency assessments considered in grading public K-12 schools, State Superintendent of Education to amend state plan under Every Student Succeeds Act, Sec. 16-6C-2 am'd.

Schools, failing, scholarships for students assigned to in order to attend another public or nonpublic school, income tax credits for contributions to scholarship granting organizations increased, Sec. 16-6D-9 am'd.

Education, K-12, procedural due process protection for suspensions and expulsions provided, findings, hearing officers, Sec. 16-1-14 am'd.

Education, personal finance literacy, personal rights, and good citizenship in grades 6-12, Sec. 16-40-12 added.

Public K-12 schools, student considered in attendance at school if present at a 4-H event, exceptions

Public education, prohibits teaching of divisive concepts relating to race and sex, prohibits classification of students based on race, penalties

Literacy Act, third grade retention requirement postponed until 2024-2025 school year, Sec. 16-6G-5 am'd.

Education Dept., state property, Dept. of Edu., has authority to manange the construction and renovation of property that is part of a state educational institution, in lieu of St. Finance Dept., Secs. 16-1-2.2, 41-4-353, 41-4-400 am'd.

Education, grades K-12, yoga, authorize local boards of education to offer to students

Income tax credits, contributions to scholarship granting organizations further provided for, Sec. 16-6D-9 am'd.

Education, Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, manner of appointing Alabama Charter School Commission and employment of staff revised, method of providing operational funding to public charter schools revised, Secs. 16-6F-6, 16-6F-10 am'd.

Building Exceptional School Board Team Act (BEST), provides further for boardsmanship standards, training, and discipline of local bd. of education members, Sec. 16-1-41.1 repealed; Secs. 16-8-1, 16-11-2 am'd.

Extended Learning Opportunities Act, established, learning opportunities outside of typical public K-12 classroom for credit, approval and enrollment process provided, Secs. 16-46C-1 to 16-46C-7, inclusive, added.

School safety, to require mental health awareness to be included in the annual training session for employees of each K-12 school, Sec. 16-1-44 am'd.

Education, K-12, Education Savings Account Act and Program established for certain eligible students; duties of parents and dept. provided; allocation by state to accounts.

Education, public K-12 schools, sex education, revising the focus of content, course materials and instructions provided, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Education, K-12, procedural due process protection for suspensions and expulsions provided, findings, hearing officers, Sec. 16-1-14 am'd.

Board of Trustees, Ala. Community College System, members may serve two consecutive four-year terms, Sec. 16-60-111 am'd.

Building Exceptional School Board Team Act (BEST), provides further for boardsmanship standards, training, and discipline of local bd. of education members, Sec. 16-1-41.1 repealed; Secs. 16-8-1, 16-11-2 am'd.

Education, life skills instruction may be offered by local bds of education as an elective or component of health education and physical education in grades 6-12, Sec. 16-40-11 added.

Common Core Curriculum Standards, terminated

Education, requires all public K-12 schools to require student completion of a semester-long course in Black American history

Education, scholarships, community or technical college, to limit awarding more than four athletic scholarships to out-of-state recruits for each sport it sponsors

School discipline, hearing required for student expulsion or long-term suspension, expulsion and suspension prohibited in certain circumstances, Sec. 16-1-14 am'd.

Community College System, bd. of trustees, terms, may serve two full terms, Sec. 16-60-111 am'd.

Building Exceptional School Board Team Act (BEST), provides further for boardsmanship standards, training, and discipline of local bd. of education members, Sec. 16-1-41.1 repealed; Secs. 16-8-1, 16-11-2 am'd.

School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, formation of charter schools on or near military installation, with focus on serving military dependents, authorized, tenure for certificated teachers temporarily serving in charter school preserved, Sec. 16-6F-12 added; Sec. 16-6F-5 am'd.

Education, life skills instruction may be offered by local bds of education as an elective or component of health education and physical education in grades 6-12, Sec. 16-40-11 added.

Education, public K-12, Teacher Bill of Rights, created, distribution and posting of bill of rights provided

Education, public K-12 schools, sex education, revising the focus of content, course materials and instructions provided, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Education, grading of K-12 schools and school districts, academic performance or English as a second language (ESL) students exempted from consideration, Sec. 16-6C-2 am'd.

Public schools, cursive writing, requiring each senior to legibly print and sign his or her own name in cursive, graduation requirement, Sec. 16-6B-2 am'd.

Education, school grading system, change designation of a failing school to a challenged school, nonfailing school to a nonchallenged school, State Board of Education required to reflect changes in terminology when amending or adopting rules, Secs. 16-6C-2, 16-6D-3, 16-6D-4, 16-6D-6, 16-6D-8, 16-6D-9 am'd.

Board of Education, State, renamed the Alabama Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education, members appointed by Governor, State Superintendent of Education renamed as the Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, secretary appointed by commission, Governor to appoint team to advise commission, const. amend.

Apprenticeships, completion of apprenticeship and fulfillment of other requirements to entitle applicant to receive occupational license, age requirements for apprenticeships further provided, Secs. 25-8-33, 25-8-35, and 25-8-43 am'd.

Colleges and universities, require public colleges and universities to enact policies protecting freedom of speech on campus

Public schools, require a child successfully complete kindergarten before being admitted to the first grade, Sec. 16-28-4 am'd.

Education, K-3 grades, Alabama Literacy Act, established, steps to improve reading proficiency

School campus, Kyle Graddy Act, self-administration of single dose autoinjectable epinephrine on K-12 school campuses by students, Secs. 16-1-39, 16-1-48 am'd

Education, public schools, grades 6 to 12, allow elective courses on the study of the Bible and display artifacts, monuments, symbols, and text related to the study of the Bible, State Board of Education to implement rules and policies

Schools, K-12, phase in of computer science courses required, funding for teacher training and certification provided, position created within Dept. of Education to administer, ACHE to create scholarships for preservice teachers, and Computer Science Education task force created

Apprenticeships, completion of apprenticeship and fulfillment of other requirements to entitle applicant to receive occupational license, Secs. 25-8-33, 25-8-35, and 25-8-43 am'd.

Education, school resource officers, qualifications further provided for, Sec. 16-1-44.1 am'd.

Common Core Standards, application to state K-12 education prohibited, transition standards to be implemented pending adoption of replacement curriculum standards by State Board of Education, const. amend.

Education, grades K-12, yoga, authorize local boards of education to offer to students

Education, public schools, grades 6 to 12, allow elective courses on the study of the Bible, provide immunity for teachers who teach in good faith with proper historical context, State Board of Education to implement rules and policies

Sex education, public K-12 school, content and course materials revised, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Education, boards of trustees, four-year institutions of higher education, newly appointed trustee or commissioner required to complete eight hours of professional development during first two years

Education, State Board of Edu., membership, limit of service to two terms, exceptions, Sec. 16-3-1 am'd.

University of North Alabama, Bd of Trustees, membership, add'l at-large member from within or without state, Secs. 16-51-1, 16-51-3 am'd.

Education, population requirement for city to establish a board of education increased from 5,000 to 15,000, determination of financial capability required, Sec. 16-11-1 am'd.

Education, public schools, grades 6 to 12, allow elective courses on the study of the Bible and display artifacts, monuments, symbols, and text related to the study of the Bible, State Board of Education to implement rules and policies

Task Force, school safety and security, created

Juvenile sex offenders, notification provided to school of low-risk sex offender expanded to include local super of edu. and bd of edu., change in school required to be reported to local law enforcement by juvenile sex offender, state board of edu. required to develop and local boards to adopt, model policy for monitoring juvenile sex offenders in school, Secs. 15-20A-27, 15-20A-30 am'd.

Education Dept. of, Early Childhood Education, Secretary, qualifications, Sec. 26-24-2 am'd.

Education, school resource officers, qualifications further provided for, Sec. 16-1-44.1 am'd.

County Superintendent of Education, required to be appointed unless provided otherwise by constitution

Education, Kyle Graddy Act, administration of single dose autoinjectable epinephrine on K-12 school campuses by students and pursuant to anaphylaxis preparedness program provided, Secs. 16-1-39, 16-1-48 am'd

Education, personnel vacancies, posting of on local bd. of ed. website, at a minimum, or at each school campus and worksite, time to post decreased from 14 to 7 days before position to be filled, Sec. 16-22-15 am'd.

Public schools, professional educators' associations granted same level of access to employees of public schools

School safety, disclosure of certain information by juvenile probation officer to schools auth. under certain conditions, confidentiality, immunity, crime of possessing deadly weapon on school premises, revised, Education Dept. required to develop and implement school safety electronic notification system, Secs. 12-15-217, 13A-11-72 am'd.

Education, Kyle Graddy Act, administration of single dose autoinjectable epinephrine on K-12 school campuses by students and pursuant to anaphylaxis preparedness program provided, Secs. 16-1-39, 16-1-48 am'd

Schools, public K-12 teachers and employees, charged with certain sexual crimes against students, paid administrative leave and discipline of school employees charged removed, Sec. 13A-6-83 repealed

Schools, public K-12 teachers and employees, charged with certain sexual crimes against students, paid administrative leave and discipline of school employees charged removed, Sec. 13A-6-83 repealed

Flexible School Calendar Act of 2012, 180 full instructional day requirement reduced to 1050 instructional hours without change in teacher compensation, first day of instruction beginning with 2018-2019 school year to be no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day, Sec. 16-13-231 am'd.

Education, teachers, time increased for public K-12 teachers to give notice of terminating employment from 5 to 30 days, requirement for postsecondary education employees deleted, Sec. 16-24C-11 am'd.

Education, teachers, time increased for public K-12 teachers to give notice of terminating employment from 5 to 30 days, requirement for postsecondary education employees deleted, Sec. 16-24C-11 am'd.

Private School Licensure Program and services for postsecondary proprietary schools, transferred from Community College System to Commission on Higher Education, Sec. 16-5-16 added; Sec. 16-60-115 am'd.

Walker Co., state lands, sixteenth section lands, and school lands, distrib. to trust account for schools and county board of education, const. amend.

Education, K-12, permit the use of the Bible and other scripture as educational material

Education, population requirement for city to establish a board of education increased from 5,000 to 25,000, determination of financial capability required, Sec. 16-11-1 am'd.

Education, colleges and universities, boards of trustees required to develop policy, students under investigation criminal conduct, right to remain silent

Colleges and universities, local boards of education, schools prohibited from using public funds to advocate for or against ballot measures

Education, time increased for public K-12 teachers to give notice of terminating employment from 5 to 30 days, requirement for postsecondary education employees deleted, Sec. 16-24C-11 am'd.

Schools, allow school district to educate students about traditional winter celebrations and offer traditional greetings

Schools, public K-12 teachers and employees, charged with certain sexual crimes against students, paid administrative leave and discipline of school employees charged removed, Sec. 13A-6-83 repealed

Education, time increased for public K-12 teachers to give notice of terminating employment from 5 to 30 days, requirement for postsecondary education employees deleted, Sec. 16-24C-11 am'd.

Public K-12 education, absence for student playing Taps at funeral of veteran is excused, Sec. 16-28-13 am'd.

Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education, related statistics, answers, data system established and operated, maintained by Office of Edu. and Workforce Statistics in Dept. of Labor, to provide education and workforce training for Alabama residents, confidentiality protected, advisory board created

Schools, students, sunscreen, use authorized at school

Suicide, training of public school educators to provide mental health first aid to students

Common Core Curriculum Standards, terminated, prior courses of study to be implemented, Alabama Traditional Education Standards Act, created

Public schools, grant all professional educators' associations same level of access to employees of public schools

Community College System, established as body corporate, eligibility of employees of system and colleges to participate in TRS and PEEHIP clarified, board authorized to acquire and dispose of property, Secs. 16-60-110.1, 16-60-111.4, 16-60-111.10 am'd.

Education, Kyle Graddy Act, administration of single dose autoinjectable epinephrine on K-12 school campuses by students and pursuant to anaphylaxis preparedness program provided, Secs. 16-1-39, 16-1-48 am'd

Education, inappropriate conduct, public K-12, annual inservice training for teachers to recognize behavior of students

Education, local boards of education authorized to provide for released time religious instruction in public high schools as an elective course for credit

Community College System, established as body corporate, eligibility of employees of system and colleges to participate in TRS and PEEHIP clarified, board authorized to acquire and dispose of property, Secs. 16-60-110.1, 16-60-111.4, 16-60-111.10 am'd.

Education, State Dept. of Education and Alabama Dept. of Rehabilitation Services, to consult with Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind to select language developmental milestones and monitor and track progress of deaf and hard-of-hearing children

Youth sports, unpaid and volunteer youth athletics assoc. personnel to complete a youth injury mitigation course annually

Unemployment compensation, employees of private companies providing direct service to schools, not eligible for benefits during school breaks, Sec. 25-4-70 am'd.

County superintendents of education, requirement to maintain office at co. seat deleted, Sec. 16-9-24 am'd.

Public schools, grant all professional educators' associations same level of access to employees of public schools

Education, inappropriate conduct, public K-12, annual inservice training for teachers to recognize behavior of students

School safety, records relating to, are exempt from disclosure to public pursuant to rights to inspect public records, Sec. 36-12-40 am'd.

Colleges and universities, University of North Alabama, Board of Trustees, authorized to establish and modify benefits for instructors and other officers, Sec. 16-51-6 am'd.

Schools, enrollment date, age 6, allow enrollment in first grade in the enrolling school district, Sec. 16-28-4 am'd.

Education, Alabama Longitudinal Data System created, matching of student performance data and workforce data, privacy and protection of student information required, administered by the Alabama Office of Education and Workforce Statistics created within the Dept. of Labor

Superintendent of Education, election of, required, term of office, Amendment 284 (Section 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

State Superintendent of Education, appointment by the Governor required, member of Governor's cabinet, Sec. 16-4-1 am'd.

Colleges and Universities, ethics training for members of governing boards required, members required to file ethics compliance form

Community colleges, required to give adjunct professors hired for 2 or more consecutive years at college right of first refusal when full-time position becomes available

Colleges, allow football to be played at public two-year junior and community colleges

Education, State Superintendent of Education may certify organizations to assist in providing local board of education member training, newly elected or appointed members required to take orientation provided by local superintendent of education, Sec. 16-1-41.1 am'd.

Education, Alabama Student and Parent Privacy Act, public school student and teacher information collection and disclosure limited to academic purposes, civil penalties for violations

Education, local boards of education authorized to provide for released time religious instruction in public high schools as an elective course for credit

Colleges and universities, carrying of concealed pistols on campuses under certain conditions authorized, const. amend.

Schools, enrollment date, age 6, allow enrollment in first grade in the enrolling school district, Sec. 16-28-4 am'd.

Colleges and Universities, ethics training for members of governing boards required, members required to file ethics compliance form

Miles College, police jurisdictional limitations removed, Sec. 16-22-1 am'd.

Unemployment compensation, certain employees may not receive unemployment benefits, Sec. 25-4-70 am'd.

Public Charter School Commission, members appointed by Governor, Lt. Governor, President Pro Tempore of Senate and Speaker of House in lieu of State Board of Education, Act 2015-3, 2015 Reg. Sess., am'd.

Colleges, Alabama State University, membership of board of trustees increased, terms decreased from 12 to 6 year terms, nominating committee established, electronic meeting participation provided, compensation, Secs. 16-50-20, 16-50-26, 16-50-28 am'd.

County superintendents of education, requirement to maintain office at co. seat deleted, Sec. 16-9-24 am'd.

Textbooks, purchasing of by boards of education, use of qualified depository for textbooks established, Secs. 16-36-60.1, 16-36-71 added; Secs. 16-36-62, 16-36-64, 16-36-65 am'd.

University of North Alabama, board of trustees, provide terms of office of six years, Sec. 16-51-3 am'd.

Education, authorize local boards of education to admit or readmit students under age 21 to twelth grade, Secs. 16-11-16, 16-28-3 am'd.

Bishop State Community College, Southern Union State Community College, Bevill State Community College, and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, who are part of the Alabama Career Center System to Department of Labor

Boards of education, city and county, acceptance of debit and credit card payments for payments to boards and schools, board authorized to adopt rules

Textbooks, purchasing of by boards of education, use of qualified depository for textbooks established, Secs. 16-36-60.1, 16-36-71 added; Secs. 16-36-62, 16-36-64, 16-36-65 am'd.

Associate degree, awarding of by 2-year public college to students who transfer to 4-year public college and subsequently qualify, Sec. 16-5-8.5 added

Auburn University, Board of Trustees, procedure for adjusting terms so that only three terms expire per year, two additional at-large members, Amendment 161 (Sec. 266, Recompiled Constitution of 1901, as amended) am'd, const. amend.

H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College, named changed to H. Councill Trenholm State Community College

University of North Alabama, board of trustees, terms of office revised, meetings by teleconference, Secs. 16-51-3, 16-51-4 am'd.

Competitive bidding by schools, certain bidding requirements revised, Secs. 16-13B-2, 16-13B-7 am'd.

Sudden cardiac arrest, require schools to provide training to coaches and parents to prevent

Schools, enrollment date, age 6, before beginning of second semester of enrolling school district, Sec. 16-28-4 am'd.

Religious expression in schools, authorized, adoption of policy by local boards of education required, Alabama Student Religious Liberties Act of 2015

Science courses in public schools, encourage students to explore scientific evidence, develop critical thinking, analyze, critique and review scientific theories

Colleges and universities, out-of-state institutions, online programs offered in this state, exempt from regulation by the Ala. Comm. on Higher Education and Postsecondary Education. Dept. under certain conditions, State Reciprocity Committee created, Secs. 16-5-10, 16-46-3 am'd.

Student data, collection and maintenance of certain student data provided for, sharing prohibition

Education, local boards of education, virtual schools, required to adopt policy providing virtual school option for eligible students in grades 9 to 12, duties to State Education Department, legislative task force to review

Colleges and universities, clarification of exemption for degree granting entities operating under reciprocity agreements, Secs. 16-5-10, 16-46-3 am'd.

Mandatory school attendance, increased from age 17 to 18, Sec. 16-28-3 am'd.

School hiring, nepotism prohibited, Sec. 41-1-5 am'd.

Common Core Curriculum Standards, terminated, prior courses of study to be implemented

Schools, age to attend school, six years of age by December 31 to attend first grade, authorized, Sec. 16-28-4 am'd.

University of Alabama Board of Trustees, renamed to Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System, membership of board revised to include members from where campuses are located, consecutive terms decreased, officer of chancellor, Section 264 (Section 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Superintendents of education, term of office not to extend beyond December 31, 2020, local board of education to appoint superintendent, const. amend.

Const. Amend. to provide that the University of Alabama Board of Trustees include graduates of the Unversity of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Section 264 (Sec. 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended) am'd.

Sex education, minimum contents, reference to homosexuality removed, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Postsecondary Education, State Board of, established, transfer of responsibility over two-year institutions of higher education from the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education to the State Board of Postsecondary Education and the State Department of Postsecondary Education, Secs. 16-60-110.1, 16-60-111, 16-60-111.10, 16-60-111.11, 16-60-111.12, 16-60-111.13, 16-60-111.14, 16-60-111.15, 16-60-111.16, 16-60-116, 16-60-117, 16-60-118 added; Secs. 16-60-110, 16-60-111.1, 16-60-111.2, 16-60-111.3, 16-60-111.4, 16-60-111.5, 16-60-111.6, 16-60-111.7, 16-60-111.8, 16-60-111.9, 16-60-112, 16-60-113, 16-60-114, 16-60-115 am'd.

Virtual Public Schools Act, providing alternative virtual public schools through state, Department of Postsecondary Education, or local boards of education, providing for funding, annual evaluation by State Department of Education, and providing for promulgation of rules

Epinephrine, anaphylaxis preparedness program, St. Department of Education and local boards of education to implement by 2015-2016 scholastic year a plan for use of premeasured autoinjectable epinephrine at schools

Parental right, to make decisions regarding child's education, upbringing, and care

Alabama Accountability Act, $7,500 limit on scholarship contributions by individual taxpayers removed, pass-through entities allowed to make contributions to scholarship granting organizations, release date for unaccounted scholarship funds moved, reporting period changed from calendar to school year, Sec. 16-6D-9 am'd.

Schools, students taught at home by either private tutor or under church school law may participate in public K-12 extracurricular activities, Equal Access to Athletics Act

Public education, reduction-in-force policies, contents further provided for, significant factors specified, compliance with antidiscrimination laws required, Sec. 16-1-33 am'd.

Colleges and universities, participation in reciprocity agreements with other member states to generate without additional state approval or authorization in other member states, Secs. 10A-1-7.02, 16-46-3 am'd.

Religious expression in schools, authorized, Alabama Student Religious Liberties Act

Schools, allow school district to educate students about traditional winter celebrations and offer traditional greetings

Schools, nonpublic, including private and church schools, State Department of Education prohibited from regulating or licensing, public colleges and universities prohibted from denying admittance to students based on attendance at nonpublic schools, department may not deny certification to a person because of employment by a nonpublic school, Secs. 16-1-11, 16-28-1, 16-28-7, 16-46-1 to 16-46-10, inclusive, am'd.

Virtual Public Schools Act, local boards of education may provide alternative choice for education via the Internet

Boards of Education, city and county, unfunded mandates by legislative act, supermajority vote required to enact, exception for local boards of education deleted from Amendment 621, Amendment 621, (Section 111.05 of Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Schools, allow school district to educate students about traditional winter celebrations and offer traditional greetings

Student data, use of by providers of cloud computing service

Climatologist, office established, powers and duties

Virtual Public Schools Act, local boards of education may provide alternative choice for education via the Internet

Public health, stocking and administration of premeasured doses of epinephrine by schools and other authorized entities

Foundation Program, average daily membership changed from just 20 scholastic days after Labor Day of preceding school year to first 20 scholastic days of the preceding year for the particular school, Sec. 16-13-231 am'd.

Public health, stocking and administration of premeasured doses of epinephrine by schools and other authorized entities

Unfunded mandates, remove exception for local boards of education from Amendment 621, Amendment 621, (Section 111.05 of Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Public health, stocking and administration of premeasured doses of epinephrine by schools and other authorized entities

Diabetes, school students, care by voluntary diabetes care personnel pursuant to care management plan, guidelines by State Department of Public Health and State Education Department, care may include injections by trained personnel

Educators' associations, equal access to public school districts and their employees required, equal access to public institutions of higher learning and their employees, required

Crimes and offenses, trespass on a school bus in the first degree, crime created as a Class B misdemeanor, exceptions, Charles "Chuck" Poland, Jr. Act

Schools, Accountability Act of 2013, State Board of Education and local boards, procedures for exemption of public schools from state rules, tax credits for families with students in failing schools to attend another public or private school and for scholarship donations

Education, schools, local school boards, audit reports, online access required, audits conducted by July 31, circuit court authorized to compel production, submit to Department of Education, Department of Education to keep database, Sec. 16-11-22 am'd.

Spring Hill College, police officers, appointment, Sec. 16-22-1 am'd.

Education, security personnel and resource officers employed by local board of education authorized to carry a firearm under certain conditions, Sec. 13A-11-72 am'd.

Infants, age of majority designated as 18 years for participation in college or university research, Sec. 26-1-1 am'd.

School attendance, to prohibit any child who withdraws from public, private, or church school to attend an accredited online school from being considered a drop-out or non-graduate for determining graduation rates, Sec. 16-28-3 am'd.

J.F. Drake State Technical College, name changed to J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College

Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013, provides for creation of innovative K-12 schools, flexibility contracts between local boards of education and the State Board of Education, and authorize State Board of Education to promulgate rules, Act 2013-64, 2013 Reg. Sess., repealed

Accountability Act of 2013, proposed by HB 84, 2013 Reg. Sess., Act 2013-__, 2013 Reg. Sess., repealed

State Board of Education, required to adopt rule requiring second adult on all school buses while transporting students, Sec. 16-27-1 am'd.

Common Core Standards, State Board of Education prohibited from adopting or implementing

Mandatory school attendance, increased from age 17 to 18, Sec. 16-28-3 am'd.

Public education, local board of education may authorize qualified school security, school resource officers, and administrators to carry pistols or stun guns on school property

Sex education, curriculum repealed and legislative findings amended, Sec. 16-40A-2 repealed; Sec. 16-40A-1 am'd

Jacksonville State University, board of trustees, authorized to participate in meetings by telephone or video conference under certain conditions

Foundation Program Fund, local boards of education authorized to establish local school calendar providing 180 instructional days for computation of benefits, Flexible School Calendar Act, Sec. 16-13-231 am'd.; Act 2011-235, 2011 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Public schools, grades 9-12, textbooks and instructional materials, Education Department to provide in electronic format to each student as feasible

Local boards of education, written reduction in force policies, consideration of certain credentials in making staff decisions, temporary interim reduction-in-force policy provided, Sec. 16-1-33 am'd

Education, school grading system to be developed by State Superintendent of Education for K-12 schools

School attendance, prior notice of prosecution for nonattendance requirement deleted, distribution and verification of receipt of school and state attendance policy required, Sec. 16-28-16 am'd.

Education, local boards of education authorized to provide for released time religious instruction in public high schools as an elective course for credit

Education, public school K-12, minimum mandatory age of attendance decreased from seven to six, Sec. 16-28-3 am'd.

Sports, local boards of education to develop policy regarding concussion, youth athlete with concussions or head injuries, participation in practice or athletic games prohibited for certain number of days, Act 2011-541, 2011 Reg. Sess., am'd; Sec. 22-11E-2 am'd

University of South Alabama, board of trustees, authorized to participate in meetings by telephone or video conference under certain conditions

Athens State University, removed from under purview of State Board of Education and State Department of Postsecondary Education, board of trustees created, powers provided, president appointment, nomination committee, police officers, Sec. 16-60-110 am'd

Alabama Fire College, an institution of postsecondary education under the supervision and control of the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission, clarified, membership revised, duties, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee established, Secs. 36-32-1, 36-32-2, 36-32-3, 36-32-5 am'd; Sec. 36-32-13 added.

Service animals, to be certified by trainer and service certificate provided to principal or headmaster of K-12 school before allowed on property, Sec. 21-7-4 am'd; Act 2011-578, 2011 Reg. Sess., am'd

Sex education, minimum contents, reference to homosexuality removed, Sec. 16-40A-2 am'd.

Alabama Fire College, an institution of postsecondary education under the supervision and control of the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission, clarified, membership revised, duties, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee established, Secs. 36-32-1, 36-32-2, 36-32-3, 36-32-5 am'd; Sec. 36-32-13 added.

Student harassment prevention, reassignment of students to another school, Education Department to post model policy on Internet website, immunity for reporting harassment, Student Harassment Prevention Act or the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act, Secs. 16-28B-1, 16-28B-4, 16-28B-5, 16-28B-9 am'd.

Education, public schools K-12, minimum mandatory age of attendance decreased from age seven to age six, date for calculating school admission changed from September 1 to August 1, Secs. 16-28-3, 16-28-4 am'd.

Student harassment prevention, reassignment of students to another school, Education Department to post model policy on Internet website, immunity for reporting harassment, Student Harassment Prevention Act renamed the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act, Secs. 16-28B-1, 16-28B-4, 16-28B-5, 16-28B-9 am'd.

Education, local superintendent of education, time period for filling position extended, appointment of interim superintendent provided for, Secs. 16-9-11, 16-12-1 am'd.; Act 2010-210, 2010 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Student harassment prevention, reassignment of students to another school, Education Department to post model policy on Internet website, immunity for reporting harassment, Student Harassment Prevention Act renamed the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act, Secs. 16-28B-1, 16-28B-4, 16-28B-5, 16-28B-9 am'd.

Motor vehicles, driver's license for person under age 19, proof of enrollment in school or employment required, employment required to be for a minimum of 30 hours a week, Public Safety Department to provide form to local superintendents of education for requirements of obtaining license and notification of withdrawal from school, Sec. 16-28-40 am'd.

Charter schools, local boards of education may accept and review petitions for creation and renewal of charter schools, annual report on charter schools to be compiled by State Board of Education and report to Governor and Legislature, Charter School Pilot Program Act

Massage Therapy, Board of, massage therapists further regulated, penalties increased, Secs. 34-43-3, 34-43-5, 34-43-6, 34-43-7, 34-43-9, 34-43-10, 34-43-11, 34-43-12, 34-43-14, 34-43-15, 34-43-17, 34-43-20, 34-43-21 am'd.

Education Department required to determine the financial capability of a municipality to sustain a school system before the municipality could establish a city school system, minimum population requirement increased, certain municipalities excepted, Sec. 16-11-1 am'd.

Education, public school K-12, minimum mandatory age of attendance decreased from seven to six, Sec. 16-28-3 am'd.

Public K-12 schools, prohibited from membership in private entity that may impose monetary fines

Foundation Program, combining of fractional teacher units to make whole units authorized, units not combined to be used for salaries and benefits, Sec. 16-13-232 am'd.; Act 2010-556, 2010 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Superintendents of education, county and city, appointment by city and county boards of education, required, const. amend.

Public Education Assessment, Organization, and Allocation Commission and Advisory Board, established, members, duties, funding

Schools, public and private, physical education program, requirements specified, Sec. 16-40-1 am'd.

Student harrassment prevention, definition of harassment expanded to include gender identity or sexual orientation of the student, Sec. 16-28B-3 am'd.

Public elementary and secondary schools, start date of academic year, specified, School Start and End Date Act

Alabama Student Grant Program, approved institution of higher learning, requirement to be seeking accreditation by Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools removed, institution in Montgomery Co. added to program, Sec. 16-33A-1 am'd. (2010-20460)

Alabama Student Grant Program, approved institution of higher learning, requirement to be seeking accreditation by Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools removed, institution in Montgomery County meeting certain conditions added to program, Sec. 16-33A-1 am'd. (2010-20494)

Teachers, local boards of education required to notify teachers of reduction in compensation due to loss of supplemental position, Sec. 16-24-12 am'd.

University of Alabama, board of trustees, age requirement altered, Section 264 (Section 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Education fiscal accountability, local superintendent of education and board members personally responsible for fiscal mismanagement, Sec. 16-13A-11 am'd.

Teachers, principals, and education employees, State Superintendent of Education to immediately revoke the education certificate and terminate employment upon conviction of certain felonies or sex offenses involving a child, Teacher Tenure Law, Teacher Accountability Act, and Fair Dismissal Act amended to conform to this act, Secs. 16-24-8.1, 16-24B-3.1, 36-26-102.1 added; Sec. 16-23-5 am'd. (2010-20138)

Private schools, use of terms profit and nonprofit in definition clarified, baseline exemption date changed, Secs. 16-46-1, 16-46-3 am'd.

Education, State Superintendent of Education, county and city superintendents of education, Chancellor of Postsecondary Education Department, certain chief executive officers, vacancies, posting of notices required, Secs. 16-4-1.1, 16-60-111.9 added; Secs. 16-9-11, 16-12-1, 16-60-111.1 am'd.

Teachers, principals, and education employees, State Superintendent of Education, revocation of education certificate or termination of employment required for conviction of felony or sex offense involving a child, regarding Teacher Tenure Law, Teacher Accountability Act, and Fair Dismissal Act, Secs. 16-24-8.1, 16-24B-3.1, 36-26-102.1 added; Sec. 16-23-5 am'd.

Education certificate, State Superintendent of Education to promptly notify holder of investigation of misconduct and prohibited from taking negative action against holder until all due process exhausted, Sec. 16-23-5 am'd.

Colleges and universities, sports, employment, interview of minority candidates required

Institutions of higher education, requiring students to live on campus, prohibited

Teachers' Retirement System and Employees' Retirement System, reopened for purchase of prior service credit for employment as student assistant or work/study student at a college or university

Alabama Teacher Recruitment Incentive Program (ATRIP), Commission on Higher Education to provide for leave from program for humanitarian religious trip, retroactive effect

Colleges and universities, sports, employment, interview of minority candidates required