Public Education
Alabama House passes expansion of the Accountability Act
The Alabama House Wednesday passed a bill that could significantly expand the Alabama Accountability Act. SB 263, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, passed the House on a 75-22 vote. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Chesteen’s legislation would make significant changes to the 2013 law, including expanding the number of schools falling under […]
Alabama House passes bill making changes to charter school process
The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday approved a bill that makes changes to a board overseeing charters and requires local school districts that authorize charter schools to submit to state reviews. HB 363, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, passed the House on a 76-25 vote, with one abstention. “I’m not talking about additional local […]
Debate over holding back third graders roils state legislatures
Should third graders who don’t read well enough to pass a standardized test repeat their grade? That question is roiling states, with some choosing to keep the practice, some to modify it and others to scrap it. Most states require students to take standardized tests that measure progress in reading and math in the third […]
Bill allowing education employees up to 8 weeks for adoptions passes House
The Alabama House Tuesday approved a bill that would allow public education employees to take up to eight weeks of sick leave for caring for an adopted child. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, passed the House on Tuesday on a 105 – 0 vote. It moves to the Alabama Senate. Existing law […]