"Charter schools will be priority for Alabama lawmakers, House Speaker Mike Hubbard says"

The Birmingham News on al.com, Dec. 11, 2012.
Read the article.

The LWVAL takes on the issue of charter schools in Alabama.

Read unbiased information about charter schools - the pros and the cons - in this ongoing study:

Charter Schools: Facts & Issues


A publication of the LWVAL Education Fund
April 2011

The issues surrounding the subject of charter schools make them a topic capable of evoking strong opinions and responses from both proponents and critics. The League does not currently have a position on charter schools. This report is designed to give League members and the public a general understanding of facts about charter schools and the issues associated with them.

For LWVAL Members
Members are invited to read "Charter Schools: Facts and Issues" and prepare for consensus discussion at a future local League consensus meeting.

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The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education
A LWVUS Study

A study of the role of federal government in public education in the United States. The study is scheduled for completion in March 2012 and, if consensus can be reached, a national League position will be published on this issue.

Study Background Information
Read the unbiased information gathered in the process of this study.

Members, please also see the LWVUS Public Educations Study Consensus Kit which includes the Leaders' Guide, Consensus Response Form, Consensus Meeting Materials - Powerpoint Presentations and Consensus Questions.

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LWVAL issues action alert for Gulf restoration


On Dec. 10, 2011, the League of Women Voters of Alabama issued an action alert to  encourage all congressional Senators to support legislation that would fund full restoration of the Gulf of Mexico. Senator Richard Shelby and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama both support Senate Bill 1400, known as the Restore Act, that would do much to accomplish this. LWVAL President Kathryn Byrd wrote a letter thanking them for their support and asked them to encourage their non-Gulf State counterparts to support the bill. Dr. Byrd stated,

"Our goal is that [the Restore Act] and its House companion would dedicate the Clean Water Act fines from the Gulf oil spill towards a full restoration of the Gulf of Mexico.   The impacted communities and ecosystems of the Gulf could potentially see as much as $20 billion toward the restoration.  The wording of the bill would result in the moneys being directed directly toward restoration and not into the general fund."

LWVAL is also working with other Gulf States leagues (Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas) and with the LWVUS Advocacy Committee to advocate for passage of the Restore Act.

Please read the LWVAL action alert and take action today! Thank you!

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LWVAL Program and Action News in Review

LWVAL and LWVGB Co-sponsor SOS - Sustain Our State - Rally in Birmingham
August 16, 2011

On August 16, 2011, citizens called on elected officials to support healthy, clean water and air and real public transit. Many nonprofit organizations, including the LWVAL and LWVGB, joined together to bring the Sustain Our State (SOS) 1-2-3 GO! Rally to Linn Park in downtown Birmingham, AL. The event was held to inform and rally citizens to call for actionable, implementable (1) water, (2) energy and (3) transit policies and to make plans now to assure this sustainable future. Find out more and take action here!



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The 2011 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature adjourned June 9, 2011, SINE DIE.

Final update of the LWVAL Legislative Report has been posted following the adjournment of the 2011 legislative session. All action alerts are, of course, cancelled.

2011 Legislative Session

The 2011 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature convened at Noon, on Tuesday, March 1 and adjourned SINE DIE on Thursday, June 9. During the session, LWVAL kept citizens informed about the Alabama Legislature's activities regarding issues of importance to the League through its LWVAL Legislative Report.
Read LWVAL 2011 Legislative position

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Learn & Vote

Charter Schools: Facts & Issues
A publication of the LWVAL Education Fund
April 2011

For Leagues:

The issues surrounding the subject of charter schools make them a topic capable of evoking strong opinions and responses.

Proponents of charter schools believe they offer flexibility in improving schools with consistently low academic performance, provide options for addressing the needs of underserved student populations, encourage classroom innovations by reducing bureaucracy and hiring educators without ties to education lobbying groups and unions, and foster market-oriented reform in public education through competitive school choice options for students and parents.

Critics have equally strong opinions that charter schools undermine public schools systems, siphon limited funding away from existing schools, are a backdoor for privatizing public schools systems, are no more effective for fostering innovation than traditional schools, and are harmful to the teaching profession by encouraging the use of non-certified instructors and creating lower pay scales.

Read Charter Schools: Facts & Issues and form your own opinion.

Note: The League of Women Voters of Alabama does not currently have a position on charter schools. This report is designed to give the public a general understanding of facts about charter schools and the issues associated with them.
 The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education
A LWVUS Study

In June, 2010 the delegates to the League of Women Voters Convention proposed and passed a study of the role of federal government in public education in the United States. The study is scheduled for completion in March 2012 and, if consensus can be reached, a national League position will be published on this issue.

Study Background Information
Read the unbiased information gathered in the process of this study.

Members, please see the LWVUS Public Educations Study Consensus Kit which includes the Leaders' Guide, Consensus Response Form, Consensus Meeting Materials - Powerpoint Presentations and Consensus Questions.


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Has your congressional voting district changed? In its 2011 Regular Session (adjourned June 9, 2011), the Alabama Legislature changed the boundaries of congressional districts. You may be in a different district now and therefor have a different congressional representative. See the new congressional district map. [Provided by the Legislative Reapportionment Office and viewed on the website of The Birmingham News.]

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Alabama's air and water needs federal protection

An Opinion Editorial from the League of Women Voters of Alabama, March 14, 2011. Written by Dr. Joyce Lanning, LWVAL Natural Resources Director, and Dr. Charlotte Ward, LWVAL Co-President.


Among the programs and services currently threatened by the Congressional budget cutters are the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act. Here in Alabama, a Public Service Commissioner has quoted information from polluting industries that seem to overstate the cost of addressing the harm caused by carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. In sum, laws, regulations and agencies designed to protect us and our environment for the long run are under attack by shortsighted forces looking only at this year’s bottom line. ... Read the complete editorial.


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Take Action

Here's how...

The 2011 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature has concluded.
The League of Women Voters of Alabama strives to strengthen democracy and improve the quality of life for all Alabama citizens. The 2011 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature adjourned on Thursday 9 June. During the session, the League took action on its advocacy priorities, and invited citizens to stay informed by reading the issue and legislative information presented on this web site through the LWVAL Legislative Report, updated weekly.

The LWVAL thanks you for taking action when called upon during the 2011 Regular Legislative Session. Many citizens contacted their state legislators to affect positive change during the session. You make democracy work! THANK YOU!

Learn & Vote

Here's how...

Has your congressional voting district changed?

In its 2011 Regular Session (adjourned June 9, 2011), the Alabama Legislature changed the boundaries of congressional districts. You may be in a different district now and therefor have a different congressional representative.
See the new congressional district map.

Election Information
Information about the
Alabama Election 2010
remains posted as historical information.

Issue Information

More issues...
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Or donate directly to the LWVAL or its Education Fund here!

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LWVAL and LWVGB Co-sponsor SOS - Sustain Our State - Rally in Birmingham
August 16, 2011



On August 16, 2011, citizens called on elected officials to support healthy, clean water and air and real public transit. Many nonprofit organizations, including the LWVAL and LWVGB, joined together to bring the Sustain Our State (SOS) 1-2-3 GO! Rally to Linn Park in downtown Birmingham, AL. The event was held to inform and rally citizens to call for actionable, implementable (1) water, (2) energy and (3) transit policies and to make plans now to assure this sustainable future. Clean air and water and transit impact public health and jobs as well as the environment. The most heavily impacted are the poorest and the youngest in our communities - those who are our future. They are the most exposed to unhealthy air and water and least able get to education, jobs, health care and daily needs. Allied supporters were called to address environmental and intergenerational justice.

Find Out More & Take Action!

Read more about the SOS Rally. Sign the Clean Air Promise and see more ways that you can act to Sustain Our State! Find out here!