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LWVAL Action Priority Level II - Monitoring occurs; action dependent on opportunity and available resources.Click a bill to see sponsor(s), summary (including link to full text), League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative process.
Legend:
= LWVAL's support for the legislation. 
= LWVAL's opposition to the legislation.
= new bill activity; change from previous week's report such as new progress in the legislature and/or League action. Bill may be one newly added to the report. These updates are in green font.LWVAL has taken a position on these bills:
HB123 - Appropriations, supplemental appropriations for fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, from Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education
Sponsor(s): Representative Poole
Summary/Synopsis: This bill makes a supplemental appropriation from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education in the amount of $15,700,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. The money would be used for network and wi-fi expansion.
League Action and Justification: Support.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
House Action:
02/03/2015: First read and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME)..
03/03/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from W&ME; W&ME 1st Substitute (174860-2) Offered [Note: The substitute lowers total funding and allots $3.9M to the K-12 Foundation Program and $5.9M to the two-year system.]
03/08/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; W&ME 1st Substitute (174860-2) Offered; Motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call; Engrossed
Senate Action:
03/23/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE).
04/13/2016: 3rd Read Passed; F&TE 1st Substitute Offered; Dial motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call
Note: Senate Substitute gives the Advancement and Technology Fund to the Alabama Community College System $5,866,947 and the Department of Education $15,546,351 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016.
House Action:
04/27/2016: Concurrence Requested; Poole Motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted by Roll Call
Senate Action
04/27/2016: Concurred in Second House Amendment
04/28/2016: Signature Requested
House Action
04/28/2016: Clerk of the House Certification; Forwarded to Executive Department; Enrolled
Summary/Synopsis: This bill makes a supplemental appropriation from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education in the amount of $15,700,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. The money would be used for network and wi-fi expansion.
League Action and Justification: Support.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
House Action:
02/03/2015: First read and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME)..
03/03/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from W&ME; W&ME 1st Substitute (174860-2) Offered [Note: The substitute lowers total funding and allots $3.9M to the K-12 Foundation Program and $5.9M to the two-year system.]
03/08/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; W&ME 1st Substitute (174860-2) Offered; Motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call; Engrossed
Senate Action:
03/23/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE).
04/13/2016: 3rd Read Passed; F&TE 1st Substitute Offered; Dial motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call
Note: Senate Substitute gives the Advancement and Technology Fund to the Alabama Community College System $5,866,947 and the Department of Education $15,546,351 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016.
House Action:
04/27/2016: Concurrence Requested; Poole Motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted by Roll Call
Senate Action
04/27/2016: Concurred in Second House Amendment
04/28/2016: Signature Requested
House Action
04/28/2016: Clerk of the House Certification; Forwarded to Executive Department; Enrolled
HB 84 - School safety, records relating to, are exempt from disclosure to public pursuant to rights to inspect public records, Sec. 36-12-40 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representative Johnson
Summary/Synopsis: This bill creates an “education savings account” program for parents of students with special needs, students who have been adopted out of the foster care system, and students of service members or deceased service members. The program is funded using 90% of the state per-pupil allotment and parents who choose to participate in this program must spend this money on educational programming outside of the public school system (including purchasing home school materials) until the student has graduated from high school or reached the age of 22. It also allows the creation of an organization to manage the funds and allows it to take a percentage of the funds for administrative costs.
League Action and Justification: Oppose
This bill appears to be one more attack on public schools by diverting public moneys to private education. In addition, private schools are not generally equipped to deal effectively with special needs children, and there is a risk that this vulnerable population would be stigmatized as well as under-served. Since the funds allocated by the state for this program are not equal to the cost of tuition, books, and uniforms at many of the better private schools, participating parents could feel an economic pressure to send their special needs children to schools that charge less and may provide less for their students.
It is unclear about the effect of this diversion of public funds on the level of federal funding that comes to assist students with special needs. If significant numbers of special needs children leave a public school system, the federal moneys that pay for additional teachers and support staff may be reduced, further weakening the quality of the public school and its special education program.
Finally, the bill allows the creation of organizations to manage the “education savings account” moneys – for a percentage of the fees. These organizations essentially make money from our tax dollars and controls over them are very vague in the legislation.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/02/16: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
03/10/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar with 1 Substitute (174645-5); EP 1st Substitute Offered; Pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP with 1 Substitute
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
Summary/Synopsis: This bill creates an “education savings account” program for parents of students with special needs, students who have been adopted out of the foster care system, and students of service members or deceased service members. The program is funded using 90% of the state per-pupil allotment and parents who choose to participate in this program must spend this money on educational programming outside of the public school system (including purchasing home school materials) until the student has graduated from high school or reached the age of 22. It also allows the creation of an organization to manage the funds and allows it to take a percentage of the funds for administrative costs.
League Action and Justification: Oppose
This bill appears to be one more attack on public schools by diverting public moneys to private education. In addition, private schools are not generally equipped to deal effectively with special needs children, and there is a risk that this vulnerable population would be stigmatized as well as under-served. Since the funds allocated by the state for this program are not equal to the cost of tuition, books, and uniforms at many of the better private schools, participating parents could feel an economic pressure to send their special needs children to schools that charge less and may provide less for their students.
It is unclear about the effect of this diversion of public funds on the level of federal funding that comes to assist students with special needs. If significant numbers of special needs children leave a public school system, the federal moneys that pay for additional teachers and support staff may be reduced, further weakening the quality of the public school and its special education program.
Finally, the bill allows the creation of organizations to manage the “education savings account” moneys – for a percentage of the fees. These organizations essentially make money from our tax dollars and controls over them are very vague in the legislation.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/02/16: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
03/10/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar with 1 Substitute (174645-5); EP 1st Substitute Offered; Pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP with 1 Substitute
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
SB60/HB264 - Common Core Curriculum Standards, terminated, prior courses of study to be implemented
Sponsor(s):
SB60: Senator Glover
HB264: Representatives Fincher, Mooney, Whorton (I), Holmes (M), Hanes, Martin, Hurst, Millican, Johnson (R), Whorton (R), Ledbetter, Harbison, Fridy, Wingo, Polizos, Drake, Ainsworth, Williams (JW), Moore (B) and Beckman
Summary/Synopsis: These bills would terminate the “Common Core” standards adopted by the state board of education and directs the state board of education to replace them with the courses of study in place immediately prior to the adoption of the “Common Core” for the 2016-17 school year. Furthermore, no national standard curriculum of any kind is to be adopted as part of the state’s foundation program.
The House bill is more specific that the Senate version as to how this re-adoption of prior standards is to take place.
League Action and Justification: Oppose
While the League does not have a position on the content of school curricula, our education position does support the provision of a quality educational program for all students.
We oppose these bills for these reasons, among others:
Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB60
02/02/16: First reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA).
HB264
02/18/16: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
SB60: Senator Glover
HB264: Representatives Fincher, Mooney, Whorton (I), Holmes (M), Hanes, Martin, Hurst, Millican, Johnson (R), Whorton (R), Ledbetter, Harbison, Fridy, Wingo, Polizos, Drake, Ainsworth, Williams (JW), Moore (B) and Beckman
Summary/Synopsis: These bills would terminate the “Common Core” standards adopted by the state board of education and directs the state board of education to replace them with the courses of study in place immediately prior to the adoption of the “Common Core” for the 2016-17 school year. Furthermore, no national standard curriculum of any kind is to be adopted as part of the state’s foundation program.
The House bill is more specific that the Senate version as to how this re-adoption of prior standards is to take place.
League Action and Justification: Oppose
While the League does not have a position on the content of school curricula, our education position does support the provision of a quality educational program for all students.
We oppose these bills for these reasons, among others:
- Its prohibition of any course of study containing national standards would seem to place many of our advanced high school programs (like Advanced Placement classes or the International Baccalaureate program) in jeopardy.
- If public high schools cannot offer these programs, they do our brightest students – especially low income and minority students – a grave disservice.
- In addition, this bill allows the legislature to undercut the authority of our state board of education (which adopted the Common Core standards) as well as that of our state department of education and its professional educators.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB60
02/02/16: First reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA).
HB264
02/18/16: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
HB299 - Local boards of education prohibited from adopting or enforcing zero tolerance policy relating to drugs, alcohol, weapons, physical harm to a person, or threatened physical harm to a person, punishment on case-by-case basis, Secs. 16-1-24.1, 16-1-24.3 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representative Henry
Summary/Synopsis: This bill prohibits school boards from enacting “zero tolerance” disciplinary policies for such serious offenses as drug/alcohol possession, threats, physical violence, etc. School disciplinary actions for these offenses should be imposed on a case-by-case basis and should be crafted to correct student behavior. The preface to the bill has very strong language condemning “zero tolerance” policies.
League Action and Justification: Support
League does not have a position on appropriate educational disciplinary policy per se but there has been a good bit of discussion of “zero tolerance” policies in the criminal justice arena and there is a general feeling that these draconian measures are unfair for adults as well as inappropriate for juveniles. The objective of school discipline (as well as of the correctional system) is to reform and rehabilitate. “Zero tolerance” policies do not allow for second chances. They are geared toward protection of society and their object is to frighten and punish. Frequently the application of such policies has shown they may not be applied in an even handed manner.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/24/2016: First reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
4/07/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar with 1 Amendment (176547-2); pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP with 1 Amendment.
NOTE: The amendment removes references to decisions-making on a case-by-case basis.
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
Summary/Synopsis: This bill prohibits school boards from enacting “zero tolerance” disciplinary policies for such serious offenses as drug/alcohol possession, threats, physical violence, etc. School disciplinary actions for these offenses should be imposed on a case-by-case basis and should be crafted to correct student behavior. The preface to the bill has very strong language condemning “zero tolerance” policies.
League Action and Justification: Support
League does not have a position on appropriate educational disciplinary policy per se but there has been a good bit of discussion of “zero tolerance” policies in the criminal justice arena and there is a general feeling that these draconian measures are unfair for adults as well as inappropriate for juveniles. The objective of school discipline (as well as of the correctional system) is to reform and rehabilitate. “Zero tolerance” policies do not allow for second chances. They are geared toward protection of society and their object is to frighten and punish. Frequently the application of such policies has shown they may not be applied in an even handed manner.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/24/2016: First reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
4/07/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar with 1 Amendment (176547-2); pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP with 1 Amendment.
NOTE: The amendment removes references to decisions-making on a case-by-case basis.
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
HB353 - Child abuse, Alabama Child Abuse Hotline, commissioner of DHR authorized to establish and manage, public schools and charter schools to post a sign with the hotline number in a public area, commissioner to design sign
Sponsor(s): Representative Nordgren
Summary/Synopsis: This legislation would allow for the establishment of the Alabama Child Abuse Hotline and would require all schools in Alabama to display a poster about the hotline in a clearly visible location.
League Action and Justification: Support. League supports protection of children from abuse.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/01/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
4/07/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
Summary/Synopsis: This legislation would allow for the establishment of the Alabama Child Abuse Hotline and would require all schools in Alabama to display a poster about the hotline in a clearly visible location.
League Action and Justification: Support. League supports protection of children from abuse.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/01/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
4/07/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
HB384 Constitutional Amendment - Shelby Co., city located entirely within county prohibit from establishing city board of education without prior approval of city elections at a referendum, const. amend.
Sponsor(s): Representative Hill
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would propose a to prohibit any city located entirely within the boundaries of Shelby County from establishing a city board of education without prior approval of the residents of the city voting at a referendum.
League Action and Justification: Oppose
Provisions such as this have absolutely no place in a state Constitution.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/10/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Shelby County Legislation (SCL)..
4/07/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from SCL
04/12/2016: 3rd Read Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call; Mooney intended to vote "Yea"
Senate Action:
04/13/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation, Shelby County (LLS)..
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would propose a to prohibit any city located entirely within the boundaries of Shelby County from establishing a city board of education without prior approval of the residents of the city voting at a referendum.
League Action and Justification: Oppose
Provisions such as this have absolutely no place in a state Constitution.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/10/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Shelby County Legislation (SCL)..
4/07/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from SCL
04/12/2016: 3rd Read Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call; Mooney intended to vote "Yea"
Senate Action:
04/13/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation, Shelby County (LLS)..
HB473 - Foundation program, annual appropriation, method of calculating average number of students revised, Secs. 16-13-231, 16-13-232 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representatives McMillan, Davis, Faust, Hill (M), Sessions, Gaston, Beckman, Patterson and Shiver
Summary/Synopsis: This bill amends a previous piece of legislation outlining the process for determining state funding for schools. It is based on the average daily attendance in each school that is determined by a physical count on several days in the first two weeks of school. This proposed legislation provides that the annual apportioning of funds be determined by calculating the average number of students enrolled on a daily basis for the first 20 scholastic days following Labor Day of the preceding school year and then adding or subtracting the change in ADM of the two preceding school years, depending on whether the system experienced an increase or decrease in enrollment between the two preceding school years.
League Action and Justification: Support
School systems are already required to conduct these counts, but school begins in school systems around Alabama anywhere between the first week of August to the first week after Labor Day, and the counts taken in early August can be an under-estimate of a school's true population. These counts are responsible for the amount of funding the school (system) receives, so some systems receive less funding than they should. Additionally, as students move to different school systems, the paperwork has a lag time and schools they no longer attend are counting their presence in determining funding, which inflates the amount they receive.
Principals and central office administrators have long supported counting their student populations for funding purposes after the Labor Day holiday – after the student population becomes more stable.
Our program position supports adequate funding for schools and this accounting change will allocate funds more correctly to schools.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/16/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Ways and Means Education (W&ME).
Summary/Synopsis: This bill amends a previous piece of legislation outlining the process for determining state funding for schools. It is based on the average daily attendance in each school that is determined by a physical count on several days in the first two weeks of school. This proposed legislation provides that the annual apportioning of funds be determined by calculating the average number of students enrolled on a daily basis for the first 20 scholastic days following Labor Day of the preceding school year and then adding or subtracting the change in ADM of the two preceding school years, depending on whether the system experienced an increase or decrease in enrollment between the two preceding school years.
League Action and Justification: Support
School systems are already required to conduct these counts, but school begins in school systems around Alabama anywhere between the first week of August to the first week after Labor Day, and the counts taken in early August can be an under-estimate of a school's true population. These counts are responsible for the amount of funding the school (system) receives, so some systems receive less funding than they should. Additionally, as students move to different school systems, the paperwork has a lag time and schools they no longer attend are counting their presence in determining funding, which inflates the amount they receive.
Principals and central office administrators have long supported counting their student populations for funding purposes after the Labor Day holiday – after the student population becomes more stable.
Our program position supports adequate funding for schools and this accounting change will allocate funds more correctly to schools.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/16/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Ways and Means Education (W&ME).
LWVAL is monitoring these bills:
SB5 - Alabama Ahead Act, commencing with 2015-2016 school year, to delete pen-enabled requirement, phase-in requirement and reassignment provisions, advisory committee revised, schools participation voluntary, local school systems to contribute 25 percent of funding, Section 14 of Act 2012-560, 2012 Reg. Sess., am'd; Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2 am'd.
SB17 - Alabama Ahead Act, commencing with 2016-2017 school year, to delete pen-enabled requirement, phase-in requirement and reassignment provisions, advisory committee revised, schools participation voluntary, local school systems to contribute 25 percent of funding, Section 14 of Act 2012-560, 2012 Reg. Sess., am'd; Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2 am'd.
HB41 - Alabama Ahead Act, provisions re pen-enabled, phase-in, reassignment, and advisory committee deleted, oversight committee established, use of funds for high-quality standards-based broadband wifi infrastructure provided, effective date amended, Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2 am'd., Act 2012-560 am'd.
Sponsor(s)
SB5 - Sponsor(s): Senators Dial
SB17 - Senators Dial and McClendon
HB41 - Representative Chesteen
Summary/Synopsis: These bills amend the Alabama Ahead Act, which provides electronic textbooks (tablets or mobile computers) and other digital educational materials to students and teachers, financed by the issuance of bonds. The bills change the priority for spending the Alabama Ahead funds; they make providing every classroom with WIFI more important than providing electronic devices (though these are allowed). They clearly state that receiving these digital services is optional and establishes an approval process to provide these services.
The major difference in the two Senate bills is that SB5 applies these amendments to the 2015-2016 school-year, and SB17 extends them to the 2016-2017 school-year. The House bill has the program begin in the 2016-2017 school year.
League Action and Justification: Monitor.
The league has no position as to the best way to deliver educational instruction, but it does advocate that educational materials be distributed fairly. (Our education position recommends the provision of free textbooks to every child which could be interpreted as free “digital” textbooks as well.) There are also other fairness concerns since the program participation is optional and requires an application to be sent to the governing body without any criteria mentioned for approval for services. The devil will be in the details.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB5
02/02/2015: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE)..
SB17
02/02/2015: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE)..
02/17/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar with 1 Substitute (174113-3); pending 3rd Read and Favorable from F&TE with 1 Substitute; Finance and Taxation Education first Substitute Offered
HB 41
House Action:
02/02/2015: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME)..
02/11/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from W&ME
02/23/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call (105-0-0); Cosponsors Added
Senate Action:
02/23/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE).
02/24/2016: 2nd Read and place on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from F&TE)
03/03/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Dial Amendment (174967-1) Offered; Dial motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted.
03/08/2016:
House: Concurrence Requested; Chesteen motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Enrolled;
Senate: Concurred in 2nd house Amendment
House: Forwarded to Governor; Executive Amendment Offered; Chesteen motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted Roll Call
04/05/2016:
Senate: House of Origin Concurs in Executive Amendment; Dial motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Signature Requested
House: Second House Concurs in Executive Amendment; Enrolled; Clerk of the House Certification; Delivered to Governor at 12:34 p.m. on April 7, 2016.
SB5 - Sponsor(s): Senators Dial
SB17 - Senators Dial and McClendon
HB41 - Representative Chesteen
Summary/Synopsis: These bills amend the Alabama Ahead Act, which provides electronic textbooks (tablets or mobile computers) and other digital educational materials to students and teachers, financed by the issuance of bonds. The bills change the priority for spending the Alabama Ahead funds; they make providing every classroom with WIFI more important than providing electronic devices (though these are allowed). They clearly state that receiving these digital services is optional and establishes an approval process to provide these services.
The major difference in the two Senate bills is that SB5 applies these amendments to the 2015-2016 school-year, and SB17 extends them to the 2016-2017 school-year. The House bill has the program begin in the 2016-2017 school year.
League Action and Justification: Monitor.
The league has no position as to the best way to deliver educational instruction, but it does advocate that educational materials be distributed fairly. (Our education position recommends the provision of free textbooks to every child which could be interpreted as free “digital” textbooks as well.) There are also other fairness concerns since the program participation is optional and requires an application to be sent to the governing body without any criteria mentioned for approval for services. The devil will be in the details.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB5
02/02/2015: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE)..
SB17
02/02/2015: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE)..
02/17/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar with 1 Substitute (174113-3); pending 3rd Read and Favorable from F&TE with 1 Substitute; Finance and Taxation Education first Substitute Offered
HB 41
House Action:
02/02/2015: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME)..
02/11/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from W&ME
02/23/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call (105-0-0); Cosponsors Added
Senate Action:
02/23/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE).
02/24/2016: 2nd Read and place on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from F&TE)
03/03/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Dial Amendment (174967-1) Offered; Dial motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted.
03/08/2016:
House: Concurrence Requested; Chesteen motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Enrolled;
Senate: Concurred in 2nd house Amendment
House: Forwarded to Governor; Executive Amendment Offered; Chesteen motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted Roll Call
04/05/2016:
Senate: House of Origin Concurs in Executive Amendment; Dial motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted by Roll Call; Signature Requested
House: Second House Concurs in Executive Amendment; Enrolled; Clerk of the House Certification; Delivered to Governor at 12:34 p.m. on April 7, 2016.
SB351 - Alabama Ahead Act, provisions re pen-enabled, phase-in, reassignment, and advisory committee deleted, oversight committee established, use of funds for high-quality standards-based broadband wifi infrastructure provided, effective date amended, Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2 am'd., Act 2012-560 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Senators McClendon and Dial
Summary/Synopsis: This bill tweaks previous bills (HB41, SB5, & SB17) pertaining to digital educational materials and provision of Wi-Fi services in schools. Like the previous bills, it makes providing sufficient Wi-Fi access to students the first priority and allows the purchase of tablets or laptops if there is sufficient funding left over. In addition, it establishes the Alabama Ahead Oversight Committee to provide oversight of the process of acquiring and installing digital networks as well as assisting in judging the applications for use of the funds.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
LWVAL does not have a policy on the best way to deliver instruction but recognizes several problems with the bill. The funding mechanism (bonds) and finances in general are uncertain. The Legislative Fiscal Office describes this financial situation as a problem. Once the bonds are sold, the moneys are to be allocated by the State Department of Education which is tasked with developing standards and reviewing school system applications for funding with assistance from the Oversight Committee. All this places extra responsibilities on the DOE. Additionally the Oversight Committee is weighted heavily in favor of political appointees which may not bode well for the development of fair and educationally sound policies.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/15/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA). ; E&YA 1st Amendment (175841-2) Offered; Reported from E&YA as Favorable with 1 amendment
03/22/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar with 1 Amendment (175841-2); Education and Youth Amendment Offered; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from E&Y with 1 Amendment
04/19/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; E&YA Amendment (Engrossed 175841-2) Offered; McClendon motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call; Engrossed
House Action:
04/19/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME)..
NOTE: The Amendment removes conflicting language related to adoption date. It would now go into effect after signing by the governor and no addition legislation would be required.
Summary/Synopsis: This bill tweaks previous bills (HB41, SB5, & SB17) pertaining to digital educational materials and provision of Wi-Fi services in schools. Like the previous bills, it makes providing sufficient Wi-Fi access to students the first priority and allows the purchase of tablets or laptops if there is sufficient funding left over. In addition, it establishes the Alabama Ahead Oversight Committee to provide oversight of the process of acquiring and installing digital networks as well as assisting in judging the applications for use of the funds.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
LWVAL does not have a policy on the best way to deliver instruction but recognizes several problems with the bill. The funding mechanism (bonds) and finances in general are uncertain. The Legislative Fiscal Office describes this financial situation as a problem. Once the bonds are sold, the moneys are to be allocated by the State Department of Education which is tasked with developing standards and reviewing school system applications for funding with assistance from the Oversight Committee. All this places extra responsibilities on the DOE. Additionally the Oversight Committee is weighted heavily in favor of political appointees which may not bode well for the development of fair and educationally sound policies.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/15/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA). ; E&YA 1st Amendment (175841-2) Offered; Reported from E&YA as Favorable with 1 amendment
03/22/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar with 1 Amendment (175841-2); Education and Youth Amendment Offered; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from E&Y with 1 Amendment
04/19/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; E&YA Amendment (Engrossed 175841-2) Offered; McClendon motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call; Engrossed
House Action:
04/19/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME)..
NOTE: The Amendment removes conflicting language related to adoption date. It would now go into effect after signing by the governor and no addition legislation would be required.
SB84/HB318 - School safety, records relating to, are exempt from disclosure to public pursuant to rights to inspect public records, Sec. 36-12-40 am'd.
SB 84 Sponsor(s): Senators Livingston, Orr, Sanford, Scofield, Holtzclaw, and Melson
HB318 Sponsor(s): Representative P Williams
Summary/Synopsis: These bills would decrease public access to information about specific school security measures, such as the location of security cameras placed on campus and on buses, contracts for school security enhancements, staffing of school security personnel, etc.
League Action and Justification: Monitor in the interest of transparency in governmental actions. While it may be important to maintaining school safety to keep secret the location of school security cameras, other information such as the contract for security enhancements (which should be consistent with the bidding process) should not be shrouded in secrecy. The details will be important.
Note: These bills also pertain to the issue of Government Transparency.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB84
02/02/16: First Reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA).
HB318
2/24/16: Read for the first time and Referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
03/10/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar with 1 Substitute (175083-2) and 1 Amendment (175558-1); pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP with 1 Substitute and 1 Amendment; EP 1st Substitute Offered; EP 1st Amendment Offered
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
HB318 Sponsor(s): Representative P Williams
Summary/Synopsis: These bills would decrease public access to information about specific school security measures, such as the location of security cameras placed on campus and on buses, contracts for school security enhancements, staffing of school security personnel, etc.
League Action and Justification: Monitor in the interest of transparency in governmental actions. While it may be important to maintaining school safety to keep secret the location of school security cameras, other information such as the contract for security enhancements (which should be consistent with the bidding process) should not be shrouded in secrecy. The details will be important.
Note: These bills also pertain to the issue of Government Transparency.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB84
02/02/16: First Reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA).
HB318
2/24/16: Read for the first time and Referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP)..
03/10/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar with 1 Substitute (175083-2) and 1 Amendment (175558-1); pending 3rd Read and Favorable from EP with 1 Substitute and 1 Amendment; EP 1st Substitute Offered; EP 1st Amendment Offered
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
HB 337 - Education, Student and Taxpayer Fairness Act, if local boards of education within a county do not agree on distribution of educational taxes, State Superintendent of Education to provide for equitable distribution, Sec. 16-13-31 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representatives Ball, Daniels, Hall, Sanderford and Whorton
Summary/Synopsis: This bill requires the State Superintendent of Education to allocate distribution of county-wide taxes to school systems within the county if there is a dispute over what moneys are owed to each school system. The standard to be applied is an “equitable distribution.”
League Action and Justification: Monitor
This seems to be a fair measure but of course the devil will be in the details, especially as cities are increasingly “Balkanizing” county school systems.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/25/2016: First reading and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME).
Summary/Synopsis: This bill requires the State Superintendent of Education to allocate distribution of county-wide taxes to school systems within the county if there is a dispute over what moneys are owed to each school system. The standard to be applied is an “equitable distribution.”
League Action and Justification: Monitor
This seems to be a fair measure but of course the devil will be in the details, especially as cities are increasingly “Balkanizing” county school systems.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/25/2016: First reading and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME).
SB316 - Schools, Preparing and Rewarding Educational Professionals (PREP) Act of 2016, procedure for evaluating and observing teachers and principals on student performance, Legislative-School Performance Recognition Program implemented, Alabama Teacher Recruitment Fund established, appropriation from Education Trust Fund to the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program, Alabama Teacher Recruitment Fund, and the Alabama Teacher Mentor Program, increase years of service to attain tenured status, Secs. 16-6C-3, 16-24C-4 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Senator March
Summary/Synopsis: Known as the PREP Act, this controversial bill would completely change the way teachers and administrators are evaluated. Part of the teacher's evaluation would be tied to a measure of "student growth". This is only one aspect of this complex legislature.
The Alabama School Connection has a very good description of the bill.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
League does not have a position that pertains specifically to teacher evaluations. This bill will also be expensive as its many moving parts are financed out of the Education Trust Fund at the expense of other educational needs (like completely funding the minimum foundation program).
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/01/2016: First read and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA). .
03/08/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar; pending 2rd Read and Favorable from E&YA
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
Summary/Synopsis: Known as the PREP Act, this controversial bill would completely change the way teachers and administrators are evaluated. Part of the teacher's evaluation would be tied to a measure of "student growth". This is only one aspect of this complex legislature.
The Alabama School Connection has a very good description of the bill.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
League does not have a position that pertains specifically to teacher evaluations. This bill will also be expensive as its many moving parts are financed out of the Education Trust Fund at the expense of other educational needs (like completely funding the minimum foundation program).
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/01/2016: First read and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA). .
03/08/2016: 2nd Read and placed on calendar; pending 2rd Read and Favorable from E&YA
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
SB334 - Schools, dual enrollment, high school students taking college courses, authorized
Sponsor(s): Senators Orr and Bussman
Summary/Synopsis: This dual-enrollment bill would establish a program allowing eligible 11th and 12th grade students admitted unconditionally to an eligible Alabama public post-secondary institution to take all courses at the eligible public institution and receive high school credit for the coursework with the goal of completing graduation and high school diploma requirements.
This bill would authorize the Department of Education to pay an institution of higher learning for courses taken pursuant to the program through appropriation of state funds, the amount being the lesser of either the actual cost of tuition or the amount the student would have earned for the local school system had the student been in equivalent instructional programs in the school system. Funding for the program would come from the Education Trust Fund.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
LWVAL program does not specifically address dual enrollment. The only possible but faint link to our program is making college more affordable for families and encouraging more students to attend college.
League identities theses disadvantages to the bill:
League identities these advantages to the bill:
Interesting reading on the subject is at: http://www.postsecondaryresearch.org/i/a/document/Speroni_NCPR_DualEnrollment_RegressionDiscontinuity.pdf
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/08/2016: First Read and referred to the Senate Finance and Taxes Education(F&TE).
03/22/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from FT&E
Summary/Synopsis: This dual-enrollment bill would establish a program allowing eligible 11th and 12th grade students admitted unconditionally to an eligible Alabama public post-secondary institution to take all courses at the eligible public institution and receive high school credit for the coursework with the goal of completing graduation and high school diploma requirements.
This bill would authorize the Department of Education to pay an institution of higher learning for courses taken pursuant to the program through appropriation of state funds, the amount being the lesser of either the actual cost of tuition or the amount the student would have earned for the local school system had the student been in equivalent instructional programs in the school system. Funding for the program would come from the Education Trust Fund.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
LWVAL program does not specifically address dual enrollment. The only possible but faint link to our program is making college more affordable for families and encouraging more students to attend college.
League identities theses disadvantages to the bill:
- The vast majority of high school students, particularly 11th graders, are not mature enough to manage a series of at least four college courses. Students would have to take the four core area courses each year (11th and 12th grade) to be eligible to graduate. The rigor of the course work would be difficult for them to manage. Most struggle to accommodate the demands of upper level high school and college standards. In addition high school students need the emotional support they receive from a more personal relationship with their teacher. This is not likely to occur at the post-secondary level
- Transportation of students who do not drive would be an additional cost to the school systems, not the colleges receiving the students. If the school system does not transport the students, low income students will be unable to participate in the program.
- The bill further removes funds from the Education Trust Fund as it pulls students out of the school and shifts the funds to the colleges. The cost of implementation is borne by the 9-12 schools in the lessening of their ETF funding.
- Based on research studies, it is unclear if this will benefit the majority of high school students. There is a skew in the results as most of the students who currently enroll in dual enrollment are high achieving students.
- Colleges may fear that an influx of high school programs would lessen the rigor of college courses in general.
- Failure and higher levels of difficulty may actually discourage students from attending college.
- This bill has the potential to create great upheaval in the education workforce depending on the number of students who participate. It will increase unemployment as school systems pare off the excess teacher "units".
League identities these advantages to the bill:
- It enables students to gain college credits that are paid for by the ETF instead of by the student's family or student himself or herself.
- The perception is that the rigor is greater at the college level. (But, some argue that these dual enrollment programs steer students to community colleges and pull down the level of difficulty in the colleges.)
Interesting reading on the subject is at: http://www.postsecondaryresearch.org/i/a/document/Speroni_NCPR_DualEnrollment_RegressionDiscontinuity.pdf
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/08/2016: First Read and referred to the Senate Finance and Taxes Education(F&TE).
03/22/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from FT&E
HB387 - Education, State Board of, qualifications, membership altered, Sec. 16-3-3 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representative Henry
Summary/Synopsis: This bill allows professional educators or previous employees of the State Department of Education to be elected to the State School Board. Currently, currently professional educators or State Department employees are prohibited from serving on this board until they have been out of their positions for 5 years. It is not clear whether the legislation would allow simultaneously working in a school system and also being on the State Board of Education.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
Our education position does not address the composition of the Alabama Board of Education but arguments can be made on both sides of this issue:
[Note: the time limit for the Board of Education is more than double the restriction imposed on legislators and those who leave the executive branch, and there often are moves to reduce or even remove the limits imposed on them.]
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/10/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on State Government (SG).
03/17/2015: 2ND Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from SG
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
Summary/Synopsis: This bill allows professional educators or previous employees of the State Department of Education to be elected to the State School Board. Currently, currently professional educators or State Department employees are prohibited from serving on this board until they have been out of their positions for 5 years. It is not clear whether the legislation would allow simultaneously working in a school system and also being on the State Board of Education.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
Our education position does not address the composition of the Alabama Board of Education but arguments can be made on both sides of this issue:
- Pro: There are advantages of experience and training that professional educators bring to the table. Many times they have a “feel” for what will work and what will not and why. They usually accept that schools are not businesses and cannot be run as such.
- Con: It could be argued that the current prohibition on service is comparable to the state legislature’s prohibition against its members lobbying it once they are out of office It can also be argued that the current law disallows trading on the past for current profit. Finally, sometimes new ideas are needed and former employees may not be the best advocates for new ideas.
[Note: the time limit for the Board of Education is more than double the restriction imposed on legislators and those who leave the executive branch, and there often are moves to reduce or even remove the limits imposed on them.]
Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/10/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on State Government (SG).
03/17/2015: 2ND Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from SG
04/28/2016: Indefinitely postponed.
HB444 - 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
Sponsor(s): Representative Nordgren
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require any public two-year community college, junior college, technical college, or trade school to offer any available full-time teaching position first to those adjunct professors currently employed in the same academic field of study by the college or school who have been so employed for at least two consecutive academic years.
League Action and Justification: Monitor for member and public information. Our education position does not include college and university hiring practices.
NOTE: Adjuncts are hired for entirely different reasons than tenure-track faculty are hired for. One possible outcome should this bill pass would be the college/technical schools would have to be more cautious in their selection of an adjunct faculty candidate, because, a bill requiring them to hire adjuncts over others would dramatically limit their freedom of choice. It might mean a class not could be offered for adjuncts often are hired when an unexpected enrollment increase occurs. Whether the increase is only temporary would then be determined.
Schools that receive federal funding must advertise open positions and use hiring procedures that do not discriminate. The hiring process in this bill might be illegal.
We must also point out that the state’s two-year system historically included political considerations in their hiring, including adjuncts.
On the other hand, too great a reliance on adjunct instruction is sometime bad for the students and for accreditation processes. It has been known as a way to hire at the lowest cost possible.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/17/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP).
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require any public two-year community college, junior college, technical college, or trade school to offer any available full-time teaching position first to those adjunct professors currently employed in the same academic field of study by the college or school who have been so employed for at least two consecutive academic years.
League Action and Justification: Monitor for member and public information. Our education position does not include college and university hiring practices.
NOTE: Adjuncts are hired for entirely different reasons than tenure-track faculty are hired for. One possible outcome should this bill pass would be the college/technical schools would have to be more cautious in their selection of an adjunct faculty candidate, because, a bill requiring them to hire adjuncts over others would dramatically limit their freedom of choice. It might mean a class not could be offered for adjuncts often are hired when an unexpected enrollment increase occurs. Whether the increase is only temporary would then be determined.
Schools that receive federal funding must advertise open positions and use hiring procedures that do not discriminate. The hiring process in this bill might be illegal.
We must also point out that the state’s two-year system historically included political considerations in their hiring, including adjuncts.
On the other hand, too great a reliance on adjunct instruction is sometime bad for the students and for accreditation processes. It has been known as a way to hire at the lowest cost possible.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/17/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP).
HB537 - Superintendent of Education, appointed by the Governor, member of Governor's cabinet, Amendment 284 (Section 264, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.
Sponsor(s): Representatives Collins, Baker, McMillan, Beech, Black, Greer, Johnson (K), Rich, Patterson, Whorton (R), Williams (P), Pettus, Nordgren, Robinson and Davis
Summary/Synopsis: Currently the State Superintendent of Education is appointed by the State School Board. This amendment to the Constitution would move the responsibility for selecting the State Superintendent to the governor with the governor appointing the Superintendent. This is part of a greater struggle between the State Board of Ed and the lawmakers, and is vehemently opposed by the Board of Education which sees this as further evidence of the state lawmakers taking over their responsibilities for monitoring and creating school policy and the selection of the Superintendent. The exchange at the last work meeting was very tense.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
LWVAL's program in Education is quiet on the process of selecting a Superintendent to head the State School Board. While the selection process is not politics-free, it can only be worsened by the appointment selection shifting to the governor. The chair of the committee to which the bill has been assigned, does not seem to be interesting in bringing it forward for a vote, so it is unlikely to make much progress.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
04/12/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP).
Summary/Synopsis: Currently the State Superintendent of Education is appointed by the State School Board. This amendment to the Constitution would move the responsibility for selecting the State Superintendent to the governor with the governor appointing the Superintendent. This is part of a greater struggle between the State Board of Ed and the lawmakers, and is vehemently opposed by the Board of Education which sees this as further evidence of the state lawmakers taking over their responsibilities for monitoring and creating school policy and the selection of the Superintendent. The exchange at the last work meeting was very tense.
League Action and Justification: Monitor
LWVAL's program in Education is quiet on the process of selecting a Superintendent to head the State School Board. While the selection process is not politics-free, it can only be worsened by the appointment selection shifting to the governor. The chair of the committee to which the bill has been assigned, does not seem to be interesting in bringing it forward for a vote, so it is unlikely to make much progress.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
04/12/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP).
SB429 - State Board of Education, model evaluation system for teachers, principals, and assistant principals, report to Legislature during 2017 Reg. Sess.
Sponsor(s): Senator Bussman
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require the State Board of Education to develop a model evaluation system and a model tenure system for teachers, assistant principals, and principals, and would require the board to submit a summary of both models to the Legislature during the 2017 Regular Session. The Legislature would have the right to reject the proposed systems developed by the State School Board.
League Action and Justification: Monitor due to lack of no specific position on evaluation procedures but posted due to member and public interest.
League is concerned that this bill and others seem to be aimed at increasing legislative control over the State School Board and may be an attempt to mollify those who disagreed with the PREP Act's evaluation recommendations.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
04/20/2016: First reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA). .
04/26/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read an Favorable from E&YA
04/28/2016: Indefinitely Postponed.
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would require the State Board of Education to develop a model evaluation system and a model tenure system for teachers, assistant principals, and principals, and would require the board to submit a summary of both models to the Legislature during the 2017 Regular Session. The Legislature would have the right to reject the proposed systems developed by the State School Board.
League Action and Justification: Monitor due to lack of no specific position on evaluation procedures but posted due to member and public interest.
League is concerned that this bill and others seem to be aimed at increasing legislative control over the State School Board and may be an attempt to mollify those who disagreed with the PREP Act's evaluation recommendations.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
04/20/2016: First reading and referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs (E&YA). .
04/26/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read an Favorable from E&YA
04/28/2016: Indefinitely Postponed.
HB563 (Constitutional Amendment) - 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.
Sponsor(s): Representatives Mooney, Hanes, Farley, Whorton (I), Shedd, 4 Harbison, Henry, Whorton (R) and Crawford
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would change the current selection process for the State Superintendent to an elected one mending Amendment No. 284 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, relating to the selection, qualifications, powers, duties, and tenure of the State Superintendent of Education. The authority and duties of Superintendent of Education would be determined by the State Board of Education according to regulations set by the legislature which would also set the salary.
League Action and Justification: Monitor. There is no specific league position on the selection process but members and the public should be interested in the process.
The key issue should this amendment be adopted would be the qualifications for office set by the legislative regulations. The person at the head of the education system should have an appropriate amount of educational experience and badly written criteria could open the door for ill-prepared individuals to lead the state's schools.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
04/20/2016: First Reading and Referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP).
Summary/Synopsis: This bill would change the current selection process for the State Superintendent to an elected one mending Amendment No. 284 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, relating to the selection, qualifications, powers, duties, and tenure of the State Superintendent of Education. The authority and duties of Superintendent of Education would be determined by the State Board of Education according to regulations set by the legislature which would also set the salary.
League Action and Justification: Monitor. There is no specific league position on the selection process but members and the public should be interested in the process.
The key issue should this amendment be adopted would be the qualifications for office set by the legislative regulations. The person at the head of the education system should have an appropriate amount of educational experience and badly written criteria could open the door for ill-prepared individuals to lead the state's schools.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
04/20/2016: First Reading and Referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (EP).
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