Now that the Alabama House has approved Senate changes to the $5.76 billion education budget, it has gone to the governor for his signature. The final budget contains a 2 percent raise for employees and $5 million for a state-funded professional liability program. It also partially restored funding to Other Current Expense (OCE) with a $12 million increase. OCE was cut $18 million in 2012. The budget will add $1.5 million to fleet renewal to reach $6,000 per bus, increase funding to the state's voluntary pre-K program by $9.4 million and increase Advanced Placement by $1.5 million.  |  More

Alabama's 16 state Board of Education district teachers of the year are 16 voices that tell moving, inspirational stories about teaching and learning in Alabama's public schools. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice at a recent state board meeting asked the district winners to tell their stories across the state. The celebrated teachers included 2014 Teacher of the Year Dr. Alison Grizzle of the Birmingham school system and Alternate Teacher of the Year Tracy Pruitt of Dothan City Schools. Grizzle is a math teacher at P.D. Jackson-Olin High School, and Pruitt teaches third grade at Montana Street Academic Magnet School.  |  More