AFS 2016-02-12 Focus on Education Budget Priorities
Education Budget Priorities
12-Feb-2016
Lawmakers convened Tuesday for the 2016 Legislative Session and learned revenue will be available to begin rebuilding basic operational budgets for public K-12 schools. ......................................................................
Focus on Education Budget Priorities; Keep Standards Strong
As lawmakers prepare to build the education budget, AASB urges them to support these K-12 priorities:
- Fund K-12 Operational Needs -
- prioritize the Foundation Program
- Increase Teacher Salaries -
- prioritize sustainable raises
- Protect Revenue in ETF -
- oppose diverting education funding
Meanwhile, significant policy bills are being considered ranging from state education standards and Wi-Fi for schools to a data system that would give big picture feedback to education and workforce leaders.
Vote NO to Standards Repeal
Senators can stop the threat to the state’s education standards in the Senate Education and Youth Affairs Committee with a NO vote to S. 60 (Glover),a bill to repeal the education standards.
Without the bill sponsor present Wednesday, the committee did not take a vote but did amend the bill. The amendment would have little impact; it simply provides local boards may opt out of state standards. That gives opponents to the standards136 local targets to weaken the state’s minimum standards. The potential to patchwork different standards among school systems is a step in the wrong direction.
The state standards set minimum expectations for the skills students should learn in each grade. AASB continues to fight to protect the authority of local boards to determine curriculum (how to deliver the instruction). Providing local opt-outs to standards would be like allowing local opt-outs for the rules of play for football games. Locals already determine plays and coaching strategies and training, but the rules of the game are set for all.
Educators, parents and students themselves are effectively convincing their lawmakers about the standards’ value. The ongoing implementation shows students are gaining critical thinking skills and mastering a deeper understanding of content. Local school leaders urge lawmakers to promote student learning and protect high standards. Click HERE for an op-ed by Alabama’s Teacher of the Year. Oppose S.60 (Glover).
School Wi-Fi Plan Moving
Kudos to House Ed Ways and Means Committee members for their unanimous approval of H.41 (Chesteen), the Alabama Ahead Act. The bill would provide standards and guidelines for every K-12 classroom to have infrastructure for high quality Wi-Fi. This plan is a strategic investment to give all students access to worldwide learning.
Chairman Bill Poole introduced a $12 million supplemental appropriation needed to fund the proposal Thursday, H.227 (Poole). His plan would provide the funds needed to draw down millions in federal e-rate funding.School boards must have the local match in place to be eligible under the federal program.Local school leaders support H.41 (Chesteen) and H.227 (Poole).
Education Savings Account/Voucher Bill on Agenda
The House Education Policy Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday on H.84 (Johnson, K).The bill would create a voucher-style program for eligible special education students, children of military parents on active duty and foster children.It provides funding for 1,000 students to draw a grant of 90 percent of a student’s public school funding to pay private tuition and related expenses.
Local school leaders oppose using state education funds for non-public schools. Critical funding mustaddress ALL student needs in Alabama’s public schools.
State to Link Education & Workforce Data
Proponents from K-12, career tech ed and higher education, business and workforce development testified at a public hearing Wednesday in favor of a new Alabama Office of Education and Workforce Statistics to be housed at the Department of Labor in H.125 (Collins/Baker).Alabama is one of three states that does not have a statewide capacity to generate aggregate data connecting student progress from early education to the workplace. House Education Policy members vetted the proposal with specific questions about protecting personal information. Bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins assured members no personally identifiable data would be collected in the database.
While the data for K-12 is already collected, the state does not have the ability to link it with data from higher education and the workforce to provide the big picture.Philip Cleveland, Deputy State Superintendent, Division of Career and Technical Education/Workforce Development,said the information would be a powerful tool for students and parents to identify career pathways and for education programs and workforce leaders to align programs with state needs.
Local school leaders support the bill’s requirement for a uniform definition for “remediation.” It is difficult to address student preparation when each college and university defines remediation differently. Students and parents suffer when they must repeat a course because they are paying for a semester of study that does not count toward earning a degree. The committee expects to vote Wednesday on H.125 (Collins/Baker). SUPPORT
Improve School Competitive Bid Law
H.170 (Patterson)/S.162 (Dial) would update the competitive bid law for schools to allow the same benefits currently enjoyed by state agencies.It increases to five years the maximum length of time that the purchase of personal property or contractual services can be bid; the current limit is three years. Services had been removed in an earlier law change and this bill corrects that omission.Additionally, the bill allows local boards to use Government Services Administration contracts which are currently available to state and other local entities.The bill is supported by the Alabama Association of School Business Officials.
Civics Test Mandate for HS Graduation
S.89 (Orr) would require students to pass the civics portion of the citizenship naturalization test used by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to graduate high school. The Senate Education & Youth Affairs Committee approved an amended version that would reduce the test from 100 questions to 50 that align with the social studies course of study.
The 6-3 vote came after debate about whether it is appropriate for students to have the same test as foreign nationals seeking to become U.S. citizens. Sen. Quinton Ross voiced concern that the requirement adds another test as a hurdle to graduation. The bill now moves to the full Senate.
Defining Political Activities
A committee Wednesday approved S.86 (Orr) to prohibit education entities from expending public funds to advocate for a Yes or No vote on state or local ballots. The sponsor offered a substitute because the original bill would have severely limited school leaders’ ability to inform voters about education-related initiatives. As substituted, the bill prohibits public funds being spent on a political activity as specifically defined in statute. Sen. Clyde Chambliss, with the sponsor’s approval, said he plans to include municipalities and counties with an amendment on the Senate floor.
Legislation of Interest
H.168 (Warren) — Age of Enrollment — would require a child to turn six on or before Dec.31 to start first grade; currently Sep.1.
H.184 (Rich) — Religious Release Time — would authorize high school students release time for religious instruction to satisfy curriculum requirements as an elective course for high school.
H. 13 (Harper) — State Lottery — would allow voters to authorize a state lottery through a constitutional amendment. The bill includes no details about how the lottery would be run or revenues expended.Passed by House committee and pending floor action.
H.197 (Poole) — 2-year budget cycle — would propose a constitutional amendment to revise the legislative schedule to provide an annual legislative session to consider non-budgetary matters followed by a legislative session to determine a biennual budget. The General Fund appropriations would be determined in even-numbered years and an Education Trust Fund budget in odd-numbered years.
H.218 (Drake) — 3rd grade cursive law — would put in statute that elementary instruction must include cursive writing by the end of third grade. This requirement is already in the state’s adopted education standards.
No News on “RAISE”
To date, the anticipated “RAISE” legislation has not been introduced. AASB has worked hard on your behalf to provide information to those seeking legislation that could be introduced next week. At this time, there is no bill upon which to take a position. As always, AASB will keep you posted!
AASB Agenda
Viewthe Alabama Association of School Boards’ priorities:
What Education Standards?
Look at these sites to find out about Alabama’s College & Career Readiness Standards:
Advocacy Days
Come to Montgomery and be an advocate for your schools. Choose an upcoming AASB Advocacy day and earn two training hours as you experience the legislative process.
Choose one of these dates:
March 1March 16
April 20May 3
Get the App
Track bills, contact legislators, stay up-to-date and more using the free mobile app. Just search for "Alabama Association of School Boards" in the AppStore or for "AASB" in the Google Play Android Market.
2016 Legislative Session
26 Days Remain
A 3-day legislative week is expected: Feb. 16,17 & 18
-Lissa Tucker, AASB Director of Governmental Relations