The Alabama State Board of Education held its annual summer retreat last week in Tuscaloosa, with a focus on the FY25 budget and potential legislation impacting education in 2024. 

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Brandon Payne led the budget discussion informed by requests from SDE directors and leaders.  State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey urged board members to review the budget ahead of September’s work session, which will delve further into potential changes or additional requests.  The budget is slated for a vote in October, with plans to present it to Gov. Kay Ivey before November 1.

Budget discussion highlights include: 

• Foundation Program: $217 million increase including: (lowering divisor to 19 for grades 4-8, adding 660 teachers in the state; earning full assistant principal unit for every 250 students; and increasing OCE $60 million)
• Alabama Numeracy Act: $244 million increase to support an additional 205 building-based math coaches and 33 regional math specialists
• K-3 Reading Coaches: $25 million increase to fund K-3 reading coaches in every school   FY24 funding covered 460 schools; and the additional funding would cover 770 schools
• Principal Leadership Mentoring: $28 million increase to support principal and assistant principal stipends and implementation
• Transportation: $108 million increase
• School Nurses: $20 million increase to LEAs to cover FY24 salary adjustment for nurses
• Stipends: $2.5 million to cover stipends for local and federal speech and special education units not included in the FY24 stipend allocation for state units
• FY25 ETF Budget: the ETF budget proposal seeks an increase of $544 million compared to the previous year. Per the amended Rolling Reserve ETF legislation this spring, the highest allowable increase for the FY25 ETF budget is $550 million.  Of the anticipated growth, about 73% ($401 million) is designated for K-12 while roughly 27% is allocated for higher education.  

Contact Your SBOE Member

AASB urges local school board members to contact state school board members if you have questions or concerns pertaining to the budget.  

Legislative Update

SDE Director of Government Relations Tina Hammond briefed the SBOE on education bills that did not pass but are anticipated to resurface in 2024. While various bills were underscored, the primary focus of discussion was school choice and first-grade readiness. Given Gov. Ivey’s recent vocal endorsement of Education Savings Accounts (ESA), the matter is anticipated to be on the agenda in the 2024 legislative session. 

Other Bills Discussed

• Alabama Fits All Scholarship - Rep. Danny Garrett’s legislation would provide scholarships to students for enrollment options outside of the public school.
• PRICE Act – Sen. Larry Stutts and Rep. Ernie Yarbrough’s PRICE ACT legislation would create an education savings account with limited regulations at a cost of $600 million per year.  
• First Grade Readiness - Rep. Pebblin Warren legislation would require students to demonstrate first-grade readiness.  
• Modified School Calendar (Garrett) would establish the Alabama Modified School Calendar Grant Program to allow local boards to adopt a modified school calendar and to offset associated costs with grant funds.  

Next SBOE Meeting 

The board’s next meeting will take place Sept. 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following.

Bart Reeves, Ed.D.
Assistant Executive Director for Governmental Relations