Alabama legislators consider ‘outcomes-based’ model of higher education funding Alabama legislators are exploring alternative methods of funding higher education months after making changes to the way K-12 funding is distributed. The Joint House and Senate Education Committee met Thursday to learn more about a model that partly funds colleges and universities based on predetermined metrics decided by the Legislature in collaboration with institutions of […]

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REPORT: How did Alabama 3rd graders score on ACAP 2024-2025 reading test? Out of the 55,930 Alabama third graders who took the ACAP reading test for the 2024-2025 school year, 6,470 students scored below grade level, according to Alabama State Department of Education data.

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Reynolds won’t seek third term on Alabama school board BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Board of Education member Wayne Reynolds says he’ll step aside when his term ends in 2027. “I have decided to not seek reelection,” Reynolds announced during Thursday’s board meeting in Montgomery. “It’s been my pleasure to be 50-plus years in education, but I think I need to let my district know […] The post Reynolds won’t seek third term on Alabama school board appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Full impact of Alabama’s summer reading programs may not be known until fall The state’s summer reading programs appear to have improved reading results for the children who attended them, though the full scope isn’t fully clear.  In May, 55,930 third graders took the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment of Progress (ACAP) test, according to data released Thursday from the Alabama State Department of Education.  Of those, 6,470 students scored […]

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Two years later: State plans to consolidate Sumter County to one school in intervention This is the third of a three-part series on Alabama school districts under state intervention. Part 1 on Bessemer City Schools is here. Part 2 on Dallas County Schools is here.   On a recent June day, Sumter County Schools students  went to the front office to get permission slips signed on one of the last […]

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The state's advice on preparing for back to school in Alabama School leaders want students in Alabama to stay healthy and stay sharp in the classroom as they make their return to the classroom this week.

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Lawmakers discuss incentivizing Alabama's universities Later this month, lawmakers will kick off budget hearings for the upcoming legislative session.

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No phones, new paths: What Alabama students need to know this school year BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama students returning to school starting this week will encounter a few big changes – but none more immediate than a new statewide rule: Phones, earbuds and smartwatches must now be turned off and stowed away during the entire school day. High schoolers this academic year will also see two major shifts: […] The post No phones, new paths: What Alabama students need to know this school year appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Feds release frozen education funds nationwide, including $50M for Alabama The now-released funds support multiple federal grant programs, including those for English learners, migrant students and efforts to reduce class sizes. In Alabama, they pay for 280 teachers. The post Feds release frozen education funds nationwide, including $50M for Alabama appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Tuberville expects frozen education funds to be released in ‘near future’ WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said he expects the frozen federal funds schools were set to receive July 1, including $68 million in Alabama, will be released soon. Tuberville told reporters Thursday he’s been in communication with Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the issue. He also said he plans to speak with President […] The post Tuberville expects frozen education funds to be released in ‘near future’ appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Alabama First Class Pre-K adds 58 classrooms for new school year MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama is adding 58 new First Class Pre-K classrooms this fall, bringing the total to 1,528 classrooms across the state. The continued growth of the program, announced Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey, means more four-year-olds will have access to high-quality early learning in the 2025–26 school year.  Around 24,000 four-year-olds were enrolled […] The post Alabama First Class Pre-K adds 58 classrooms for new school year appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Governor Ivey Announces 58 New First Class Pre-K Classrooms for the 2025-2026 School Year MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Friday announced 58 new first class Pre-K classrooms for the 2025-2026 school year. The continued expansion of the state’s nationally recognized program in partnership with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) will … Continued

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Alabama Board of Education meeting briefs – July 8, 2025 MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State Board of Education on Tuesday elected new leadership and reviewed updates on student funding, school policies, and assessment results during its monthly meeting and work session. Gov. Kay Ivey, who serves as board president, presided over the annual organizational meeting. New officers elected Marie Manning, who represents District 6, […] The post Alabama Board of Education meeting briefs – July 8, 2025 appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Alabama schools to implement state approved anti-vaping policies Alabama schools are set to implement a new system to prevent vaping by public school students in the coming academic year.  HB 8, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond D-Mobile, requires the Alabama State Board of Education to create a model policy for local boards of education to adopt by November. “[Drummond] wanted an anti-vaping law, […]

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Reading and math gains highlight latest Alabama student test scores MONTGOMERY, Ala. – More Alabama students are reading and doing math on grade level, and fewer are scoring at the lowest level, according to new statewide test results released Tuesday. State Superintendent Eric Mackey called the results “good news” and said the progress reflects years of effort by schools across the state. Still, he acknowledged […] The post Reading and math gains highlight latest Alabama student test scores appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Alabama elementary, middle schoolers improved in state tests, says ALSDE The number of Alabama elementary and middle school students scoring below proficient dropped in most subjects on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment of Progress (ACAP) test, according to data released Tuesday by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). The test results for the 2024-25 school year are split between four levels where level three and […]

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Graduation rates are rising in Alabama: See the trends, look up your school "We're generally seeing improvement in multiple areas across the board," State Superintendent Eric Mackey told Alabama Daily News. The post Graduation rates are rising in Alabama: See the trends, look up your school appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Ivey announces CHOOSE Act education savings accounts are available for 2025-2026 The Office of Governor Ivey sent out a news release Tuesday saying the savings accounts are now available for the upcoming school year.

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Governor Ivey Announces CHOOSE Act ESAs Now Available for 2025-2026 Recipients MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced that education savings accounts (ESAs) established by the state’s CHOOSE Act program are now fully funded and available for the 2025-2026 school year. Families that were approved through the application process earlier … Continued

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Alabama’s new public school funding model could take years to show impact The Alabama Legislature has taken a step toward changing how schools get funded. But when it comes to noticeable change, supporters say: Be patient.  Alabama schools for decades have gotten money based on headcount. SB 305, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, created the Renewing Alabama’s Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) fund, which allocates additional […]

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Alabama State Board of Education adopts emergency paid parental leave rule The Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBOE) unanimously approved an emergency rule for paid parental leave for educators last week. The rule, as outlined by SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, allows public education employees to take eight weeks of paid leave after giving birth, having a stillbirth or experiencing a miscarriage after […]

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Alabama public high school graduation rate reaches 91%, says ALSDE About 91% of high school seniors around the state graduated in the 2023-24 school year, according to numbers released last week by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE).  “We, of course, hit this mark before the pandemic. Then we took a dip. We’re back up above pandemic levels and again tied for second highest […]

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Alabama student outcomes improve in reading, graduation and career readiness MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama’s public school students showed improvement on three key measures of academic success, according to data released Thursday by the department of education.  The data, shared with the state school board during its work session in Montgomery, showed gains in third-grade reading, high school graduation rates and college and career readiness indicators.  […] The post Alabama student outcomes improve in reading, graduation and career readiness appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Please help us welcome Christy and Tamara to the NSFA finance team 🎉

With over 40 years of combined experience in school finance and accounting, they bring unmatched expertise to support Alabama’s charter schools.

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Alabama third grade reading scores show growth Alabama third grade students appeared to improve on a test of reading comprehension last year despite a slight increase in testing standards, according to numbers released by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) on Thursday. According to the department, a smaller percentage of students who took the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment of Progress (ACAP) fell […]

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Ami Brooks named next state early education leader Gov. Kay Ivey has tapped long-time educator and pre-K leader Ami Brooks as the next secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. The post Ami Brooks named next state early education leader appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Half of Alabama public schools will see teacher unit cuts from Foundation Program BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – More than half of Alabama’s K-12 public school districts will see a drop in state-funded teacher units next year, according to documents Alabama Daily News received from the Alabama Department of Education. The drops are directly related to declining enrollment. State funding for the 2025–26 school year is based on last year’s […] The post Half of Alabama public schools will see teacher unit cuts from Foundation Program appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Left on the table: Alabama education bills that ran out of time BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Nearly two dozen education-related bills were stranded without needed votes in the final days of the legislative session.  While some high-profile measures grabbed headlines – like House Bill 244 dealing with gender ideology and pronouns in schools and a proposed drag show restriction – others quietly failed to cross the finish line. Most […] The post Left on the table: Alabama education bills that ran out of time appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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From funding to phones: What lawmakers passed in Alabama education this year BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama lawmakers passed a flurry of education bills this session, from a landmark K-12 funding overhaul to a record-setting education budget. Smaller measures also made it through, many focused on streamlining systems, supporting educators and expanding opportunities for students. Teacher raises weren’t on the agenda, but lawmakers added benefits like paid parental […] The post From funding to phones: What lawmakers passed in Alabama education this year appeared first on Alabama Daily News.

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Governor Ivey Signs “FOCUS Act” Preventing Use of Cell Phones in Alabama Public Schools MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey has signed the FOCUS Act, prohibiting students’ use of smart phones and other wireless devices inside Alabama’s public schools. Flanked by middle school students, Governor Ivey signed the FOCUS Act into law Wednesday morning in … Continued

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