to require the State Superintendent of Education to revoke the teaching or other educational certificate of any person convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child; and to provide for the immediate cancellation of the employment contract of a teacher on continuing service status, a principal, or a contract principal and the immediate termination of employment of a nonprobationary employee who is convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child.
to provide for the crimes of a school employee engaging in a sex act, deviant sexual intercourse, or having sexual contact with a student; to provide penalties
to authorize a local board of education, upon approval of the State Superintendent of Education, to use an alternative calculation method provided by the State Department of Education for determining teacher units in certain extreme circumstances.
to authorize the executive officers and employees of the School Superintendents of Alabama to continue to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System independent of any affiliation with the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
To provide for the maximum amount that may be appropriated from the Education Trust Fund; and to provide for the establishment of a budget stabilization fund, a capital fund, a pension liability fund, and a retiree health benefits liability fund for the Education Trust Fund.
Requiring Physical Education in grades K-8 in public and private schools (amended to include) with exceptions for Marching Band and Jr. ROTCany other activity as identified in the student’s IEP)
relating to the suspension of a student's driver's license for withdrawal from school or possession of a pistol at school, to provide further for the date of suspension of a student convicted of possession of a pistol at a school or on a school bus, and to provide for the suspension of a driver's license for a student who engages in serious misconduct or a pattern of misconduct or disruptive behavior at school or on a school bus.
Reps. McClurkin, Hubbard, Allen, Sanderford, P. Williams, Wren, Bridges, and Gipson
Education Appropriations
Postponed Indefinitely
02/11/2010
To establish the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education; to provide for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education under certain conditions; to establish the process by which a local school board may register as an authorizer of charter schools; to establish the processes by which a charter contract may be approved, renewed, and revoked; to prohibit a private school from applying to become a charter school or converting to charter school status; to require certain accountability provisions in charter contracts; to require an authorizer to continually monitor the performance and compliance of each charter school; to provide for the organization, enrollment of students, employer requirements, and minimum number of instructional days for each charter school; to generally relieve charter schools from the requirements of state education statutes while requiring them to follow laws related to civil rights, health, safety, state content standards, accountability and student assessment, competitive bidding, open meetings, and open records; to provide for the funding of charter schools; to require independent annual audits; to provide for the acquisition and use of facilities and require that charter schools follow the same building codes as other public schools; to require the State Board of Education to promulgate rules to implement this act.
By Reps. McCutcheon, Treadaway, Drake, Hill, Canfield, Wood, Ball, Ward, McDaniel, Morrow, Sanderford
Judiciary
Favorable Report
04/14/2010
Relating to arrest warrants for public education employees and law enforcement officers; to provide procedures for issuing warrants for certain misdemeanor offenses.
Representatives Lindsey, Gipson, Bentley, Buskey, Kennedy, Greeson, Oden, Taylor, Letson, Hinshaw, Rogers, Fields, Graham and Boyd
Education Appropriations
Pending Governor Signature
04/13/2010
To increase the maximum funding period for which the accrued liability contribution is calculated for the Teachers' Retirement System from 20 years to 30 years.
To increase the maximum funding period for which the accrued liability contribution is calculated for the Teachers' Retirement System and the Employees' Retirement System from 20 years to 30 years.
To prohibit a person in a position of authority over a child from engaging in sexual contact with the child regardless of whether the child consents to the contact; to define a person in a position of authority
to prohibit a school official or foster parent from engaging in sexual contact with the child regardless of whether the child consents to the contact; to define school official and foster parent.
To require any new school construction to include a Federal Emergency Management Agency approved safe room or hallway; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.
To reopen the Teachers' Retirement System and the Employees' Retirement System for purchase of certain prior service credit in the system by an active and contributing member who was employed as a student assistant or work/study student at a public college or university in Alabama.
To authorize the Etowah County legislative delegation to establish and reapportion districts, excluding the Cities of Atalla and Gadsden, and provide for the election of the members of the Etowah County Board of Education by the qualified electors of those districts.
To require the State Board of Health to provide parents or guardians of sixth grade female students information concerning the infection and the immunization against the human papillomavirus.. Basically says that the health department will provide information that schools give out to 6th grade girls.The schools will collect the statements from parent/guardian that the girl has been immunized. The lack of the statement cannot stop a student from being enrolled etc Questions: Why can’t the health dept collect statements? What does the school do with the statements put in record, send to health dept, etc.?
to make optional the publication of local board of education financial statements in a local newspaper; and to repeal the required signing of payrolls by the chair of the local board of education.
To require the State Superintendent of Education to promptly notify the holder of any certificate of the initiation of an investigation regarding alleged misconduct and would prohibit any action against a certificate holder until the exhaustion of all due process protections.
To prohibit membership and retirement credit in the Teachers' Retirement System being earned by administrators, teachers, and support personnel whose place of work is outside the State of Alabama and to prohibit retirement contributions being submitted for salary earned for classes that are taught by mail or electronic means outside the State of Alabama.
To require the distribution and verification of receipt of the school attendance policy and applicable sections of the Alabama Compulsory School Attendance Law by each parent, guardian, or other person having control of a child enrolled in each school system.
Reps. Fields, Thomas (E), Harper, England, Salaam, Greeson, Oden, McCampbell, Williams (P), Vance, Jackson, Howard, Gordon, Boyd, Grantland, Dukes and Coleman
Education Policy
Introduced
03/09/2010
To amend Section 26-14-3, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect; to establish specific reporting requirements for school teachers and school officials; and to provide for the responsibilities of principals and local superintendents of education.
Reps. Beech, Sherer, Curtis, Letson, White, Robinson (J), Black, Gordon and Graham
Education Policy
Favorable Report
04/13/2010
To amend Section 16-24-12, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to public K-12 education, to clarify the requirement that a local board of education notify a teacher of a reduction in compensation pursuant to the loss of a supplemental position on or before the last day of the preceding school term.
To allow the Legislature, in times of financial emergency, to reduce the number of contract days funded by the Foundation Program Fund in the annual Education Trust Fund Appropriations Act.
To decrease the required school term from 180 to 175 full instructional days for use in the computation of Foundation Program allowances to local boards of education.
To allow the Legislature to appropriate Public School Funds to local boards of education in the Education Trust Fund Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2011 for the purpose of paying operating expenses; and to allow local boards of education, during fiscal year 2011 only, to expend Public School Funds on any operating expenses.
To require written notice from the juvenile court to the school of attendance upon a finding of delinquency for any act constituting an adult felony act; and to require the transfer of the written notice of delinquency with the transfer of academic records.
to authorize a local board of education, upon approval of the State Superintendent of Education, to use an alternative calculation method provided by the State Department of Education for determining teacher units in certain extreme circumstances.
to authorize the executive officers and employees of the School Superintendents of Alabama to continue to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System independent of any affiliation with the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
Relating to education; providing for the Tim Tebow Act; permitting a child instructed at home either by a private tutor or under the church school law to participate in extracurricular activities; to provide certain requirements; to provide for insurance coverage; to specify schools utilizing such students may not be impeded from competing against other schools
to authorize a local board to allow persons employed as security personnel by the board to carry firearms while on duty; and to require that the employees have certain qualifications.
By Senators Keahey, Mitchell, Little (T), Mitchem, Bedford, Barron, Butler, Penn, Singleton, Little (Z), Smitherman, Benefield, Poole, Dunn and Pittman
Education
Introduced
01/12/2010
to require the State Superintendent of Education to revoke the teaching or other educational certificate of any person convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child; and to add Sections 16-24-8.1, 16-24B-3.1, and 36-26-102.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Teacher Tenure Law, the Teacher Accountability Act, and the Fair Dismissal Act, to provide for the immediate cancellation of the employment contract of a teacher on continuing service status, a principal, or a contract principal and the immediate termination of employment of a nonprobationary employee who is convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child.
Senators French, Marsh, Waggoner, Sanford, Brooks, Glover, Erwin and Beason
Finance and Taxation Education
Postponed Indefinitely
01/12/2010
To establish the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act relating to public K-12 education; to provide for the creation of charter schools authorized by registered local school boards and the State Board of Education under certain conditions; to establish the process by which a local school board may register as an authorizer of charter schools; to establish the processes by which a charter contract may be approved, renewed, and revoked; to prohibit a private school from applying to become a charter school or converting to charter school status; to require certain accountability provisions in charter contracts; to require an authorizer to continually monitor the performance and compliance of each charter school; to provide for the organization, enrollment of students, employer requirements, and minimum number of instructional days for each charter school; to generally relieve charter schools from the requirements of state education statutes while requiring them to follow laws related to civil rights, health, safety, state content standards, accountability and student assessment, competitive bidding, open meetings, and open records; to provide for the funding of charter schools; to require independent annual audits; to provide for the acquisition and use of facilities and require that charter schools follow the same building codes as other public schools; to require the State Board of Education to promulgate rules to implement this act.
relating to school board policy regarding usage of electronic communication devices, to authorize each local board of education to develop a policy regarding the confiscation of pocket pagers, cellular telephones, or other electronic communication devices of students.
To increase the maximum funding period for which the accrued liability contribution is calculated for the Teachers' Retirement System from 20 years to 30 years.
To provide for the maximum amount that may be appropriated from the Education Trust Fund; and to provide for the establishment of a budget stabilization fund, a capital fund, a pension liability fund, and a retiree health benefits liability fund for the Education Trust Fund.
To increase the maximum funding period for which the accrued liability contribution is calculated for the Teachers' Retirement System and the Employees' Retirement System from 20 years to 30 years.
Sens. Keahey, Benefield, Poole, Smith, Butler, Little (Z), Mitchell, Bedford, Singleton, Barron, Little (T), Sanders, Denton and Pittman
Energy & Natural Resources
Favorable Report
03/03/2010
To require the State Superintendent of Education to revoke the teaching or other educational certificate of any person convicted of a Class A felony or sex offense involving a child;To provide for the immediate cancellation of the employment contract of a teacher on continuing service status, a principal, or a contract principal and the immediate termination of employment of a nonprobationary employee who is convicted of a felony or sex offense involving a child.
To propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to authorize the Etowah County legislative delegation to establish and reapportion districts, excluding the Cities of Atalla and Gadsden, and provide for the election of the members of the Etowah County Board of Education by the qualified electors of those districts.
To increase the maximum age of children required to attend public school from 17 to 18; to clarify the option of attending alternative school for students who violate a local board of education code of conduct;
Relating to the fair dismissal law; to authorize the immediate termination of the employment of any nonprobationary employee convicted of a felony or of a sex offense involving a child; to provide for a pretermination hearing before the local board of education; and to restrict the use of testimony offered in employment termination hearings in related criminal proceedings.
Relating to the teacher tenure law; to authorize the immediate cancellation of the employment contract of any teacher on continuing service status convicted of a felony or of a sex offense involving a child; to provide for a precancellation hearing before the local board of education; and to restrict the use of testimony offered in contract cancellation hearings in related criminal proceedings.
Local boards of education, reporting requirements, publications of financial statements in local newspaper, optional, signing of payrolls by chair of board, requirement abolished, Secs. 16-8-37, 16-11-24 am'd.; Secs. 16-9-28, 16-9-33, 16-12-17 repealed
Relating to the City of Birmingham in Jefferson County; to provide that the city board of education may allow persons employed as security personnel by the board to carry firearms while on duty; and to require that the employees meet certain qualifications.
Relating to mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect; to establish specific reporting requirements for school teachers and school officials; and to provide for the responsibilities of principals and local superintendents of education.
Relating to public K-12 education; to amend Section 16-23-5, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the State Superintendent of Education to promptly notify the holder of any certificate of the initiation of an investigation regarding alleged misconduct and would prohibit any action against a certificate holder until the exhaustion of all due process protections.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), (No Child Left Behind), U. S. Congress urged to reauthorize in accordance with current funding formulae, not competitive grants.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), (No Child Left Behind), U. S. Congress urged to reauthorize in accordance with current funding formulae, not competitive grants.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), (No Child Left Behind), U. S. Congress urged to reauthorize in accordance with current funding formulae, not competitive grants.
