Miranda Williams Thomas is a Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action.
In her 2024 State of the State Address, Gov. Kay Ivey made an expansive, statewide education scholarship account (ESA) her top legislative priority. She also shared goals to create an artificial intelligence (AI) task force, develop Alabama’s workforce and support a comprehensive approach to early literacy.
Indeed, Alabama legislative leadership made some tremendous education advancements in 2024, with promising opportunities to continue that momentum into 2025.
Here’s everything you need to know about Alabama’s education policy accomplishments so far this year.
The passage of the CHOOSE Act in Alabama marks a significant milestone in the state’s education landscape, ushering in a new era of educational freedom and opportunity. Championed by Gov. Ivey, Sen. Arthur Orr and Rep. Danny Garrett, this new law reflects a commitment to expanding parental choice and flexibility in education, aligning with a nationwide movement to empower families.
Initially, Alabama’s education scholarship account (ESA) will open to families with household incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (up to $93,600 for a family of four). ESAs are flexible-use scholarships, granting families the autonomy to choose between private schools, out-of-district public schools or customized homeschool experiences. As the program matures, it will extend eligibility to all Alabama students.
Participating students will receive $7,000 per year, with support for homeschool families capped at $4,000 per household. These funds can be allocated toward various educational expenses—not only tuition but also textbooks, instructional materials, after-school programs and summer education. ESAs empower families to provide the education experiences that best suit their children’s needs and aspirations.
Moreover, the law incorporates mechanisms for academic assessment to track student progress, allowing participating schools the flexibility to choose from a range of assessment options while upholding standards for accountability.
The legislature allocated $50 million for the ESA program beginning in 2025, which will serve more than 7,000 students. The legislature has also demonstrated its commitment to ensuring widespread access to educational opportunity, with provisions in place to scale funding in response to evolving demand.
As families across the state embrace the newfound freedom to choose educational pathways that align with their needs and values, the CHOOSE Act represents a transformative step toward a more responsive and flexible education system in Alabama.
The Alabama State Board of Education has made significant strides in enhancing early literacy policies, culminating in the adoption of a groundbreaking Administrative Code Section: “Literacy Coursework: Science of Reading.” What prompted this action?
Alabama lawmakers had previously enacted early literacy policies, which include early dyslexia screenings, literacy coaching and targeted interventions for struggling readers.
Yet with only 28% of fourth grade students scoring at or above proficient in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress—and several Alabama teacher colleges still not implementing research-based reading instruction—there remained a pressing need for further action.
After a long period of open public comment, the Board officially banned the ineffective three-cueing instructional method and also updated standards in educator preparation programs to align with the science of reading.
With its unique approach, the Alabama State Board of Education underscores its commitment to equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to develop strong literacy skills in their young students. Led by Superintendent Eric Mackey, the Alabama State Board of Education has demonstrated leadership and dedication to research-based, student-centered literacy policies.
By establishing clear standards for teacher preparation programs and K-12 instruction, Alabama is poised to make significant strides in improving reading proficiency statewide. With the new standards set for implementation this August, Alabama joins a growing cohort of states prioritizing research-backed approaches to literacy instruction, signaling a promising future for students across the state.
An ExcelinEd study a few years ago revealed a misalignment between the credentials students earn and those in high demand in the workforce, with only 20% of Alabama students earning credentials preparing them for in-demand careers. Addressing this issue has been a priority for the state’s leaders.
In 2024, Gov. Ivey, Lt. Governor Ainsworth and the Alabama legislature made significant changes to college and career pathways for students.
Legislators had previously laid the groundwork in 2023 by passing HB109, establishing the Alabama Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics (ATLAS) and the P20W council. These initiatives aimed to provide essential data on the effectiveness of Alabama’s education-to-workforce pipeline. Building on these efforts, Gov. Ivey signed Sen. Steve Livingston’s SB 247 into law this year.
This legislation will provide data that policymakers can use to streamline college and career pathways programs and ensure better alignment between K-12 education, postsecondary education and the workforce. By creating a single Workforce Pathways Division within the Department of Workforce, which includes the Office of Education and Workforce Statistics and the Office of Apprenticeship, the state is unifying these efforts under a single mission. The consolidation will enhance information sharing and insights from various initiatives, preventing them from being siloed.
In addition to structural improvements, Alabama lawmakers also introduced bipartisan legislation that empowers the state board of education to seek additional funding to improve career centers and for the state’s postsecondary short-term credential program.
These legislative and structural changes represent a concerted effort to leverage data and state agencies to remove silos and enhance economic growth across the state. Alabama is taking significant steps to enhance its education-to-workforce pipeline and support its students in achieving successful careers.
Alabama policymakers will have an opportunity in coming years to continue to leverage this progress and grow and expand college and career pathways, offering new opportunities to prepare students for the future workforce while maintaining high academic standards.
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming an integral part of our everyday lives.
In February, Gov. Ivey issued Executive Order 738, which established a task force to recommend policies for the responsible and effective implementation of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) within state executive branch agencies.
This Executive Order forms the Governor’s Task Force on GenAI, which will include seven cabinet members, two representatives from Alabama’s higher education institutions and four legislators (two state representatives and two state senators).
By Nov. 30, 2024, the Task Force is expected to deliver a report to the governor, which will include a detailed assessment of the current usage of GenAI in executive branch agencies and will identify any associated risks and policy recommendations.
Alabama leaders should be proud of the innovative advancements they made this year to improve education for students. In 2025, all eyes will be on Alabama lawmakers to build upon their incredible momentum of 2024.
