Miranda Williams Thomas is a Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action.
In 2025, Alabama leaders continued building momentum from the previous year, adopting a new slate of student-centered policies designed to protect learning environments, support working parents and invest in teacher and student success.
Led by Gov. Kay Ivey, legislative champions advanced key priorities that reaffirmed Alabama’s commitment to academic achievement and opportunity. These efforts—passed with broad support—underscore a growing consensus that strong schools require both bold policy and sustainable investment.
Here’s a closer look at what changed this year and what it means for Alabama students and families.
Gov. Ivey, Rep. Leigh Hulsey and Sen. Donnie Chesteen championed legislation establishing Alabama’s first statewide, distraction-free schools policy. The new law establishes cell-phone free classrooms, with reasonable exemptions for medical needs, Individualized Education Plans and emergencies.
The policy, aimed at restoring focus and boosting classroom engagement, goes a step further by introducing a social media safety course that students must take by eighth grade. This forward-thinking addition helps equip students with the tools to navigate an increasingly digital world safely and responsibly.
Together, these provisions balance classroom discipline with student empowerment—and reflect growing national momentum toward distraction-free learning environments.
Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Ivey, Sen. Vivian Figures and Rep. Ginny Shaver, Alabama adopted a landmark parental leave policy for public education employees. The new law provides:
This bipartisan policy—funded via the state budget—supports Alabama’s educators and public servants during critical moments in family life, helping attract and retain talent while affirming the state’s commitment to work-life balance and workforce stability.
Alabama lawmakers continued to deliver on promises to strengthen instruction and raise achievement—especially in foundational skills like reading and math.
As part of Alabama’s budget package, the legislature appropriated:
In addition, Sen. Arthur Orr and Rep. Danny Garrett led the passage of a new hybrid funding model that includes weighted funding for students with greater needs. Although the main formula remains input-focused instead of student-centered, these updates improve the state’s approach to school funding while directing resources to the students who need them most.
As Alabama moves forward, its 2025 education agenda reflects a clear and consistent theme: equipping students and teachers with the support, focus and flexibility needed to thrive.
From classroom reforms to family-friendly policies and historic investments in academic funding, Alabama’s leaders are delivering lasting improvements that will benefit students for years to come.
We commend Gov. Ivey, legislative champions and state education officials for keeping students at the center—and we look forward to the next chapter of progress.
