“Alabama is making it clear that student success starts with strong fundamentals. By reinforcing evidence-based reading instruction and continuing significant investments in both literacy and math, lawmakers are helping more students master the foundational skills that set them up for success in school and life.
“At the same time, Alabama is aligning education more closely with real-world outcomes and rewarding colleges and universities for student success, strengthening career pathways and ensuring students graduate with skills and credentials that lead to meaningful and relevant jobs. Coordination between education and the workforce is essential for long-term economic growth.
“We are grateful to Gov. Kay Ivey, Superintendent Eric Mackey, House Education Policy Chair Terri Collins, Senate Finance and Taxation Education Chair Arthur Orr, House Ways and Means Education Chair Danny Garrett and Senate Education Policy Chair Donnie Chesteen for their leadership and commitment to student success at every stage.”
About the Legislation
Literacy Policy and Continued Math Funding
- HB 235 allocates $10 million for adolescent literacy in the 2026 fiscal year.
- SB 168 bans the use of harmful three-cueing instructional practices in K-12 classrooms and educator preparation programs.
- HB 238 allocates nearly $152 million in continued funding for the Alabama Reading Initiative supporting early literacy, including reading coaches.
- HB 238 allocates $114 million for the Alabama Numeracy Act, a $19 million increase to help support math coaches.
College and Career Pathways
- HB 565 establishes the College and Higher Education Excellence and Results (CHEER) Act to support outcomes-based funding for public colleges and universities.
- HB 238 allocates $65 million to support the first year of the CHEER Fund.
- HB 237 provides more than $100 million from the Educational Opportunity Reserve Fund to support the CHEER Act and provides outcomes-based bonus funding for higher educational institutions meeting success metrics in the 2026 fiscal year.
- HB 517, the Talent Readiness and Industry Needs (TRAIN) Act, creates industry engagement incentives through a tax credit for employers who “loan” employees to teach high-demand career and technical education (CTE) programs or make donations to eligible entities in support of designated CTE programs.
Private School Choice
- HB 238 establishes the total funding appropriation for the CHOOSE Act at $236.25 million to support educational choice for K-12 students.
Solution Areas:
College & Career Pathways, Early Literacy, Education Funding, Math Policy, Private Education Choice
Topics:
Career and Technical Education, Performance-Based Funding
About the Author
Patricia Levesque is the Executive Director of ExcelinEd in Action.
