This special order calendar designates a specific sequence of legislative business to take precedence over regular proceedings for the twenty-seventh legislative day in Alabama. The resolution lists various bills related to education funding, teacher salaries, university appropriations, and opioid treatment funds that must be addressed first. By establishing this priority list, the Senate ensures these specific items are considered before any other pending or unfinished business.
This bill is a resolution that formally honors the life and legacy of Barbara Curry-Story, a civil rights pioneer and educator from Alabama. It recognizes her historic achievement as the first African American student to attend Jacksonville State University in 1965 and her subsequent career as a trailblazer at Alabama Power. The text serves as a tribute to her contributions to education and her community rather than establishing new laws or policies.
This bill is a House resolution that formally commends Kristi Bridges Smith, a teacher at Rainbow Middle School in Etowah County, for receiving the Travelers Award for Teaching Excellence. The resolution recognizes her 32 years of service, including her recent achievement of leading her school's Math Bee team to 10 consecutive championships and representing Alabama at a national awards gala in Washington, D.C. The measure serves as an official acknowledgment of her contributions to education rather than creating new laws or policies.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution that formally honors Ms. Clarene Teague-Johnson as the special guest at the Rosetta James Foundation's 20th Annual "Honoring Our Elders Day" Gala. The resolution recognizes her distinguished career as an educator, her leadership in the USDA Cooperative Extension Program, and her ongoing contributions to entrepreneurship and community service. It acknowledges the event's purpose of celebrating senior citizens while raising funds for student scholarships, but does not create any new laws or policy requirements. The bill is purely commemorative and does not affect any specific groups or change existing regulations.
This bill allows experienced teachers from accredited private schools to receive a starting salary increase when they transfer to public schools in Alabama. To qualify, teachers must have at least five years of full-time teaching experience at a private school, with salary adjustments ranging from 2.5 to 10 years based on their private school service. The adjustment applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, though those who transferred between 2022 and 2026 can still claim it by submitting documentation during that school year. Years of private school service counted toward this salary adjustment cannot be used for retirement purposes.
This bill creates the American History and Civics Excellence Initiative within Alabama's Department of Education to offer high school teachers an optional online course on American history and civics. Teachers who complete the 50-hour course can earn an American History and Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement on their teaching certification and may apply for a one-time $3,000 stipend if funds are appropriated. The initiative includes a program director appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and confirmed by the Senate, with the State Board of Education responsible for overseeing the program and adopting necessary rules. The course covers topics such as American government foundations, civic participation, and citizen rights and responsibilities.
This bill creates a new program within Alabama's Department of Education called the American History and Civics Excellence Initiative, which would offer high school teachers an online course focused on American history and civics topics. Teachers who complete the required 50-hour online course would become eligible for a special certification endorsement and could apply for a one-time $3,000 stipend if funding is approved. The State Board of Education would oversee the program and establish rules for implementation, while a program director would be appointed by the State Superintendent and confirmed by the Senate. The initiative aims to provide professional development for teachers in specific areas of American history and civic education.
This bill establishes the Alabama Balanced Instruction and Screen Use Act to limit screen-based instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms. It defines screen-based instruction as delivering educational content primarily through digital devices like laptops or tablets instead of direct teacher-led instruction. The bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards for screen use, including regular vision breaks and compliance with privacy laws. An Elementary Instructional Technology Task Force will be established to review research on screen use and make recommendations annually until 2030. Exceptions are made for online high school courses, summer school, and brief technology use for formative assessments during teacher-led instruction.
This bill requires Alabama's State Department of Education to create and publish an annual report card that evaluates the performance of all educator preparation programs and alternative teacher preparation organizations. The report card will include detailed metrics such as student pass rates, employment outcomes, retention rates, and satisfaction surveys from both graduates and their employers. To support this system, the bill mandates that these programs provide annual data to the department and allocates funding to help implement the reporting requirements. The State Board of Education will review the report cards each year to determine if any programs need additional support or intervention.
This bill modifies the Teachers' Retirement System to provide a longevity bonus to certain retirees and their beneficiaries. The key provision establishes that eligible individuals receiving monthly allowances from the system on or before September 30, 2026, will receive an additional bonus payment. The legislation also requires funding to be appropriated to the Teachers' Retirement System to cover these bonus payments. This change directly affects teachers and other public employees who are already retired and drawing benefits from the system. The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education.
