Alabama school system

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The Alabama public school system (prekindergarten-grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards members and superintendents.

The Alabama state constitution requires that the state legislature establish and maintain a public school system.[1]

[edit] School revenues, expenditures and budget

See also: Alabama state budget
Alabama's Education Trust Fund is $6.33 billion.

The state of Alabama's total state budget is divided into two parts: the General Fund, funds everything that is not education related, and the Education Trust Fund, which funds all education functions of the state.[2] In FY 2008-2009 the state General Fund was estimated at $1.77 billion.[3] The Education Trust Fund was estimated at $6.33 billion in the same fiscal year.[4] State income tax makes up approximately 54% of the Education Trust Fund.[5]

  • In late August 2009, state board of education officials said that K-12 schools may receive about $3.5 billion in 2011, about $900 million less than in 2008.[6]
  • According to state officials revenue for education trust fund was down 9.7 percent, or $463.5 million, as of July 2009.[6]

[edit] Personnel salaries

In the 2006-2007 school year of the Alabama education staff: 2,855 teachers had six-year Doctorate Degrees, 22,418 had Master's Degree, 18,785 had Bachelor's Degrees and 762 had Alternative Baccalaureate Degrees.Alabama spent a reports $11.20 million on personnel costs in the 2006-2007 school year.[7]

[edit] Role of unions

The main union related to the Alabama school system is Alabama Education Association (AEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). For the 2003 tax period AEA had: $16.0 million in total revenue, $16.2 million in total expenses and $18.1 million in total assets.[8]

List of local Alabama school unions:[9]

[edit] Role of school boards

The State Board of Education consists of nine members. The governor serves as the president of the board. The superintendent serves as the chief executive officer.[10] The superintendent of education is elected by "qualified electors of the state" every four years.[11] Additionally, the board consists of a seven district representatives, one of which serves as vice president.[10]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying

See also: Alabama taxpayer-funded lobbying

The main education taxpayer-funded lobbying organization is the Alabama School Boards Association.

[edit] Transparency

See also: Alabama transparency headlines

Alabama Policy Institute (API), a non-profit organization, conducts research on education and transparency throughout the state. In 2007 they published a piece called, Alabama's Public Education Funding Dilemma: Does Funding Influence Outcomes?. The article focuses on drawing a connection between state funding and education progress. In terms of education progress the article analyzes dropout rates, readiness for the workforce and/or college and academic proficiency.

On February 11, 2009, Governor Bob Riley signed an Executive Order to create a state spending database.[12] The order mandated that the site, to be operated by the state Department of Finance, be up by March 1, 2009. The site was launched recently,[13] and is now available to citizens.

[edit] Reports

A 2009 study, Leaders and Laggards, conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workplace, Frederick M. Hess of the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Center for American Progress, gave Alabama: "F" in academic achievement; "D" in truth in advertising about student proficiency; "B" in rigor of standards; "F" in post-secondary and workforce readiness; "B" in for its teacher workforce policies; "B" in data quality.[14]

[edit] Audits

  • In August 2009 state official's moved to revoke the certification after discovering that a convicted teacher was still receiving a salary, under the Alabama teacher tenure law, while in prison. The teacher is currently serving a 10-year term in a federal prison after being convicted of "enticing a 14-year-old-boy for sex."[15]

[edit] Academic performance

The following table outlines the number of schools that received "A," "B," "C/D," or "Not Passing" grades for the years 2004 through 2007, according to statewide Adequate Yearly Progress reports. "A" represents schools that received anywhere from 90-100% on exams, "B" represents 80-89.99%, "C/D" represents 60-79.99%, "Not Passing" represents schools that scored lower than 60%.[7]

School year Grade A Grade B Grades C/D Not Passing Total # of schools
2004-05 972 216 109 69 1,366
2005-06 1,293 43 11 17 1,364
2006-07 1,299 35 17 7 1,358

[edit] School choice

School choice options include:

  • Charter schools: the state of Alabama does not have a charter school law.[16]
  • Public school open enrollment: Alabama does not have an open enrollment policy.[17]
  • Online learning: Alabama has a state-sponsored program called Access Distance Learning, a 9th through 12th grade program. In the 2007-2008 school the program had approximately 18,995 course enrollments.[18]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Alabama Constitution,"Article XIV, Section 256," retrieved September 3, 2009
  2. ↑ Political Parlor Blog,"Alabama Budget Process in a Nutshell," June 27,2007
  3. ↑ State of Alabama,"State General Fund Net Receipts FY 2003-2004 - 2008-2009," retrieved September 2, 2009
  4. ↑ State of Alabama,"Education Trust Fund Net Receipts FY 2003-2004 - 2008-2009," retrieved September 2, 2009
  5. ↑ The Hunstville Times,"More budget woes," March 18,2009
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Huntsville Times,"Schools expect more cuts," August 28, 2009
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Alabama Department of Education,"Annual Report: 2006-2007," retrieved September 3, 2009
  8. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"Alabama Education Association," retrieved September 2, 2009
  9. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"Alabama teachers unions," retrieved September 2, 2009
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Alabama State Department of Education,"About the State Board of Education," retrieved September 3, 2009
  11. ↑ Alabama Constitution,"Article V, Section 114," retrieved September 3, 2009
  12. ↑ AL.com, "Ala. governor signs order on state spending," February 11, 2009
  13. ↑ waaytv.com, "Governor Riley’s Executive Order Lifts Veil on State Spending," March 4, 2009
  14. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute,"Alabama Education Report Card," retrieved November 16, 2009
  15. ↑ Associated Press,"Alabama teacher draws salary while in prison," August 7, 2009
  16. ↑ Alabama Policy Institute,"Charter Schools," retrieved September 2, 2009
  17. ↑ Education Commission of the States," Open Enrollment: 50-State Report," retrieved September 2, 2009
  18. ↑ The Heritage Foundation,"School Choice Alabama," retrieved September 3, 2009
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Alabama school system
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