Selected Education Facts

Q: Where does Alabama currently stand in its support for public education?
A: Alabama ranks last in the region and 48th nationally in public school revenues per pupil:

Georgia $7,997 U.S. average 7,808 Florida 7,153 *S. Carolina 7,110 *Kentucky 6,846 N. Carolina 6,572	*Louisiana 6,367 *Peer states average 6,364 *Arkansas 5,792 Tennessee 5,710 *Mississippi 5,706 *Alabama 5,596
*Considered "peer" states due to per capita income comparable to Alabama.

Q: What is Alabama's capacity to support public education?
A: Per capita personal income is the most commonly used indicator of a state's fiscal or tax capacity. Alabama ranks 3rd among its six peer southeastern states (see chart above) with a per capita income of $22,706. However, Alabama's tax effort—the average of what citizens pay in state and local taxes—is $2,007 per capita, placing us last among our peer states, last in the region and last in the nation. If Alabama were to collect simply the average of its peer states, it would have $1.6 billion more for public education and services.

Q: What does adequate funding mean?
A: There is no easy or certain answer to this question. Almost everyone would agree that Alabama's level of funding should, at a minimum, equal or exceed the average of its "peer' southeastern states that have comparable tax capacities. The State Board of Education has developed a comprehensive plan to offer an adequate education to every student in Alabama, including modern textbooks and supplies, a pre-K program, ongoing professional training, enhanced technology and improved facilities. That plan would require an additional $1.6 billion in revenue. We may disagree about the exact amount needed to reach adequacy, but there is no denying that substantially improved funding is needed in Alabama.

Q: How can revenue for schools be raised?
A: Property tax rates provide the most stable source of funding for education even in a slow economy (and the payments are tax-deductible!). Property tax rates in Alabama are lower than any other state in the U.S. The greatest gap in education funding is at the local level. Local tax support in Alabama ranges from a low of $302 per student (Roanoke City) to a high of $5,175 per student (Homewood City).

Q: How does Alabama's local property tax funding compare?
A: Alabama does not compare favorably to any state in its local support through property taxes for public schools. For example, the highest school property tax rate in Alabama is Mountain Brook's 52.9 mills, which is less than the local property tax rate of 26% of Mississippi's school systems. Of Mississippi's school systems, 99% have local property tax rates higher than the median rate in Alabama cities and counties.

Q: Does ALL of the increased funding need to be raised at one time?
A: No. It may take us several years to catch up to the regional average, but we need to start now. The state legislature should increase now the level of local support required to receive state funding, and cities and counties should begin work to increase local revenue generated for local schools. All policymakers should continue to work to increase efficiency and to make wise use of new funds generated through economic growth.

Q: Why should I make a commitment to become more involved in providing adequate support for Alabama schools?
A: Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, an employer, a homeowner or a citizen, you will benefit from improved public education. Improved education will provide better job opportunities, reduce crime, increase your property values, improve the performance of your employees, improve services from your police officer and your dentist, and raise the average income and quality of life for all Alabamians.

Q: What is the purpose of "Becoming Committed?"
A: Informed Alabama citizens who are committed to improving our public education system need to have their voices heard! We need to let our elected officials know we believe improving education is the most important issue in our communities and our state, and we should challenge them to exercise the leadership necessary to raise additional funding to provide an adequate educational system.

Q: What can I do to help?
A: First, sign this commitment and encourage others to do the same! Talk with your local and state elected leaders about your commitment to increased public education funding. Work with other citizens to gain support for reasonable tax referendums. And it is very important that you VOTE to support additional local revenues for education and to support elected leaders who are COMMITTED to improving public education.