School Flexibility:

• HB84​ (Sponsor: Rep. Chad Fincher)
  
  This bill would establish the Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013.
  
  This bill would authorize the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in the State of Alabama.
  
  This bill would allow the State Board of Education to enter into a school flexibility contract with a local school system to allow for programmatic flexibility or budgetary flexibility, or both, from state laws, including State Board of Education rules, regulations, and policies in exchange for academic and associated goals for students that focus on college and career readiness.
  
  This bill would require the local board of education to submit a document of assurance that the local board shall provide consistency in leadership and a commitment to the standards, assessments, and academic rigor expected in Alabama. This bill would require the local school system to submit a proposed innovation plan recommended by the local superintendent of education and approved by the local board of education to the State Superintendent of Education in order to qualify for innovation status. This bill would also authorize the State Board of Education to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations as required for implementation.

• SB54 (Sponsor: Sen. Bill Holtzclaw)

  This bill would establish the Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013.
  
  This bill would authorize the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in the State of Alabama.
  
  This bill would allow the State Board of Education to enter into a school flexibility contract with a local school system to allow for programmatic flexibility or budgetary flexibility, or both, from state laws, including State Board of Education rules, regulations, and policies in exchange for academic and associated goals for students that focus on college and career readiness.
  
  This bill would require the local board of education to submit a document of assurance that the local board shall provide consistency in leadership and a commitment to the standards, assessments, and academic rigor expected in Alabama.
  
  This bill would require the local school system to submit a proposed innovation plan recommended by the local superintendent of education and approved by the local board of education to the State Superintendent of Education in order to qualify for innovation status. This bill would also authorize the State Board of Education to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations as required for implementation.

• SB190 (Sponsor: Sen. Dick Brewbaker)
  

  Under existing law, the State Board of Education is directed to establish a core curriculum for every student in grades kindergarten through twelve in the state's public schools.
  
  This bill would prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting and the Department of Education from implementing the Common Core State Standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
  
  This bill would prohibit the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, and other state bodies from compiling or sharing data about students or teachers, except under limited circumstances.
  
  This bill would prohibit the State Board of Education from entering into an agreement or joining a consortium that would cede any control to an entity outside the state.
  
  This bill would also require public notice and hearings before the State Board of Education adopts or implements any statewide standards.

• HB254 (Sponsor: Rep. Jim Barton)
  
  Under existing law, the State Board of Education is directed to establish a core curriculum for every student in grades kindergarten through twelve in the state's public schools.
  
  This bill would prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting and the Department of Education from implementing the Common Core State Standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
  
  This bill would prohibit the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, and other state bodies from compiling or sharing data about students or teachers, except under limited circumstances.
  
  This bill would prohibit the State Board of Education from entering into an agreement or joining a consortium that would cede any control to an entity outside the state.
  
  This bill would also require public notice and hearings before the State Board of Education adopts or implements any statewide standards.

• HB541 
  
  This bill would establish the Education Options Act of 2012. 
  This bill authorizes the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in this state by creating a process whereby school systems may enter into a school flexibility contract with the State Department of Education that allows for flexibility from state laws, including State Board of Education rules, regulations, and policies, in exchange for academic and associated goals.
  This bill also authorizes the establishment of public charter schools in this state and specifically provides that any public charter school established pursuant to this bill is part of the state's public education system. Further, this bill provides that only nonprofit, nonreligious organizations may apply to receive a charter.

• HB650
  
  This bill would establish the Education Options Act of 2012.
  This bill authorizes the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in this state by creating a process whereby school systems may enter into a school flexibility contract with the State Department of Education that allows for flexibility from state laws, including State Board of Education rules, regulations, and policies, in exchange for academic and associated goals.
  This bill also authorizes the establishment of public charter schools in priority local school systems and specifically provides that any public charter school established pursuant to this bill is part of the state's public education system. Further, this bill provides that only nonprofit, nonreligious organizations may apply to receive a charter.

• SB513
  
  Establishing the Education Options Act of 2012; to provide an overview of the act; to provide legislative findings and purposes; to provide definitions; to authorize school systems to enter into school flexibility contracts with the state; to provide for the Charter School Application Review Council; to provide for the process to be followed before a school flexibility contract is executed; to provide for the roles and responsibilities of the State Department of Education relating to public charter schools; to provide enrollment requirements for public charter schools; to provide for the roles and responsibilities of public charter school authorizers; to provide for the process of requesting proposals for public charter school applications; to specify who may apply to open a public charter school; to provide for the charter contract; to provide for the operation and funding of public charter schools; to provide for public charter school facilities; to provide for extracurricular and interscholastic opportunities; and to provide for an effective date.

School Rewards:

• HB585
  
  Under existing law, the state does not have a performance incentive program for public K-12 schools. 
  This bill would establish the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program.

• SB540
  
  Under existing law, the state does not have a performance incentive program for public K-12 schools. 
  This bill would establish the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program.

Virtual/Digital Learning:

• HB165
  
  Relating to public 9-12 education; to provide all students and teachers, where available, approved textbooks and instructional materials in electronic format and, where feasible, to provide a pen-enabled: tablet, mobile computer, or similar wireless electronic device for storing, reading, accessing, exploring, and interacting with digital textbooks and other instructional materials; to authorize the Alabama Public School 

• SB548
  
  Existing law does not specifically authorize the State Department of Education to develop and implement an online distance learning program for students in grades K-12.
  This bill would require the State Department of Education to establish the Alabama Virtual Instruction Program based upon a program proven successful in another state.

School Grades:

• HB588
  
  Relating to public K-12 education; to require the State Superintendent of Education to develop a school grading system reflective of school and district performance; and to create the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program.

School Flexibility:

• SB365
  
  This bill would establish the Alabama School Flexibility Act of 2012.
  This bill would authorize the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in the State of Alabama.
  This bill would allow the State Board of Education to enter into a school flexibility contract with a local school system to allow for programmatic flexibility or budgetary flexibility, or both, from state laws, including State Board of Education rules, regulations, and policies in exchange for academic and associated goals for students that focus on college and career readiness.
  This bill would require the local board of education to submit a document of assurance that the board shall provide consistency in leadership and a commitment to the standards, assessments, and academic rigor expected in Alabama.
  This bill would require the local school system to submit a proposed innovation plan recommended by the local superintendent of education and approved by the local board of education to the State Superintendent of Education in order to qualify for innovation status.
  This bill would also authorize the State Board of Education to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations as required for implementation.

Teacher Layoffs:

• HB657
  
  Under existing law, each local board of education is required to adopt a reduction-in-force policy to objectively govern layoffs, recalls, and notifications of layoffs and recalls.
  This bill would prohibit the consideration of certain credentials in making staffing decisions.
  This bill would require the use by the board of a weighted determination of demonstrated effectiveness of an employee in advancing student achievement in making staffing decisions.
  This bill would also provide for the temporary use of an interim reduction-in-force policy.

• SB550
  
  Under existing law, each local board of education is required to adopt a reduction-in-force policy to objectively govern layoffs, recalls, and notifications of layoffs and recalls.
  This bill would prohibit the consideration of seniority in making staffing decisions.
  This bill would also require the use by the board of a weighted determination of demonstrated effectiveness of an employee in advancing student achievement in making staffing decisions.

School Calendar:

• HB360
  
  To establish the Flexible School Calendar Act of 2012; to amend Section 16-13-231, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended by Act 2011-235, 2011 Regular Session (Acts 2011, p. **), relating to the public education Foundation Program Fund; to require each local board of education to establish a local calendar providing 180 full instructional days, or the hourly equivalent thereof, per school year for the computation of Foundation Program Fund benefits; to establish parameters for when academic instruction for students may begin and end in the public elementary and secondary schools of the state; and in connection therewith to have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.

Education Trust Fund

• SB143 
  
  To make a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $2,313,850 from the Education Trust Fund to the State Department of Education for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, to pay the entire $5,000 salary supplement to teachers for the fiscal years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 who complete the process to become certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards; and to authorize the payment of the same annual salary supplement provided for teachers for any principal who receives national board certification.

• SB257
  
  Providing for an annual appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to each classroom teacher in public school grades K to 12 in the sum of $300 for classroom supplies; and providing for the promulgation of rules.