The Alabama House of Representatives passed SB289 on Tuesday, advanced legislation that will require K-12 schools to implement a “success sequence” curriculum aimed at improving long-term economic outcomes for students.
Sponsored by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and carried in the House by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), the bill directs the State Board of Education to develop standards for a curriculum emphasizing three milestones: graduating high school, securing full-time employment, and marrying before having children.
Local school boards would be responsible for incorporating the curriculum — at least twice before graduation — through age-appropriate formats, such as school assemblies or integration into existing classes.
RELATED: Bill to bring proven anti-poverty ‘success sequence’ to Alabama classrooms passes Senate
Garrett said the legislation is rooted in data-backed research showing that young people who follow the three-step sequence are significantly less likely to live in poverty.
“These are not formulas that are going to work for everybody every time,” Garrett said. “But if you do these three things in that sequence, your likelihood of being in poverty is dramatically reduced.”
During floor discussion, Garrett recounted the story of former University of Georgia football player Malcolm Mitchell, who learned to read as a college athlete and now advocates for literacy.
Garrett cited Mitchell’s experience as a case study in the importance of exposing young people—especially those from difficult backgrounds—to basic life expectations and success strategies.
He also emphasized that the curriculum is not meant to assign values but to present evidence-based information that students may not otherwise receive. “You’re giving somebody information that maybe they’re not getting,” he said. “Here’s what the data shows. It’s not getting into parenting—it’s just letting a kid know there’s a better way.”
RELATED: ALGOP Chairman urges state lawmakers to pass ‘success sequence’ legislation
State Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville), a former educator, said she appreciated the intent but urged careful consideration of how the message is delivered. “I hope we can work together to bring all these things to a more cohesive and big-picture kind of approach,” Hall said. “If we’re planning to do things like this, we need to make sure the resources are available.”
Some lawmakers raised concerns about the burden placed on educators and how students might interpret the material in relation to their home lives. Garrett responded by noting the bill’s flexibility. “It’s not an intensive, rigorous curriculum,” he said. “It could be a speaker once or twice a year. It gives latitude to each system to determine how to deliver the message.”
The bill references academic studies from the Brookings Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as its foundational research.
It will now return to the Senate for concurrence before heading to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk.
Garrett summarized the bill’s goal simply: “Let’s step up and tell our children these are the secrets that the data shows—three things done in this sequence are statistically helpful. And maybe that will resonate.”
Today is day 28 of the legislative session. There are two legislative days remaining.
Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at [email protected].
