Alabama Legislature passes historic Charter Schools bill

UPDATE: Governor Bentley signed the bill into law Thursday afternoon, codifying the state’s first charter schools legislation.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday passed a historic charter schools bill, expanding school choice opportunities for Alabama children and families across the state. The bill now goes to Governor Bentley’s desk to be signed into law.

After 6 hours of debate in the Senate last week, and 3 hours of debate in the House Wednesday, the lower chamber passed the bill 58-41. All but 13 Republicans voted for the bill; one Democrat abstained, the rest voted against the bill.

The bill was then sent back to the Senate for them to concur, which they did by a vote of 24-11.

“I want to thank all those who were involved in the process of passing this legislation including the Alabama Coalition for Public Charter Schools, the Black Alliance for Educational Options, and Students First. I am glad we were able to bring so many to the table and give Alabama parents the best educational options possible,” said the bill’s Senate sponsor Del Marsh in a release after final passage. “Throughout this whole process, we worked closely with the Executive and the Legislative branches and I look forward to Governor Bentley signing the School Choice and Student Opportunity Act.”

Once Governor Bentley signs the bill Alabama will be the 43rd state to adopt a charter schools program.

“I think it’s ended up being an excellent bill,” Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur), the bill’s sponsor in the House, told Yellowhammer Wednesday evening. “I think it’s going to provide choice for our parents and students, and give them opportunities that they’ve never had before.”

The charters legislation is one of the “Alabama First” priorities outlined by the House GOP at the beginning of the session.

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are operated by independent, non-government groups. They are open to all children, do not charge tuition and do not have special requirements for admission.

Charter schools have the freedom to get out from under burdensome government regulations and the bureaucracy to which many public schools are beholden. They have more flexibility when it comes to curriculum and the hours they meet, and are not bound by teachers’ union contracts. That gives them more leeway with regard to what teachers they hire and fire. Charters would still be required to administer state testing so the state can monitor each school’s progress relative to traditional public schools.

“We hear in the Legislature that a lot of parents feel trapped, that they don’t have options based on where they live,” Rep. Collins said.

“Local systems want to have the most control and authority, and this bill gives them that capability,” she said. “If they’ve got some areas where they need help, they have every ability in this legislation to go in and do the things they need to do.”

The legislation will allow Alabama to start up to 10 public charter schools per year for the first 5 years, though there is no limit on how many existing traditional public schools could convert into a charter program. Students would be able to participate in sports sanctioned by the Alabama High School Athletic Association, and schools would still need to meet the academic measures defined by the state.

Charter schools legislation had broad support from across the political spectrum, including the organization Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO).

“We are thrilled that the Alabama Legislature has taken such a powerful step in providing options for families in Alabama regardless of how much they make,” said BAEO Alabama State Director Duncan Kirkwood. “Charter schools are not the be all end all to fix all the problems we have in education across the state, but it will be a powerful tool for countless families. We have seen some of the successes of charter schools in other places, like Urban Prep in Chicago which has 100% Black students, and are 100% free and reduced lunch, not just have 100% graduation, but 100% college acceptance for the last 5 years. That is the sort of education we need to be giving to at risk youth across this state.”

In a statement released after the bill passed the House, House Minority Leader Craig Ford (D-Gadsden) implored Governor Bentley to veto the bill, calling charter schools a “scam.”

“Just like with the budget crisis, legislative leaders are avoiding the problem; they are not actually helping or fixing failing schools,” he said.

The Alabama Education Association (AEA) mounted a lackluster fight against the bill after suffering a string of recent defeats, and the loss of its leader, Henry Mabry.

AEA will act like they won something with $36k min. teacher salary amendment. Charter schools min. salary is higher than that! #alpolitics

— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) March 19, 2015