District officials clarify changes to principal salary stipends in underserved areas

A significant shift in Alabama's school funding structure was discussed during the Alabama House Education Policy Committee meeting on April 23, 2025. The focus was on the Direct Certification program, which determines eligibility for federal lunch programs based on families' participation in SNAP benefits.

Committee members clarified that the changes to Direct Certification would not impact the availability of lunches for students. Instead, the adjustments aim to refine how stipends are allocated to school principals and staff in underserved areas. The federal government recently modified the qualification criteria, allowing nearly every school to qualify for additional funding.

"This is not taking away; it's just putting back where it was before," explained one committee member, emphasizing that the changes are designed to streamline the process for distributing stipends to full-time principals and assistant principals. The stipends include $10,000 for principals and $5,000 for assistant principals, with additional funds for staff in harder-to-fill positions.

The committee also noted that these changes would not affect the current year's funding, as the stipends had already been determined under the previous guidelines. The new structure will take effect next year, requiring principals to meet specific professional development goals to qualify for the stipends.

As the committee moves forward, the focus will remain on ensuring that all students continue to receive necessary services while refining the support provided to educational leaders in Alabama's schools.