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Board approves charter‑school rule, priority‑school transfers and dozens of education measures
Summary
At its Dec. 14, 2023 meeting, the Alabama State Board of Education adopted an administrative code change on conversion charter oversight, approved an updated rule tied to priority schools and approved numerous routine resolutions and educator‑preparation program continuations; several actions were unanimous and one recusal was recorded.
The Alabama State Board of Education on Dec. 14, 2023, in Montgomery approved a package of administrative and policy actions, including an administrative code amendment on charter schools, an updated rule to align transfer opportunities to the new priority‑school designation and a series of routine approvals for course committees, textbooks and educator‑preparation programs.
The board approved an amendment to Alabama Administrative Code chapter 290‑3‑6 clarifying oversight of conversion charter schools and confirming that the same funding formula that applies to non‑charter public schools applies to charter schools. Doctor Mackey told the board the changes align the code with legislative changes made earlier in the year and make clear that local school boards remain the authorizers of conversion charters; appeals processes for conversion charters to the charter commission were removed by statute and appeals must go to the department. The board adopted the item after the required public comment period.
Board members also adopted amended rule 290‑4‑10.04 to reflect the legislature's creation of a new "priority schools" category tied to the state A–F report card. Under the updated rule, districts will be required to notify families when a school receives a D or F and describe options available under law, including scholarship application opportunities or intra‑district transfer opportunities subject to receiving systems' acceptance. Department staff said letters to superintendents and template parent notifications will be issued after the board's adoption and after the state report card is released.
The board voted to announce its intent to adopt amended rule 290‑3‑10.02 pertaining to regulations governing public schools; those amendments codify a financial‑literacy exam required by last year's legislation and formalize an existing civics exam requirement. The motion to announce intent to adopt begins the 45‑day public comment period required for rulemaking.
Members approved a number of consent and action items that carried with little discussion: appointment of state course‑of‑study committees for fine arts and social studies; adoption of career and technical education course clusters in arts, AV technology and communications, health science and human services; textbook adoptions for selected career and technical education subjects; and the continuation of educator‑preparation program approvals at multiple campuses.
Notable procedural actions included continued program approvals for Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Athens State University, Auburn University, Miles College (one board member recused), University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of West Alabama, Stillman College, Troy University and Tuskegee University. The board also approved the 2023‑24 state superintendent's evaluation and adopted the K‑12 meeting and work‑session dates for 2024.
Most votes were taken by voice or hand and recorded as carried; the transcript records one explicit recusal during the Miles College approval. Where required by changes to the administrative code, staff noted the 45‑day public comment periods had been observed for the rule changes presented at this meeting. Several recognition resolutions — including a Milken Educator Award citation for Corey Cunningham and two national ESEA distinguished school recognitions — were adopted by unanimous voice vote.
The board closed its meeting after taking the items on the agenda and noted that staff will issue follow‑up guidance and notices to districts as required by the adopted rule changes.
