Alabama
U.S.
Rank
Rank
#21 C
Overall PPI Score: 74%
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Leadership
Your Governor:
Gov. Kay Ivey (R) (50)
Assumed office in 2017. Elected in 2018 (two consecutive term limit). Re-elected in 2022.
Entering her seventh year of office, Kay Ivey in early 2024 vowed to increase the amount and number of scholarships available to students with an expansive new Education Savings Account program, and by March she made good on her word. Both she and Lt. Gov Will Ainsworth have been consistently strong in their support of more opportunities for families.
STATE LEGISLATURE:
While the House and Senate had not been aggressive in efforts to boost parent power, recent activity has reassured families of their commitment. Not only did the legislature back the Governor’s proposal for expanded choices but the state has returned to pre-Covid reading levels, better than any other state.
Constitutional Issues
"Although the Alabama Constitution contains both a Compelled Support Clause and Blaine Amendment language, the Alabama courts have not interpreted these clauses expansively to prohibit school choice." (Institute for Justice)
A new charter school authorized by the state commission to open in Montgomery County had been challenged by the school boards association and education unions, but in March 2019 the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutionality of charter schools.
Transparency
School data is transparent and easy for parents to access. School report cards, financial data, and school performance reports can be found under the “Reports & Data'' tab on the main page of the Alabama Department of Education website. Report cards are filled with relevant information and are easy to read and understand. Viewers can review report cards of individual schools and even compare schools, which is a nice feature.
Educational options are presented under the “Community” section on the homepage, reinforcing the state’s support for educational freedom and transparency.
School Board elections in Alabama occur separately from the general election cycle, often resulting in reduced parental influence and a diminished ability to make their voices heard due to lower voter turnout.