SB26 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Hank Sanders
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Foundation Program, alternative method for calculating teacher units in certain extreme circumstances, State Superintendent of Education to approve, Sec. 16-13-232 am'd.
Summary: SB26 lets local school boards use an alternate method to calculate teacher units for Foundation Program funding in extreme circumstances, with approval from the State Superintendent of Education.
What This Bill Does
It amends the Foundation Program formula to allow case-by-case use of an alternative average daily membership method in extreme circumstances (natural events, health issues, or other extenuating cases) as determined by the State Department of Education. It also changes how schools count staff units by adding instructional support units (for principals, assistant principals, counselors, and librarians) to the teacher units, and sets specific multipliers for principal and instructional staff units by school level. Beginning in 2008-2009 every school must have one full-time principal unit with level-based multipliers, and starting 2009-2010 salary supplement factors for instructional support units will be reviewed annually while not dropping below established levels; districts with early ADM growth may receive an extra teacher unit, and funds are allocated accordingly.

Who It Affects
Local boards of education and public school districts: may use an alternative ADM calculation method in extreme circumstances, which could change the number of teacher units they earn and the corresponding funding.
State education authorities (State Superintendent of Education and the State Department of Education): approve and implement the alternative method, determine case-by-case applicability, set calculation rules, adjust staffing unit factors, and oversee funding distribution.

Key Provisions
Authorizes local boards of education, with approval of the State Superintendent of Education, to use an alternative calculation method for determining teacher units in extreme circumstances.
Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, requires every school to earn one full-time principal unit; principal unit values are 0.7 for high schools, unit schools, and area vocational centers; 0.6 for middle schools; 0.5 for elementary schools.
Adds instructional support units for principals, assistant principals, counselors, and librarians, which are added to teacher units to determine total units; area vocational centers earn only one instructional support unit (a principal/director) and may continue to earn a counselor if it had one in 1994-95.
An instructional support unit earned for a principal shall be increased by 0.7 for high schools, unit schools, and area vocational centers; 0.6 for middle schools; 0.5 for elementary schools; an instructional support unit earned for an assistant principal shall be increased by 0.3; and an instructional support unit earned for a high school guidance counselor shall be increased by 0.1.
Beginning in 2009-2010, salary supplement factors for instructional support units shall be recommended annually by the State Board of Education to the Governor and Legislature, but shall not be less than the established factors.
Districts that show an increase in average daily membership during the first 20 scholastic days after Labor Day may be allowed one additional teacher unit or fraction for each specified number of pupils in subsection (b).
The State Department of Education shall certify the amount of additional current teacher units and adjust a district's regular allocation of state funds within 30 days of the first 20 days membership report.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Education