HB360 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Co-Sponsors

Randy DavisMike HillJoe FaustChad FincherSteve McMillanJamie IsonMark Tuggle

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Foundation Program Fund, local boards of education authorized to establish local school calendar providing 180 instructional days for computation of benefits, Flexible School Calendar Act, Sec. 16-13-231 am'd.; Act 2011-235, 2011 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

HB360 creates a Flexible School Calendar that requires local boards to use a calendar with 180 instructional days or the hourly equivalent for Foundation Program Fund calculations, with flexible start and end dates and related funding rules.

What This Bill Does

It requires local boards to provide 180 full instructional days or hours for Foundation Program Fund calculations. It sets calendar timing such that the first day of instruction cannot be earlier than two calendar weeks before Labor Day and the last day cannot be later than the Friday before Memorial Day, with an August 31 exception if that date is a Monday. From 2012-2013 through 2015-2016, districts gain flexibility to adjust days or extend hours, and there are emergency provisions to replace cancelled days by extending hours, plus relief if a governor declared emergency. The bill also establishes local funding and salary protections and imposes reporting requirements, while noting the act is exempt from Amendment 621 and becomes law after a set effective date.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education who must establish calendars, meet funding requirements, and report fund allocations
• Teachers and school employees who must be paid at least the state minimum salary and are protected from salary reductions due to calendar changes

Key Provisions

• 180 full instructional days or hourly equivalent required for Foundation Program Fund calculations
• Calendar timing constraints: start no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day and end no later than the Friday before Memorial Day, with an August 31 Monday exception
• Allowable flexibility from 2012-2013 to 2015-2016 to adjust days or extend instructional hours; emergency day provisions with relief options
• Local boards must maintain a local funding effort equivalent to 10 mills and allocate funds equitably across schools, with annual reporting to the State Board of Education
• Salaries: local boards must pay teachers at least 100 percent of the State Minimum Salary Schedule and may not reduce salaries due to this act
• Foundation Program cost components defined (teacher salaries, fringe benefits, instructional support, other current expenses) and the possibility for the State Board to study and propose changes
• Exemption from Amendment 621; the act is funded and implemented through local expenditures only
• Effective date: begins on the first day of the third month after passage; includes a required fiscal impact report to be prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Office

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education