HB559 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Co-Sponsors

Berry ForteJames E. BuskeyMary MooreGreg BurdineJohn RobinsonLaura HallRichard LindseyDaniel H. BomanRod ScottMerika ColemanJohnny Mack MorrowJoe HubbardDarrio MeltonDavid ColstonElaine BeechPatricia ToddJohn W. RogersLawrence McAdoryJohn F. Knight JrBarbara Bigsby BoydChris EnglandPebblin W. WarrenDexter GrimsleyArtis McCampbellNapoleon BracyMarcel BlackJuandalynn Givan

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013, provides for creation of innovative K-12 schools, flexibility contracts between local boards of education and the State Board of Education, and authorize State Board of Education to promulgate rules, Act 2013-64, 2013 Reg. Sess., repealed

Summary

The Local Control School Flexibility Act would let Alabama create innovative K-12 schools and give local districts more flexibility from state laws in exchange for meeting college and career readiness goals.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in Alabama. It allows the State Board of Education to enter into school flexibility contracts with local districts to grant programmatic or budgetary flexibility from state laws and policies, in exchange for academic goals focused on college and career readiness. It requires local boards to provide an assurance document and an innovation plan approved by the local board and submitted to the State Department of Education, and it directs the State Board to create implementing rules; it also repeals the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education and local school systems would decide to pursue school flexibility contracts and develop innovation plans, gaining authority to waive certain state rules in exchange for accountability targets.
• Students and staff in participating schools would experience changes in curriculum, programs, staffing, and budgeting under new accountability and flexibility arrangements, with protections for minimum salary requirements, tenure rights, health and safety, ethics, open records, and civil rights preserved.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013 and authorizes the creation of innovative schools and school systems in Alabama.
• Allows the State Board of Education to enter into school flexibility contracts with local systems, permitting waivers from state laws, regulations, and policies in return for targets on college and career readiness.
• Requires local boards to provide a document of assurance of leadership consistency and commitment to state standards, assessments, and academic rigor, and to submit an innovation plan approved by the local board and the State Department of Education.
• Authorizes the State Board to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the act, including timelines and procedures, and to revoke a flexibility contract for noncompliance or nonperformance.
• Repeals the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013 and ensures equal opportunity among school systems; prohibits forming charter schools under this act; preserves protections on federal requirements, health and safety, ethics, open records, and civil rights, plus salary and tenure protections.
• Contains public input requirements (including hearings) and requires accessibility of the innovation plan and contract proposal on local websites; sets a 60-day decision window for the State Superintendent of Education to approve or deny.

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