SB430 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Roger Bedford, Jr.Quinton RossGeorge M. “Marc” KeaheyHank SandersPriscilla DunnRodger SmithermanWilliam “Bill” M. BeasleyTammy IronsBobby D. SingletonLinda Coleman-Madison

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 Sess., repealed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

SB430 creates the Local Control School Flexibility Act to allow innovative K-12 schools with flexibility contracts between local districts and the State Board of Education, repealing the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013.

What This Bill Does

The bill would allow innovative schools and school systems in Alabama and let the State Board of Education grant for either programmatic or budgetary flexibility (or both) by entering into school flexibility contracts with local districts in exchange for goals focused on college and career readiness. Local boards must provide an assurance of consistent leadership and commitment to standards and rigor, and must develop an innovation plan approved by their board and the State Department of Education to qualify for innovation status. The State Board would establish the implementation rules, timelines, and potential revocation processes, and the act would repeal the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013. It also requires safeguards to protect health, safety, ethics, records, civil rights, and employee rights, and prohibits forming charter schools.

Who It Affects

• Local school systems and local boards of education, who can pursue and manage school flexibility contracts and write innovation plans with required assurances and public input.
• Students and families in those systems, who may experience new innovative school options and programs while protections for health, safety, ethics, open records, civil rights, and employee rights are maintained.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013 and allows innovative schools and school systems in Alabama.
• Authorizes school flexibility contracts between the local school system and the State Board of Education to grant programmatic or budgetary flexibility from state laws, regulations, and policies in exchange for college and career readiness goals.
• Requires the local board of education to provide a document of assurance confirming leadership consistency and commitment to standards, assessments, and academic rigor, and requires an innovation plan approved by the local board and submitted to the State Superintendent of Education.
• The State Board of Education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the act, including timelines, and procedures to revoke noncompliant contracts.
• Local systems must submit an innovation plan that includes a start year, the specific waivers requested, and the schools involved; the plan and contract must be publicly accessible on the district website.
• Defines key terms: FLEXIBILITY CONTRACT, INNOVATION PLAN, LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION, LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, and SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR.
• The innovation plan must include annual accountability measures and five-year targets for participating schools; the local system remains accountable to the state under accountability rules and cannot waive federal health/safety, ethics, open records/meetings, financial or civil rights laws.
• Prohibits forming charter schools; allows voluntary waivers only if rights under the Students First Act are preserved for affected employees.
• Requires equal opportunity for all districts in applying for flexibility, preventing favoritism based on size, location, or student population.
• Repeals the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013 (Act 2013-64) and states the act is effective immediately upon passage.

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