SB443 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Scott Beason

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Jimmy HolleyTrip PittmanBill HightowerGerald H. AllenDel MarshTom WhatleyGreg J. ReedShadrack McGillCam WardRusty GloverPaul SanfordHarri Anne Smith

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Public K-12 Education, moratorium on further adoption of common core until 1/1/17, local board of education may opt out and use alternative curriculum, advisory commission created

Summary

SB443 would pause the adoption of Common Core in Alabama public K-12 education through 2017, let local districts opt out of Math/ELA Common Core and use alternatives, require annual Math/ELA testing, and create an advisory commission to study the results.

What This Bill Does

It imposes a moratorium on further Common Core adoption or use until January 1, 2017. Local boards may opt out of the currently adopted Math and/or English Language Arts Common Core subjects and implement an alternative curriculum, standards, or instructional plans. Public schools would conduct annual proficiency tests in Math and ELA at at least three grade levels, using an independent testing agency and basing tests on pre-Common Core standards. It creates the Alabama Curriculum Standards Advisory Commission to evaluate testing procedures and report findings to the Governor and legislators, with protections for student data and no funding penalties tied to the chosen curriculum.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education and local school systems: may opt out of one or both currently adopted Common Core subjects and replace them with an alternative curriculum; must submit an opt-out plan to the State Department of Education.
• Public school students and their families: subject to annual Math/ELA testing; may exercise data privacy rights to limit data collection; testing data is protected and not shared outside Alabama except for required testing.

Key Provisions

• Moratorium on adopting or expanding the Common Core curriculum through January 1, 2017.
• Local boards may opt out of the Mathematics and/or English Language Arts Common Core subjects and implement an alternative curriculum, standards, or instructional plans.
• Opt-out requirements include a letter of intent, a board resolution, and an opt-out plan submitted to the State Department of Education.
• Annual proficiency testing in Math and ELA at three grade levels, conducted by an independent testing agency and based on pre-Common Core standards.
• Creation of the Alabama Curriculum Standards Advisory Commission to evaluate testing procedures and report results to the Governor and legislative leadership.
• No ceding of standards to outside entities; state funding remains unchanged regardless of curriculum choice; data collection protections for parents and students.

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