HB107 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark Tuggle

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Virtual Public Schools Act, providing alternative virtual public schools through state, Department of Postsecondary Education, or local boards of education, providing for funding, annual evaluation by State Department of Education, and providing for promulgation of rules

Summary

HB107 would create the Virtual Public Schools Act to establish online public schools in Alabama, funded like other public schools and overseen with annual evaluations and rules.

What This Bill Does

It would authorize virtual schools to be established by the State Board of Education, the Department of Postsecondary Education, or local boards. Virtual schools would receive per-student state and federal funding equal to traditional public schools, with local fund sharing and potential administrative costs. The bill requires a standards-based online curriculum, the same number of instructional days, regular assessments, and mastery-based credit where appropriate, along with annual evaluation of each virtual school. It also sets expectations for materials, technology access, teacher qualifications, enrollment options (full-time or part-time), and rulemaking to implement the program.

Who It Affects

• Families of K-12 students who may enroll in virtual public schools, gaining online learning options and required access to curriculum and technology.
• Public school districts, local boards, and the State Department of Education, which would handle authorization, funding allocation, oversight, and governance of virtual schools, as well as teacher qualification and contract arrangements.

Key Provisions

• Authorizers for virtual schools include the State Board of Education, the Department of Postsecondary Education, or a local board of education, with charter-like standards for approving virtual schools.
• Virtual schools must be funded per student the same as nonvirtual public schools, including applicable transportation, health, technology, and other line items, with quarterly disbursements and possible administrative costs for oversight; local funds are shared via agreement between the local board and the virtual school authorizer; special education funding is treated by direct state/federal allocation when applicable.
• Curriculum and student requirements include a sequential, standards-based online curriculum, a similar number of instructional days as traditional schools, and regular assessments; students can earn credits by mastery and be credited for completed courses.
• Enrollment and operations include providing instructional materials and technology access, allowing full-time or part-time enrollment, requiring qualified teachers, maintaining an in-state administrative office, annual evaluation by the State Board, and the State Department of Education to promulgate implementing rules; virtual schools may be managed by nonprofits or for-profit entities.

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

Subjects

Virtual Public Schools Act