SB1 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Alabama Ahead Act, commencing with 2015-2016 school year, to delete pen-enabled requirement, phase-in requirement and reassignment provisions, advisory committee revised, schools participation voluntary, local school systems to contribute 25 percent of funding, Section 14 of Act 2012-560, 2012 Reg. Sess., am'd; Secs. 16-16B-1, 16-16B-2 am'd.

Summary

SB1 would make Alabama Ahead voluntary for districts, remove pen-enabled, phase-in, and reassignment requirements, and fund broadband infrastructure and classroom devices starting in 2015-2016, with bond financing and updated oversight.

What This Bill Does

Participating districts may implement Alabama Ahead and must contribute 25% of funding unless the Department of Education waives or reduces it. The bill directs funds to build high-quality Wi‑Fi infrastructure and provide mobile devices to access digital instructional materials in classrooms, replacing some textbook use where feasible. It appropriates $110 million from the Education Trust Fund to the Alabama Public School and College Authority to implement the act for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, with per-pupil distribution, and allows bonds to be issued to support the program. It also updates the advisory committee and removes the contingency that implementation required separate legislative action.

Who It Affects

• Local school systems/districts: may choose to participate and must provide 25% of funding (subject to waivers/reductions by the DOE).
• Students and teachers in public schools: would gain access to digital instructional materials via improved Wi‑Fi and mobile devices, reducing reliance on traditional textbooks.

Key Provisions

• Deletes pen-enabled requirement, phase-in provisions, and reassignment provisions starting with the 2015-2016 school year.
• Participation becomes voluntary for local districts and they must contribute 25% of funding (subject to DOE waivers).
• Funds must be used to build high-quality broadband WLAN infrastructure and provide mobile digital devices to access digital instructional materials in classrooms.
• Allocates $110,000,000 from the Education Trust Fund to the Alabama Public School and College Authority for implementation, with per-pupil distribution; bonds may be issued to finance the program.
• Amends Section 14 of Act 2012-560 to remove the contingency that implementation depends on separate legislative enactment; revises the Alabama Ahead Advisory Committee.

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

Subjects

Alabama Ahead Act