SB1 Alabama 2015 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Ahead Act, commencing with the 2012-2013 school year, phased in the provision of textbooks and other instructional materials to students and teachers in electronic format through pen-enabled tablets and mobile computers. The law provides for the reassignment of the tablets and mobile computers to students, requires the State Department of Education to establish an advisory committee, and provides for a bond issue. The law authorizes the Alabama Public School and College Authority to issue bonds for the purposes of the law contingent upon a separate legislative enactment

This bill, commencing with the 2015-2016 school year, would delete the requirement that the tablets and mobile computers be pen-enabled, would delete the phase-in provisions, would delete the reassignment provisions, and would revise the composition of the advisory committee

This bill would provide local school systems with the option of participating in the plan, and would require participating systems to contribute 25 percent of the funding from local school system funds, unless the requirement is waived or reduced by the State Department of Education

This bill would also amend the contingent implementation act provided in the originating act in order to allow bonds to be issued by the Alabama Public School and College Authority

To amend Sections 16-16B-1 and 16-16B-2, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Alabama Ahead Act; commencing with the 2015-2016 school year, to delete the requirement that tablets and mobile computers be pen-enabled; to delete the phase-in provisions; to delete the reassignment provisions; to revise the composition of the advisory committee; to make participation by local school systems voluntary; to require participating systems to contribute 25 percent of the funding from local school system funds, unless the requirement is waived or reduced by the State Department of Education; and to amend Section 14 of Act 2012-560, 2012 Regular Session, to delete the requirement that implementation of the act be contingent upon separate legislative enactment.