SB17 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Alabama Ahead Act, commencing with 2016-2017 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

SB17 replaces pen-enabled tablets with a voluntary plan to deploy statewide broadband Wi-Fi in all public classrooms and fund digital resources, supported by up to $75 million, beginning in 2016-2017.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the pen-enabled tablet requirement, the phase-in schedule, the reassignment of devices, and the advisory committee. It creates the Alabama Ahead Implementation Committee and makes local school participation voluntary. It prioritizes funding to build high-quality broadband Wi‑Fi in every classroom, with remaining funds used for mobile digital resources, and allows districts to apply for funding to support this plan. It also appropriates up to $75 million to implement the act for the 2017 fiscal year and removes the contingency that implementation required separate legislative enactment.

Who It Affects

• Local school systems (districts) in Alabama: may choose to participate in the Alabama Ahead plan and could receive state funds to install broadband infrastructure and acquire digital resources.
• Students and teachers in public schools: would gain greater Wi-Fi access and digital instructional materials in classrooms as the infrastructure and resources are deployed.

Key Provisions

• Delete the pen-enabled tablet/moblie device requirement starting in 2016-2017.
• Remove the phased-in rollout and device reassignment provisions.
• Eliminate the requirement for an advisory committee; establish the Alabama Ahead Implementation Committee to oversee the program.
• Participation by local school systems becomes voluntary.
• Funds must be used first to purchase and install high-quality, standards-based broadband Wi‑Fi infrastructure in every classroom; remaining funds may purchase mobile digital resources.
• Local districts may apply for funds through the State Department of Education; applications must include a technology plan and infrastructure readiness, with progress reporting.
• Appropriate up to $75,000,000 from Education Trust Fund accounts to the Alabama Public School and College Authority to implement the act for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017 (per-pupil funding).
• Section 14 of Act 2012-560 is amended to remove the requirement that implementation be contingent on separate legislative enactment.

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