SB287 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Alabama Ahead Act, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, School of Math and Science, and Fine Arts authorize to participate, supplemental appropriations for fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund to the Department of Education and Alabama Community College System, Sec. 16-16B-1 am'd.

Summary

SB287 expands the Alabama Ahead Act to include three state schools and provides a new multi-million dollar supplemental funding package for electronic textbooks, technology infrastructure, and higher education equipment for FY 2017.

What This Bill Does

It adds the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, and the Alabama School of Fine Arts as participants in Alabama Ahead. It authorizes supplemental appropriations from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund: $41,297,782 to the Department of Education and $15,089,140 to public higher education for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, to support WLAN, devices, digital content, and teacher development, as well as equipment and deferred maintenance for higher education. It requires equal per-student grants to participating schools based on WLAN readiness and professional development plans, with funds distributed to local school systems according to a specified schedule. It creates the Alabama Ahead Oversight Committee to evaluate applications and oversee implementation, and designates ex officio members with roles in administration and management of school networks.

Who It Affects

• Students and teachers at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, and the Alabama School of Fine Arts, who would access electronic textbooks, digital materials, wireless infrastructure, and devices.
• Local school systems and their students, which would receive per-student grant funds and must support WLAN infrastructure, device management, and professional development requirements.
• Public higher education institutions, which would receive funds for equipment and/or deferred maintenance.
• The Alabama Ahead Oversight Committee and related organizations, which would oversee and administer the program.

Key Provisions

• Amends the Alabama Ahead Act to include AIDB, ASMS, and ASFA as participating schools.
• Provides supplemental state funding for FY 2017: $41,297,782 to the Department of Education and $15,089,140 to public higher education institutions, from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund.
• Funds are to be used to provide equal per-student grants to participating schools based on WLAN readiness and teacher professional development requirements, as determined by the Department of Education and the Alabama Ahead Advisory Committee.
• Distributes the Section 2 funds to local school systems according to a specified schedule (district-by-district allocations are listed in the bill).
• Creates the Alabama Ahead Oversight Committee to supervise applications and implementation, with diverse and non-compensated membership and specified ex officio members.
• Higher education funds are allocated for equipment and/or deferred maintenance.
• Any unused funds can be carried forward to the next year (non-reversion).
• Effective date: immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Appropriations