SB415 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Harri Anne Smith

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Common Core Curriculum Standards, terminated, prior courses of study to be implemented

Summary

SB415 would terminate Alabama's Common Core/ACCRS standards and replace them with pre-Common Core Math and ELA standards, creating new Alabama Ahead Standards while enforcing state control over K-12 curriculum and banning national standards.

What This Bill Does

The bill ends the adoption and implementation of the Common Core Standards (ACCRS) and requires the State Board of Education to replace Math and ELA standards with the pre-Common Core courses of study. These pre-Common Core standards would be called Transition Standards and used in the 2017-2018 school year, with the Alabama Ahead Standards taking effect in the 2018-2019 school year. It also bans adopting or using any national standards or assessments from other sources and ends related federal control through waivers, while keeping the state’s control over curriculum intact.

Who It Affects

• Students and families in Alabama schools: their math and English language arts standards would revert to Transition Standards for 2017-2018 and then shift to Alabama Ahead Standards from 2018-2019, affecting what is taught and how it is assessed.
• State and local education authorities (State Board of Education, school districts, and teachers): must implement the Transition Standards and Alabama Ahead Standards, cannot adopt national standards or assessments, must terminate the federal waiver, and continue to operate under state control of curriculum.

Key Provisions

• Terminate the Common Core Standards (ACCRS) and replace Math and ELA standards with pre-Common Core Transition Standards for 2017-2018, then adopt Alabama Ahead Standards starting in 2018-2019; prohibit adoption or alignment with any national standards or assessments and terminate related federal waivers.
• Retain sole state control over K-12 standards; prohibit participation in organizations or consortia that cede control; provide standing for citizens to sue to enforce the act; take effect immediately after governor signature.

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

Subjects

Public Education