SB44 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Education, population requirement for city to establish a board of education increased from 5,000 to 25,000, determination of financial capability required, Sec. 16-11-1 am'd.

Summary

SB 44 would raise the population threshold to create a city board of education from 5,000 to 25,000 and require a city's financial capability to sustain a city school system before it can be established, with certain exceptions and facility ownership rules.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would prevent forming a city school system in cities smaller than 25,000 unless they are already under the old rules or have a formal separation agreement. The State Department of Education would review a city’s finances to determine if it can sustain a city school system and would check that local per pupil spending would be fair and that county spending wouldn’t be harmed. If considered financially capable, a city could establish a city school system only after a formal separation agreement with the county, and the city would be required to acquire or build its own school facilities (or purchase county facilities via agreement).

Who It Affects

• Cities with 25,000 or more residents that might establish a city school system; they would need to be deemed financially capable and would likely acquire/build facilities or purchase county facilities under a separation agreement.
• County school systems, their students, and local taxpayers; they would be affected by the financial capability review, potential shifts in local per pupil expenditures, and the transfer or financing of school facilities under separation agreements.

Key Provisions

• Increases the minimum population to establish a city board of education from 5,000 to 25,000 (for cities to be eligible).
• Requires the State Department of Education to determine whether a city is financially capable of sustaining a city school system before establishment.
• Provides that these changes do not apply to cities that met the old inhabitant criteria and have a formal separation agreement with the county before the act’s effective date.
• If financially capable, requires the city to establish a city school system only after a formal separation agreement with the county and to acquire/build its own school facilities; the city may purchase county facilities by agreement.
• The department’s review must consider whether students would receive at least the same local per pupil expenditures as the county and whether county per pupil expenditures could be adversely affected.

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

Subjects

Education