SB311 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, local revenue projections provided for charter school applicants, terms for amt of local revenue following child from non-charter public to public charter school provided, Sec. 16-6F-10 am'd.

Summary

SB 311 would amend the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act to provide local revenue projections for charter applicants and define how local revenue follows a student from a non-charter public school to a public charter school.

What This Bill Does

Charter students would be counted in the local district's enrollment and data would be reported to the state. The bill creates funding rules so charters receive per-student state and local funds based on what would have gone to the resident non-charter school, with adjustments for grade level, poverty, English proficiency, and special education needs. It sets quarterly funding transfers, with state funds forwarded by the department and local funds forwarded by the resident LEA, while excluding funds already earmarked for debt service, capital, or transportation and applying caps for startup vs conversion charters. Additional provisions address federal/state categorical aid, special education funding, required audits, and transportation funding to align with traditional public schools.

Who It Affects

• Public charter school students and their families, who would receive per-student state and local funding and follow their local revenue to the charter after moving from a non-charter school.
• Local school districts/LEAs and charter authorizers (and the Alabama Department of Education), who would handle enrollment reporting, funding distributions, and compliance requirements including audits and reporting.

Key Provisions

• Enrollment reporting: charter students must be included in local district enrollment counts and reported to the state.
• Operational funding: in the first year and for growth, charter funding comes from the Education Trust Fund; per-student state funds and local funds are calculated to match what would have gone to the resident non-charter school, adjusted for grade level, poverty, English proficiency, and special education needs.
• Local revenue following: per-student local tax revenue equals what would have been allocated to the local non-charter school for that student, excluding debt service, capital expenditures, or transportation; the department will establish calculation processes.
• Funding flows: state funds are forwarded quarterly to the charter by the department; local funds are forwarded quarterly by the resident LEA; restricted or pledged funds are excluded from these calculations.
• Startup vs conversion caps: startup charters may receive no more than the per-student share of the state 10-mill ad valorem match; conversion charters receive the amount the resident LEA would have allocated for that student minus exclusions.
• Other funding and oversight: the department may adopt rules for calculating allocations and cost-sharing for special programs; federal/state categorical aid and special education funding are directed to charters, with GAAP compliance and annual independent audits required; transportation funding is aligned with that for traditional districts and charters may contract for transportation.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage/approval.

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