HB294 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Education, grading of K-12 schools and school districts, academic performance or English as a second language (ESL) students exempted from consideration, Sec. 16-6C-2 am'd.

Summary

HB294 would exclude certain English language learner students from being counted in a school's academic achievement grade.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would amend the school grading law to not count the academic performance of some ESL students toward a school or district's overall grade. The grading system would still use an A-F framework and rely on multiple indicators, but ESL students' achievement would be excluded; their progress would instead be measured in growth and English language proficiency categories. Grades would be published publicly and delivered to parents, with the overall framework designed to compare schools and districts.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 English language learner students who have not yet shown proficiency on ACCESS for ELL or another state-approved English proficiency test: their academic achievement would not be included in school or district grades; their progress would be tracked in growth and language proficiency metrics.
• Public K-12 schools and school systems: their overall grades would be determined without counting the excluded ESL students' academic achievement, while continuing to use the established A-F scale and other indicators, and ensure grades are published and shared with families.

Key Provisions

• Exempts the academic performance of certain English language learner students from being used to assign an academic achievement grade to a school or school system.
• Requires ESL students' progress to be measured in the academic growth category and in English language proficiency progress, not in the academic achievement grade.
• Maintains an A-F school grading framework and requires the grade to reflect a combination of indicators (achievement, gaps, college/career readiness, learning gains, etc.).
• Requires public posting of grades and delivery of grade information to parents or guardians.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education