HB440 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bob FincherRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Allen FarleyTommy HanesMike HolmesArnold MooneyRitchie Whorton

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Common Core Curriculum Standards, terminated

Summary

HB440 would end the Common Core and related standards in Alabama public schools and replace them with pre-Common Core standards starting in 2022-2023, while barring national standards or national-aligned assessments.

What This Bill Does

The bill terminates the Common Core State Standards, the Alabama College- and Career-Ready Standards, and any variant of Common Core. It requires the State Board of Education to replace the Math and English Language Arts standards with the pre-Common Core courses of study and to update them to become the Alabama Course of Study Standards for use starting in the 2022-2023 school year. It also bars the adoption or implementation of any other national standards or assessments aligned with national standards, and prohibits schools and counselors from using programs or competencies (such as the ASCA framework) to steer students toward a career path or to guide social and emotional development. The bill terminates federal flexibility waivers related to the Common Core and asserts state control over curriculum, with a provision allowing residents to sue to enforce the act and stating that the changes take effect immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Students and families in Alabama public K-12 schools who would have Math and English standards return to pre-Common Core versions and face restrictions on national standards and national-aligned assessments; guidance programs may also be affected by prohibitions on ASCA-based social and emotional guidance.
• State and local education officials, including the State Board of Education, school districts, and school counselors, who would implement the transition, prevent adoption of national standards, and be limited in using certain guidance frameworks; residents would have standing to sue to enforce the act.

Key Provisions

• Terminate the Common Core State Standards, the Alabama College- and Career-Ready Standards, and any variant of Common Core.
• Replace the Math and English Language Arts standards with the pre-Common Core courses of study for Math and ELA; adopt Alabama Course of Study Standards to be used starting with the 2022-2023 school year.
• prohibit adopting or implementing any national standards from any source and prohibit assessments aligned with national standards.
• Prohibit schools and school counselors from using programs that steer students toward a career track or using ASCA Competencies and Indicators to design social and emotional development guidance.
• Terminate the federal flexibility waiver with the U.S. Department of Education related to ESEA and the adoption of Common Core-related standards.
• Ensure the Alabama Course of Study Standards or updated standards are implemented at the start of the 2022-2023 school year and maintain state control over curriculum standards.
• Prohibit participation in consortia or organizations that would cede control over Alabama public education standards.
• Grant any Alabama resident standing to sue to enforce the act.
• Establish that the act becomes effective immediately upon governor’s 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

Public Education