SB170 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Gerald H. AllenLinda Coleman-MadisonGarlan GudgerAndrew JonesSteve LivingstonDel MarshGreg J. ReedClay ScofieldBobby D. SingletonRodger Smitherman

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Building Exceptional School Board Team Act (BEST), provides further for boardsmanship standards, training, and discipline of local bd. of education members, Sec. 16-1-41.1 repealed; Secs. 16-8-1, 16-11-2 am'd.

Summary

SB170 creates the Building Exceptional School Board Teams (BEST) Act to raise standards for local school boards through governance commitments, training, and discipline, and updates how boards are formed and governed.

What This Bill Does

It requires prospective board members to publicly and in writing affirm governance principles focused on students and the school system, and it directs the State Board to adopt a model code of conduct and user training. It establishes a disciplinary framework with censure, sanctions, and removal for neglect of duty or willful misconduct, carried out by local boards and/or a state-level peer review panel. It also reorganizes county and city boards to five-member (and some seven-member) district-based structures and repeals the prior School Board Governance Improvement Act of 2012.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education (elected or appointed) — subject to new boardsmanship standards, training requirements, codes of conduct, and potential disciplinary actions.
• Prospective and current board members — must affirm governance principles, meet attendance and residency rules, complete training, and may face sanctions or removal for violations.
• State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Education — empowered to adopt model codes, oversee training programs, convene peer review panels, and handle disciplinary actions.
• County and city governments and their residents — changes to board composition (mostly five-member boards, with districts or optional larger configurations) and residency rules affecting eligibility and vacancies.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Building Exceptional School Board Teams (BEST) Act and defines key terms (boardsmanship, censure, sanction, peer review panel, etc.).
• Requires prospective board members to publicly and in writing affirm governance principles prioritizing students and system interests and requiring consultation with the local superintendent.
• Assigns duties to local boards (set vision and goals, adopt policies, act on personnel recommendations, approve budgets, advocate for public schools, maintain confidentiality) and requires a model code of conduct adopted by the State Board with local adoption.
• Directs the State Board of Education to adopt a model code of conduct and the State Superintendent to develop continuing education and training programs for board members, with cooperation from the Alabama Association of School Boards.
• Creates disciplinary options for board members (censure, sanction, removal) and allows local boards to impose actions with potential state-level escalation.
• Imposes attendance requirements for board members, requires reporting of excessive absences, and allows the State Superintendent to appoint a peer review panel to review residency and other issues; mandates residency qualifications and potential vacancies for movers.
• Enables annual training requirements for board members, with possible withholding of compensation until compliance, and requires reporting and public posting of noncompliance.
• Outlines the process for initiating disciplinary actions, hearings, and due process, including public hearings for peer review panel proceedings and confidential handling of evidence until disposition.
• Creates and governs the operation of peer review panels, including appointment rules, proceedings, confidentiality, and potential penalties recommended to the State Board of Education.
• Applies to county boards (five members by default with option for single-member districts) and city boards (five members by default, seven in certain municipalities), with residency and eligibility rules and district apportionment tied to federal census data.
• Repeals Section 16-1-41.1 (School Board Governance Improvement Act of 2012) and sets January 1, 2022 as the act’s effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education