SB9 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris ElliottSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2021
Title: Schools, Foundation Program Fund, determination of cost to include student growth as an allowable cost, allowance for non-virtual and virtual students, provisions for increases based on increase in average daily membership in the current school year deleted, Secs. 16-13-231, 16-13-232 am'd.
Summary: SB9 adds a dedicated student growth component to Alabama’s Foundation Program Fund and clarifies how costs, including for virtual and non-virtual students, are calculated and funded.
What This Bill Does
It amends Sections 16-13-231 and 16-13-232 to treat student growth as an allowable Foundation Program cost and to specify its calculation. It defines that student growth is calculated using the net year-over-year growth in average daily membership for non-virtual students for the preceding two years; full-time virtual student growth is funded at a separate rate set by the State Department of Education based on the cost to educate a virtual student starting in FY2022; for FY2022, growth funding is net of preexisting Current Units and thereafter fully funded. It continues to require local boards to allocate funds for salaries, fringe benefits, instructional support, and other expenses with equity and salary protections, and outlines funding distribution and reporting requirements. It also sets the effective date for the act.

Who It Affects
Local boards of education (school districts) who must calculate and allocate Foundation Program funds, including the new student growth component, report allocations, and ensure salary and calendar-related requirements are met.
Students (non-virtual and full-time virtual) whose enrollment growth drives the new student growth funding; non-virtual growth affects standard Foundation Program funding, while virtual growth has its own rate set by the State Department of Education.

Key Provisions
Adds student growth as an allowable Foundation Program cost and defines its calculation as the net year-over-year growth in average daily membership for non-virtual students for the two preceding school years.
For fiscal year 2022, student growth funding is net of the preexisting Current Units allotment; after 2022, it is funded at 100%; net student growth attributable to full-time virtual students is funded at a rate determined by the State Department of Education based on the cost to educate a virtual student beginning in FY2022.
Maintains and details the cost components of the Foundation Program (teacher salaries, fringe benefits, classroom instructional support, and other current expense) and how each component is calculated and funded.
Requires local boards to allocate funds equitably to schools, maintain minimum instructional terms, and ensure salary schedules meet or exceed the State Minimum Salary Schedule; prohibits reducing salaries due to the amendments.
Establishes mechanisms for distributing funds (monthly state allocations) and reporting requirements on how state and local funds are allocated to each school or program.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

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