HB533 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Education, public K-12, microgrants provided to participating students for defraying costs of certain academic and educational enrichment activities and programs

Summary

HB533 would create a state-funded microgrant program that gives eligible public K-12 students $1,500 per school year to cover approved academic and educational enrichment activities.

What This Bill Does

The Department of Education would provide funds to participating school districts to award microgrants to eligible students, who can use them for a wide range of services and programs. Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to Title I schools. For the 2022-2023 year, eligibility is limited to students in participating districts (or entering kindergarten within those districts) and August 1, 2022 is the target start. Districts may refuse grants to students who live outside the participating district and may impose reasonable attendance fees in certain cases.

Who It Affects

• Participating public K-12 students who will receive up to $1,500 per academic year to pay for eligible activities and services.
• Parents or legal guardians who apply for eligibility and oversee how the microgrant funds are used.
• Local boards of education and the State Department of Education that administer and oversee implementation, including eligibility, funding priorities, and residency rules.

Key Provisions

• Creates a microgrant program to provide participating students with $1,500 per academic year for approved activities and services.
• Funding is distributed by the Department through participating districts, prioritized for Title I schools and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Eligible uses include tutoring, standard test and college admissions fees, vocational courses, nonpublic online programs, after-school and summer programs, therapies, curriculum, and other approved expenses.
• Eligibility begins August 1, 2022; for 2022-2023 only kindergarten students or students enrolled in participating districts may apply.
• Participating districts may refuse grants to nonresident students or require reasonable fees under certain conditions.
• The act provides liability protections for the state and local boards and allows parents to intervene in constitutional challenges; the state bears the burden in such cases.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the month after passage and gubernatorial 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