SB170 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Andrew JonesSteve LivingstonTim MelsonClay ScofieldLarry Stutts

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Education, school grading system, certain English language learners exempt from proficiency assessments considered in grading public K-12 schools, State Superintendent of Education to amend state plan under Every Student Succeeds Act, Sec. 16-6C-2 am'd.

Summary

SB170 changes Alabama's school grading system to exclude the academic performance of certain English language learners from school grades for the first five years of their enrollment, while still tracking their growth and language progress and preserving current ESSA plan provisions.

What This Bill Does

It //excludes the academic achievement scores of English language learners who have not yet shown proficiency from counting toward a school's grade for the first five years of enrollment. During those five years, their progress is measured by academic growth and English language proficiency instead. After five years, their proficiency is once again considered in assigning the school's grade. The State Superintendent must retain the current ESSA plan provisions detailing this act, and the overall A-F grading framework (including public posting and other indicators) remains in place.

Who It Affects

• English language learners (ELLs) who have not yet achieved proficiency on ACCESS for ELL or another state English proficiency assessment: their academic achievement scores will not count toward their school's grade for the first five years of enrollment.
• State and local education officials (State Department of Education, school districts, and school administrators/teachers): they must implement the exemption within the existing school grading system and continue to monitor ELL progress under growth and language proficiency metrics.

Key Provisions

• Exemption of certain English language learners from being counted in the school's academic achievement grade for the first five years of enrollment.
• During the five-year period, students' progress is tracked via academic growth and English language proficiency; after five years, proficiency is once again considered in the school's grade.
• The State Superintendent of Education must retain current provisions of the state ESSA plan detailing this act and may not amend the ESSA option for including ELL test scores, including the described sequencing across years and accountability subgroup status.
• The A-F school grading system remains in place with public posting of grades and use of multiple indicators to reflect school and district performance.

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