HB278 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Susan DuBoseRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Career and technical education in public K-12 schools; home school student participation, authorized; State Board of Education, required to adopt rules

Summary

HB278 would allow home school students to participate in career and technical education programs at public schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year, under specific enrollment and cost rules and with rules to be adopted by state and local boards.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes home school students to enroll in public school CTE programs, provided they become nontraditional public school students and pay the same course fees as regular public school students. If a program has limited space, home school students are considered for enrollment after current public school students. It does not require full-time stand-alone CTE schools to allow participation, but those schools may opt in. The fees or costs for participating would count as a qualifying educational expense under the CHOOSE Act.

Who It Affects

• Home school students who choose to participate in public school CTE programs (must enroll as nontraditional public school students and pay applicable fees).
• Public schools, local boards of education, and the State Board of Education (must adopt policies and rules to implement participation and manage enrollment and fees).

Key Provisions

• Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, a home school student may participate in any CTE program offered by a public school, if enrolled as a nontraditional public school student.
• Home school students must pay course fees equal to those charged to enrolled public school students.
• If CTE programs have limited enrollment, home school students are considered for enrollment after current public school students are enrolled.
• The State Board of Education and local boards of education must adopt rules and policies to implement and reflect these requirements.
• Full-time, stand-alone CTE schools are not required to allow home school participation, but may opt in to do so.
• Fees and costs for participating in CTE programs under this act are considered qualifying educational expenses under the CHOOSE Act.

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