HB439 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public K-12 education, employment, qualifications, and training of technology directors

Summary

HB439 renames technology coordinators to technology directors in public K-12 schools, sets new qualifications and training requirements, and creates a state-administered K-12 Capital Grant Program (while repealing a higher-education loan program).

What This Bill Does

Renames the role of technology coordinator to technology director and requires the position to be filled by a local board of education employee on a 12-month contract, not by a contractor or the local superintendent. Sets minimum qualifications for technology directors effective October 1, 2024, including tech-related or other degrees with tech experience, or a high school diploma with industry certifications and tech experience, with a waiver process if a district cannot fill the position. Requires a professional development program by the Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology, including mandatory orientation and annual continuing education units, plus ongoing recordkeeping and validation by the State Department of Education.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 school systems and local boards of education will be responsible for hiring technology directors under the new rules, providing training, and potentially seeking waivers if they cannot fill the role.
• Eligible K-12 entities and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor will participate in a new K-12 Capital Grant Program, with funds rules, matching requirements, oversight, reporting, and transfer of funds from a prior higher-education loan program.

Key Provisions

• Renames technology coordinator to technology director; role must be filled by a local board employee on a 12-month contract; cannot be filled by a contractor or the local superintendent.
• Minimum qualifications for technology directors after Oct 1, 2024: (a) technology-related degree from a regionally accredited institution or (b) degree in another field with tech work experience, or (c) a high school diploma with current industry certifications and tech work experience; waivers available for districts unable to fill.
• Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology will establish and administer a professional development program that includes mandatory orientation, CEU credits, and ongoing reviews; orientation topics cover roles, laws, data governance, teaching and learning, IT management, cybersecurity, and budgeting.
• Creates the K-12 Capital Grant Program within the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to fund capital projects, debt service, deferred maintenance, safety, and technology; defines eligible K-12 entities and grant terms; sets funding limits and administrative costs; allows fund carry-forward and future appropriations rules; requires grant proposals to be endorsed by local legislative delegation.
• Grant awards have criteria including a maximum state grant of $5 million, matching requirements with a sliding scale, and priority for areas serving at-risk students; requires annual reporting and audits; permits amendments to grant proposals within 12 months and requires repayment of unobligated funds if not amended.
• Repeals Act 2023-560 (Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program); funds from that program are transferred to the Education Trust Fund for discretionary use; funds are treated as nonrecurring revenue for a specified fiscal year.

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