SB253 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Donnie ChesteenSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Alabama Workforce Pathways Act, different pathways for high school diplomas based on future career plans
Summary: The Alabama Workforce Pathways Act creates a new Workforce Pathways diploma pathway, adjusts credit rules for that pathway, and funds new CTE centers and a short-term credential scholarship program.
What This Bill Does
It creates a new Workforce Pathways diploma pathway at the K-12 level and requires the curriculum to be developed within 120 days after board approval. Students in this pathway can count career and technical education courses toward graduation and must complete only two math credits and two science credits to earn the diploma, plus they will receive a special diploma seal. All students will earn the same high school diploma, but Workforce Pathways graduates may be graded using an alternative assessment, and they are eligible for admission to Alabama public colleges and universities with institutions setting their own requirements. The act also authorizes funding, subject to availability, to build or upgrade career and technical education centers and to support the Alabama Short-Term Credential Program scholarships, with an effective date of October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects
K-12 students in Alabama who choose the Workforce Pathways diploma, who will have reduced math/science credit requirements (2 each) and may earn credits through career and technical education, plus receive a diploma seal.
State and local education agencies (State Board of Education, Department of Education, local boards) and public colleges/universities, as they implement the pathway, develop curriculum, manage assessments, and set admission practices; and the Alabama Community College System that would participate in the Short-Term Credential Program scholarships.

Key Provisions
Establishes the Workforce Pathways diploma pathway at the K-12 level with curriculum to be developed by the Department of Education within 120 days of approval.
Workforce Pathways students must complete two math credits and two science credits to graduate; may substitute credits with career and technical education courses; a diploma seal will be placed on their diploma.
All students earn the same high school diploma; Workforce Pathways students may be evaluated with an alternative assessment for grades.
Pathway graduates are eligible for admission to Alabama public colleges and universities, though each institution may set its own admissions requirements.
State Board of Education may seek funding to construct, retrofit, or upgrade career and technical education centers so a center is within reasonable distance of every high school; larger districts may have their own centers, smaller districts may share.
Legislature may provide funding for the Alabama Short-Term Credential Program to offer scholarships for training through the Alabama Community College System in-demand regional careers.
Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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