SB289 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Public K-12 education, instruction on success sequence required, State Board of Education to develop model curriculum and adopt rules

Summary

The bill requires Alabama to create and implement a statewide 'success sequence' K-12 curriculum that teaches a three-part path (complete high school, have a full-time job, and marry before having children), with trained instructors and mandatory instruction starting in 2026-2027.

What This Bill Does

The State Board of Education must develop standards and a model curriculum for the success sequence. Local boards must implement the curriculum and decide how often and in what format to present it to students. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all students must receive the instruction at least twice before high school graduation, and the Board must recruit, select, and train instructors to deliver the curriculum, plus adopt rules to oversee implementation. The curriculum should present information in an age-appropriate way and draw on specified studies about the success sequence.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students in Alabama: will receive instruction on the success sequence at least twice before graduation.
• State Board of Education: must develop standards, a model curriculum, recruit/train instructors, and adopt implementation rules.
• Local boards of education: must implement the curriculum and decide the presentation frequency and format for students.
• Instructors/teachers: must be recruited, selected, and trained to administer the curriculum.

Key Provisions

• The State Board of Education must develop standards and a model curriculum for a 'success sequence' that includes completing high school, obtaining full-time employment, and marrying before having children, with information on positive outcomes.
• Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, all students must receive instruction in the success sequence at least twice before graduating from high school.
• The Board shall adopt rules to implement and administer this section and develop a process to recruit, select, and train instructors to deliver the curriculum.
• Local boards of education are authorized to determine how often and in what format the curriculum is presented to students (including assemblies or integration into existing coursework).
• The curriculum must be presented in an age-appropriate manner and include evidence from specified studies (e.g., works by Haskins & Sawhill, Wang & Wilcox, and Inanc et al.).
• The act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

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