SB336 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, creation of conversion public charter school districts authorized

Summary

SB336 allows a local school board to create a conversion public charter school district by converting two or more existing non-charter public schools into conversion charter schools governed by the same district.

What This Bill Does

Creates a new conversion public charter school district framework where a local school board can convert multiple non-charter schools into charter schools under a unified district. Gives the local school board authority to serve as the governing board for each conversion public charter school within the district and to oversee, contract, and renew charters under specified rules. Establishes enrollment preferences for conversion schools to favor students from the former attendance zones and sets accountable performance contracts and renewal/closure processes. Imposes oversight mechanisms, including open meetings, annual reporting, and adherence to nationally recognized charter authorizing standards, and adds the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as an appellate and oversight body for certain decisions. Allows authorizers to recover some oversight costs from per-student state allocations, imposes caps on start-up charter approvals, and requires periodic reporting and evaluation of charters and authorizers. Requires desegregation impact consideration and prohibits charters that hinder desegregation efforts, with a targeted effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Local school boards: may create conversion charter districts, act as governing bodies for conversion schools, and oversee charter contracts and authorizing duties.
• Students and families in the converting districts: gain access to conversion public charter schools and enrollment policies that prioritize former attendance zones.
• Non-charter public schools within the district: may be converted into conversion public charter schools or become part of a conversion district.
• Education service providers and charter operators: may participate by proposing, managing, or contracting services for conversion or start-up charter schools under approved authorizers.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the creation of conversion public charter school districts by local school boards and the conversion of two or more non-charter schools within the district into conversion charter schools.
• Defines terms including conversion public charter school, conversion public charter district, authorizer, charter contract, and related governance structures; local boards may serve as governing boards of conversion charters.
• Allows local school boards or the Alabama Public Charter School Commission to authorize and oversee charter applications, with an emphasis on serving at-risk students and maintaining high-quality charters.
• Imposes enrollment and admission rules (including random selection when capacity is exceeded) and requires charter contracts to specify performance expectations and oversight relationships.
• Establishes a five-year initial charter term for new charters and sets preopening requirements, startup timelines, and conditions for opening and hiring staff from converting schools.
• Sets a funding mechanism where authorizers may take a percent of per-student state funding to cover oversight costs, scaled by the number of charters under the authorizer's supervision.
• Introduces a cap on start-up public charter schools (10 per fiscal year) with procedures to notify when the cap is reached and a requirement for annual performance reporting to the Legislature.
• Creates the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as an independent body with defined appointment rules, powers, duties, and the ability to overrule local boards in certain cases, including open community hearings and evidence-based decision-making.
• Requires authorizers to follow nationally recognized standards for charter authorizing and to provide orientation, training, and annual reports on implementation and effectiveness.
• Incorporates desegregation considerations, ensuring charter approvals do not undermine desegregation efforts and evaluating potential impacts on unitary school systems.
• Effective date of 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