House Bill 567 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jeremy GrayRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Student Athlete Eligibility and Career Transition Act; tracking of public high school student academic and athletic progress; informing students of available paths post graduation; individualized transition plans; State Department of Education to develop implementation guidelines

Summary

HB567 creates a program to track high school students’ academic and athletic progress for NCAA eligibility, informs students about post-graduation paths, and requires individualized transition plans with state guidance.

What This Bill Does

Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, all public high schools must implement NCAA eligibility tracking for every student from ninth grade and designate staff to oversee it, with annual updates on eligibility provided to students and families. The act requires development of individualized transition plans by the beginning of 11th grade that identify postsecondary goals and the steps needed to reach them, and provides opportunities such as career fairs and information sessions to inform students about paths like college, military service, or workforce entry. The State Department of Education will develop guidelines and training resources, monitor compliance, and annually report outcomes to the State Board and the chairs of the Senate Education Policy Committee and the House Education Policy Committee.

Who It Affects

• Public high school students in Alabama, who will be tracked for NCAA eligibility and provided with transition guidance
• Parents and families of public high school students, who will receive annual NCAA eligibility updates
• Guidance counselors and athletic directors in public schools, who will oversee NCAA tracking and implement transition plans
• Local employers, military recruiters, community colleges, and universities, which may collaborate with schools on transition planning and recruitment pipelines
• The Alabama State Department of Education, which will develop guidelines, provide training resources, and monitor compliance

Key Provisions

• NCAA eligibility tracking for all public high school students beginning in ninth grade, with a designated staff member overseeing progress and reporting
• Annual updates to students and families on NCAA eligibility status starting at the end of ninth grade
• Development and implementation of individualized transition plans for all students by the start of eleventh grade, outlining postsecondary goals and steps to achieve them
• Exposure opportunities (career fairs, military information sessions, college readiness workshops) to inform students of available paths and opportunities
• DOE to develop implementation guidelines, provide training resources, monitor compliance, and report data on NCAA tracking and outcomes to the State Board and committee chairs by December 31, 2027, and annually thereafter
• Effective date of July 1, 2026

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 5, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education