Senate Bill 168 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Public K-12 education; to prohibit the three-cueing system of reading instruction

Summary

SB168 would ban the three-cueing system of reading instruction in Alabama public K-12 schools and require instruction to follow the science of reading with explicit, systematic phonics and related strategies.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would prohibit teaching reading with the three-cueing system and any reliance on visual memory for word recognition. It would require instructional materials and teaching methods to use structured literacy with explicit, systematic approaches to phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, including encoding in writing. The act also sets up rules and criteria for educator preparation programs and will start enforcement and reporting of violations in the 2026-2027 school year, with an effective date of June 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students in Alabama, who would receive reading instruction focused on structured literacy and would no longer use the three-cueing system or visual memory for word recognition.
• Educator preparation programs and teacher candidates, which must align with new criteria and approved materials, with violations reported to local districts, the Legislature, and the public.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits the three-cueing system and visual memory as the basis for teaching word recognition in reading instruction.
• Requires instructional materials and strategies to be structured literacy, explicit, systematic, and evidence-based, covering phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and encoding; MSV/visual memory cannot be used for word reading.
• Starting in 2026-2027, the State Board will adopt rules establishing criteria for materials used to prepare teachers and for educator preparation programs, ensuring alignment with science of reading.
• Local boards must ensure materials are high quality and based on scientifically researched literacy strategies, and must not use MSV or visual memory for word recognition.
• Violations by local boards or educator preparation programs must be reported to the affected parties, the Legislature, and the public; the act becomes effective June 1, 2026, with enforcement beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education