By Gary Lloyd
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Wednesday night voted to give final passage to Senate Bill 45.
The vote will send the School Choice and Student Opportunity Act to Gov. Robert Bentley to be signed into law.
This legislation is a piece of the Alabama Senate’s “Paving a Path to the Future” legislative agenda.
The School Choice and Student Opportunity Act is designed to create an application process for local school boards so that they may establish public charter schools, both new and conversion, giving parents the ability to choose the education that’s best for their child.
A public charter school is defined as a public school that has autonomy over decisions such as finance, personnel and schedule curriculum. In return, the school must meet strict performance and accountability standards.
All charter schools in Alabama will be held to the highest level of accountability. Excellence will be demanded. If a school doesn’t meet the expectations set in their charter, they will be closed. In addition, to meeting performance standards, they would also be required to submit their school’s finances for independent audit on an annual basis.
A cap of 10 new public charters may be created during a single fiscal year for the first five years.
There is no limit on conversion charters, however, all decisions to approve or reject these types of charters are made by local school boards.
Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, R-Jasper, applauded the passage of the Schools Choice and Student Opportunity Act.
“In the first few weeks of the regular session we have addressed specific agenda items put forward by members of the Alabama Senate including legislation related to charter schools,” Reed said. “We will continue to focus on legislation that is part of the expansive 2015 Alabama Senate legislative agenda.”
Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said he looked forward to the School Choice and Student Opportunity Act becoming law.
“I want to thank all those who were involved in the process of passing this legislation, including the Alabama Coalition for Public Charter Schools, the Black Alliance for Educational Options and Students First,” Marsh said. “I am glad we were able to bring so many to the table and give Alabama parents the best educational options possible. Throughout this whole process, we worked closely with the Executive and the Legislative branches and I look forward to Gov. Bentley signing the School Choice and Student Opportunity Act.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.