HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Alabama House of Representatives has passed the Education Trust Fund (ETF) Budget and its supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year 26.
“As Alabama continues to make remarkable strides in public education, it’s vital that lawmakers in Montgomery remain committed to equipping our school systems with the necessary resources to help students thrive,” said Speaker Ledbetter (R-Rainsville). “This year’s ETF is significant for several reasons. It funds paid parental leave for teachers, expands summer and afterschool programs, and increases funding for the Alabama numeracy act, which has been a catalyst for our state’s nation-leading gains in 4th grade math. We’re making another strong investment in the CHOOSE Act, Alabama’s school choice program that is proving to be in high demand. Finally, we are creating the RAISE Program, a student-weighted funding model that funds schools based on their specific needs rather than headcount.”
ETF/Supplemental Highlights Include the following:
- $27 million increase for the Numeracy Act
- $14.4 million increase for Summer/Afterschool Programs
- $9.6 million for Paid Parental Leave
- $15.6 million for Teachers Workman’s Compensation
- $58 million for the RAISE Act
- $80 million increase for the CHOOSE Act
“I’m proud to have passed another strong Education Budget that positions our school systems for success,” said Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), who chairs the House Ways and Means Education Committee. “For the first time ever, we are funding schools based off the needs of the specific students they serve instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach and funding on headcount alone. We’re also making significant investments in programs supporting teachers and students. Public education is on the rise in Alabama, and I believe that the passage of this budget will help us continue moving in the right direction.”
The Education Trust Fund will now return to the Senate floor for concurrence.
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