MONTGOMERY – The Alabama State Senate on Thursday, May 16 passed SB397. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, would change Alabama’s current elected State Board of Education to a Commission appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Alabama State Senate, if passed by the Legislature and approved by the people of Alabama with a constitutional amendment.
Governor Kay Ivey has urged members of the Alabama Legislature and people across the state to join her in supporting this bill.
Following the Senate passage of SB397, Governor Ivey released the following statement:
“Since day one, I have sought out the best ways for Alabama to offer the highest quality educational opportunities for every student across the state. We need a bold plan that works for Alabama, which is exactly what this constitutional amendment will provide our students.
“We saw a very strong, bipartisan vote count today in the Senate on SB397 because this is the right thing to do for Alabama’s students. From the beginning, I have made it clear that we need to make a fundamental change in the governance structure of our State Board of Education.
“Today, the Senate took the first step, and I now call on Speaker McCutcheon and the House to prioritize passing this constitutional amendment over the remaining days of the legislative session. The future of our students, teachers and state depend on our action.”
Media Release/Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey
