MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Senate today passed the state’s education operating budget, sending the proposal to the House for consideration.

Included in the education budget was funding to provide a $300 appropriation to each public school classroom grades K-12 for supplies and a $5,000 salary supplement to teachers that are certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said the education budget committee, chaired by Senator Trip Pittman (R-Montrose), had to make difficult decisions due to the state’s decrease in tax revenue, but worked to craft a responsible budget in the midst of difficult economic times.

“Senator Pittman and the education budget committee deserve a great deal of credit for making sensible choices on how to prioritize education spending,” Senator Marsh said. “The state simply cannot spend more than it takes in and tough choices undoubtedly had to be made, but this budget makes the most out of the resources we have available.”

Senator Pittman said the proposed budget retains funding for the K-12 education system, particularly for programs that have proven to be effective in educating the state’s children.

“This budget protects funding for K-12 education and fully funds some of the state’s proven education reform programs like the Alabama Reading Initiative, the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, and ACCESS Distance Learning program,” Senator Pittman said. “Thanks to legislation passed by Senators Jabo Waggoner and Greg Reed, we ensured funding for salary supplements to national board certified teachers and have committed $300 to every Alabama classroom for supplies. These measures help reiterate our gratitude to teachers, administrators and support personnel for their commitment to providing our children with a quality education.”