Every few years, Alabama reviews the instructional materials used in public school classrooms. The process rarely attracts public attention, but the decisions made during this review shape what students across the state will read, study, and absorb for years to come.
Right now, Alabama is in the middle of reviewing K-12 social studies textbooks, and after spending time reviewing many of the proposed materials myself, it is clear that this process deserves far more public attention than it has received.
What becomes apparent after reviewing materials across multiple learning levels is not just a handful of isolated concerns. Instead, a clear pattern of ideological themes emerges. These materials collectively shift classroom instruction away from American civics and historical understanding and toward modern ideological narratives.
Several recurring themes appear throughout the materials being considered.
First, there is a strong emphasis on activism as a model for students. Some lessons highlight modern protest movements and activist figures as examples of civic engagement, presenting demonstrations and youth activism as central ways for students to make their voices heard. While civic participation is an important concept, repeatedly framing activism as the primary model of engagement risks encouraging students to see protest culture as a normal expectation of their role in society before they even understand the issues involved.
Second, many lessons introduce identity-based activism and political movements. For example, some sections spotlight protest imagery and slogans tied to the Chicano movement—phrases like “Brown and Proud” alongside depictions of marches and demonstrations—without providing balanced historical context about the movement, its debates, or its place within the broader sweep of American history. Teaching the history of different communities in America is important, but it should be done in a way that reinforces a core civic principle: in our constitutional system, individuals are not defined by race, and public leadership should not be judged or elevated on the basis of racial identity. Presented without that broader context, the focus can shift toward identity-centered activism rather than helping students understand the full historical context of the period being studied and the shared civic ideals that unite Americans.
Third, the materials introduce ideological political theory, including references to Karl Marx and the development of socialism. These ideas have undeniably played an important role in world history, but they are also tied to revolutionary political systems that have dramatically reshaped governments and societies across the globe. When these theories are presented without sufficient historical critique or context—particularly without acknowledging the historical outcomes and economic consequences associated with socialist systems—they risk creating the impression that socialism and capitalism produce similar results for everyday citizens, rather than encouraging students to critically examine how different economic systems have impacted societies in practice.
Fourth, some lessons encourage students to view themselves primarily as global citizens rather than as citizens of the United States. The materials frame history as preparation for participation in a “global society” and emphasize developing a global identity. While understanding the world beyond our borders is certainly valuable, civics education in American public schools should first and foremost prepare students to understand their responsibilities as citizens of the United States and the constitutional system that governs our nation.
Finally, some sections move beyond historical voting rights and introduce contemporary debates about election laws and voting policies. These passages frame modern election integrity discussions—such as voter identification requirements and other voting regulations—primarily through the lens of voting restrictions. Presenting complex and ongoing political debates in a one-sided manner risks bringing partisan policy arguments directly into the classroom rather than teaching students the historical development of voting rights in America.
The issue is not that difficult topics should be avoided. History is full of complex ideas, social movements, and political debates. Students should absolutely learn about these subjects when they are presented with appropriate historical context and when students are developmentally ready to evaluate competing perspectives.
The concern arises when instructional materials move beyond teaching about history and civics and begin encouraging students to adopt particular political perspectives or view activism itself as a central part of their role as students.
Public schools exist to educate students, not to guide them toward ideological viewpoints.
Parents send their children to school expecting them to learn the foundations of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and American history. They expect schools to teach students how our constitutional system works and how to evaluate ideas critically.
They do not expect their children to be introduced to protest culture, ideological activism, or modern partisan policy debates through classroom materials before they are developmentally prepared to understand the complexity of those issues.
When educational materials blur the line between instruction and advocacy, trust between families and schools begins to erode. That erosion of trust is one of the biggest challenges facing public education today.
That is precisely why Alabama has a textbook review process in the first place.
The State Board of Education has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that materials placed in classrooms are academically sound, age appropriate, and focused on genuine learning rather than ideological messaging.
Parents across Alabama deserve confidence that the curriculum used in public schools reflects those priorities.
As the State Board moves forward in determining which materials will be approved for local adoption, members should take a careful and thoughtful look at whether the proposed books truly serve the educational needs of Alabama students.
If instructional materials focus more on promoting ideological activism—whether related to protest movements, identity-based politics, revolutionary political theory, global citizenship frameworks, or modern election debates—than on teaching students how to think critically about history and civics, they do not belong in Alabama classrooms.
This review process presents an opportunity for Alabama to reaffirm a simple principle: our schools should be places where students learn how to think, not where they are quietly taught what to think.
The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the current social studies textbooks on March 12. They should vote not to approve these materials as they currently stand. Alabama’s students deserve instructional materials that prioritize knowledge, critical thinking, and genuine civic understanding. We can—and should—do better.
Last week, during a “State of the Schools” event in North Alabama, leaders from Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County schools sounded a familiar but mathematically creative alarm.
They claimed that the expansion of the CHOOSE Act and universal school choice would “cost” their districts a combined $100 million. The $100 million figure is a phantom number designed to protect a monopoly, rather than a reflection of financial reality.
It is time to ground this conversation in facts. To characterize parental freedom as a cost to a bureaucracy is to fundamentally misunderstand whom education funding belongs to: it belongs to the children of Alabama, not the systems assigned to them by their zip code.
The claim that school choice is “draining” public education is impossible to reconcile with the actual state budget. For Fiscal Year 2026, the Alabama Legislature passed a record-shattering $12.2 billion total education funding package. This includes:
$9.9 billion in the core Education Trust Fund (ETF) — a $560 million increase over last year.
$419.7 million in supplemental spending for immediate needs like school safety and fleet renewal.
$1.12 billion in the Advancement and Technology Fund for one-time facility improvements.
While school leaders decry a deficit, the state is actually flooding the system with more taxpayer dollars than ever before. Since 2016, ETF spending has grown by over 56%. If a system is struggling while sitting on a nearly $10 billion fund, the problem is not a lack of money, it is a lack of leadership.
A common misconception, often intentionally repeated, is that the CHOOSE Act takes money away from the existing K-12 Foundation Program. That is false. The $180 million allocated for the CHOOSE Act this year represents a mere 1.4% of the total $12.2 billion education package.
More importantly, this money is not pulled from teacher salaries or classrooms at all. So far, the CHOOSE Act has been funded by the Education Opportunities Reserve Fund, a separate savings account created specifically for transformative education initiatives.
The $100 million loss cited by local leaders assumes a mass exodus of students that simply isn’t happening. For the most part, these districts are essentially claiming they are losing money for students they were never actually educating.
Furthermore, when a public school student does leave for a private or homeschooling option, the local property tax revenue, which is substantial in high-growth areas like Madison County, stays with the local district. The public school retains the local funding but no longer has the expense of educating that child. On a per-pupil basis, the students who remain in public schools often end up with more funding, not less.
The most revealing part of this debate is what these complaining districts aren’t doing. Under the CHOOSE Act, public school systems are invited to register as Education Service Providers (ESPs). This would allow them to accept out-of-district students and retain the $7,000 ESA; they can also offer specialized labs and/or courses to homeschoolers in exchange for ESA funds. To date, the participation from these three districts as providers is zero. The truth is that local leaders in Huntsville/Madison and education leadership across the state have decided, or been directed, to view the CHOOSE Act as a threat rather than an opportunity to compete for and attract new students.
That is short sighted at best.
Huntsville, Alabama is a global hub for innovation. We don’t accept monopolies in our economy, so why should we accept monopolies for our children’s classrooms? Why aren’t leaders in Huntsville/Madison embracing education freedom and innovation? Those are the questions that need answering by district leadership.
The real issue we should all be discussing is the cost of a child stuck in a school that doesn’t work for them. The real cost is a child’s potential being lost in a fiscal turf war amongst adults who personally benefit from entrapping kids in a system that their parents want them out of.
As for Alabama Policy, we believe Alabama’s children are worth every single penny.
Stephanie Holden Smith is the President of the Alabama Policy Institute.
The Smiths Station High School threat case highlights HB7 crackdown on school terrorist threats as Alabama lawmakers advance legislation aimed at strengthening penalties and improving school safety statewide.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, authorities arrested 18-year-old Dontae Deshawn Ford, a former Smiths Station High School student, after investigators identified him as the individual responsible for making a social media post threatening to shoot up the school.
Investigators took Ford into custody while at his home and he admitted to making the threat.
Ford was charged with making a terrorist threat in the first degree. He is currently being held in the Lee County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond, with $2,000 cash required. He is also prohibited from being on school or educational facility property.
HB7 — brought by State Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville), who was just appointed as the Alabama House Majority Whip — would clarify the legal definition of credible threats and strengthen penalties for individuals who make threats that disrupt school operations or threaten violence. The legislation also reinforces coordination between school officials and law enforcement when threats occur.
State Sen. Matt Woods (R-Jasper), who prefiled HB7 before being elected to State Senate, said stronger deterrence measures are necessary to protect students and educators.
“We need our students and school employees focused on learning, not lockdowns,” Woods previously told Yellowhammer News. “Threats to schools and churches are serious and must be treated as such.”
HB7 is currently progressing through the legislative process as lawmakers continue prioritizing school safety measures across Alabama.
State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) wants to raise standards when it comes to grading the success of public schools in the Yellowhammer State.
Collins has introduced HB396, a bill that would change the way Alabama’s public K-12 schools are graded in the state’s annual report card.
That means if triggered, the 100-point grading scale would be raised by 10 points the following year, turning a score of 90 from an A to a B.
“We owe it to taxpayers and families to know whether students are truly prepared — not just to graduate, but to succeed after graduation,” Collins toldAlabama Daily News.
One of the main goals of the new system will be to measure positive changes so even the more successfully graded schools don’t get too comfortable or complacent.
In order to achieve that goal, Collins added a provision that would require the state to automatically raise its grading scale if 60% of public schools and public local education agencies earn an A or B in a given year.
That means if triggered, the 100-point grading scale would be raised by 10 points the following year, turning a score of 90 from an A to a B.
According to Alabama Daily News, more than 60% earned an A or B in 2025.
This would directly impact the grades of schools since more than 60% scored and A or B in 2025.
“We’ve never lifted our bar,” Collins said. “And I think our students deserve that.”
According to the synopsis of the bill, it also proposes the following changes to the grading system:
Would revise the school grading system to update the design and revise the weights and indicators considered in assigning a grade, based in part on whether the school includes a 12th-grade class.
Would require the Alabama Workforce Board, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop a system for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on student performance data associated with completion of college and career readiness indicators.
Would also provide for the creation and membership of an Accountability Council to review and recommend revisions to the state accountability system.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
It is always important for high school students to start thinking about transitioning to the next step after graduation. For those who want to continue their education, dual enrollment with the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) can give students a competitive advantage over their peers.
How it works
By utilizing the dual enrollment program, you can start smart at your local community college. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can earn college credit while still attending high school.
Dual enrollment is the shortest pathto begin training for the workforce or for a four-year degree. Some students even graduate with their associate degree from an Alabama community college before graduating high school!
A head start to a successful career
Andalusia High School Zade Newton was able to use the program as a shortcut to a $70k career right out of high school.
“Going into my 10th grade year, my dad told me that I was going to start dual enrollment that summer no matter what,” said Newton.
Enrolling in the dual enrollment program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBW) was meant to give Newton a backup plan. “I started liking it, and I fell in love with it,” Newton stated.
Newton was hired for an entry-level position with Reliance Test and Technology because of his strong technical skills gained at LBW, and for having the credentials to prove it. He earned both his associate degree in industrial electronics and EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.
Over the past decade, Alabama’s community and technical colleges have served as the launching pad for countless transfer students. Braxton Clines is among the 14% of ACCS students who transferred to a four-year institution and entered a health care program.
Before even receiving his high school diploma in 2023, Clines had already crossed the stage at Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC).
“I really enjoyed the way that I could adapt my schedule around my classes because most were available online,” said Clines.
By securing a head start, he not only saved time and money but also swiftly earned his white coat at Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy. It typically takes up to seven years of schooling, but he found a way to reduce it by three years when starting at an Alabama community college.
“I am extremely grateful,” said Clines. “Dual enrollment has shaped the way that I’ve learned material and has been a necessary part of my training for pharmacy school.”
More reasons to consider the dual advantage
Dual enrollment graduates are more likely to transition with more benefits and certainty than classmates who don’t enroll.
The top reasons students consider dual enrollment at a community college are:
Cost Savings: Pay less than half the cost—or little to nothing—for many dual enrollment courses offered at your local community college.
Simultaneous Credit: Coursework counts for high school and college, at the same time!
Experience: Start college early. Ease the transition when graduating high school.
Achievement: Dual enrollment students are more likely to enroll in college right out of high school, earning a higher GPA in their first year of college!
Get connected
Scholarships for dual enrollment classes are available. Eligible students must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, have a 2.5 GPA and obtain written approval from a principal or superintendent.
The path to success frequently starts within one’s own community. Students, regardless of their future goals, can lay a strong foundation for their journey at any Alabama community college. This solid groundwork supports them no matter where their academic and professional pursuits may lead.
It is always important for high school students to start thinking about transitioning to the next step after graduation. For those who want to continue their education, dual enrollment with the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) can give students a competitive advantage over their peers.
How it works
By utilizing the dual enrollment program, you can start smart at your local community college. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can earn college credit while still attending high school.
Dual enrollment is the shortest pathto begin training for the workforce or for a four-year degree. Some students even graduate with their associate degree from an Alabama community college before graduating high school!
A head start to a successful career
Andalusia High School Zade Newton was able to use the program as a shortcut to a $70k career right out of high school.
“Going into my 10th grade year, my dad told me that I was going to start dual enrollment that summer no matter what,” said Newton.
Enrolling in the dual enrollment program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBW) was meant to give Newton a backup plan. “I started liking it, and I fell in love with it,” Newton stated.
Newton was hired for an entry-level position with Reliance Test and Technology because of his strong technical skills gained at LBW, and for having the credentials to prove it. He earned both his associate degree in industrial electronics and EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.
Over the past decade, Alabama’s community and technical colleges have served as the launching pad for countless transfer students. Braxton Clines is among the 14% of ACCS students who transferred to a four-year institution and entered a health care program.
Before even receiving his high school diploma in 2023, Clines had already crossed the stage at Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC).
“I really enjoyed the way that I could adapt my schedule around my classes because most were available online,” said Clines.
By securing a head start, he not only saved time and money but also swiftly earned his white coat at Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy. It typically takes up to seven years of schooling, but he found a way to reduce it by three years when starting at an Alabama community college.
“I am extremely grateful,” said Clines. “Dual enrollment has shaped the way that I’ve learned material and has been a necessary part of my training for pharmacy school.”
More reasons to consider the dual advantage
Dual enrollment graduates are more likely to transition with more benefits and certainty than classmates who don’t enroll.
The top reasons students consider dual enrollment at a community college are:
Cost Savings: Pay less than half the cost—or little to nothing—for many dual enrollment courses offered at your local community college.
Simultaneous Credit: Coursework counts for high school and college, at the same time!
Experience: Start college early. Ease the transition when graduating high school.
Achievement: Dual enrollment students are more likely to enroll in college right out of high school, earning a higher GPA in their first year of college!
Get connected
Scholarships for dual enrollment classes are available. Eligible students must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, have a 2.5 GPA and obtain written approval from a principal or superintendent.
The path to success frequently starts within one’s own community. Students, regardless of their future goals, can lay a strong foundation for their journey at any Alabama community college. This solid groundwork supports them no matter where their academic and professional pursuits may lead.
It is always important for high school students to start thinking about transitioning to the next step after graduation. For those who want to continue their education, dual enrollment with the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) can give students a competitive advantage over their peers.
How it works
By utilizing the dual enrollment program, you can start smart at your local community college. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can earn college credit while still attending high school.
Dual enrollment is the shortest pathto begin training for the workforce or for a four-year degree. Some students even graduate with their associate degree from an Alabama community college before graduating high school!
A head start to a successful career
Andalusia High School Zade Newton was able to use the program as a shortcut to a $70k career right out of high school.
“Going into my 10th grade year, my dad told me that I was going to start dual enrollment that summer no matter what,” said Newton.
Enrolling in the dual enrollment program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBW) was meant to give Newton a backup plan. “I started liking it, and I fell in love with it,” Newton stated.
Newton was hired for an entry-level position with Reliance Test and Technology because of his strong technical skills gained at LBW, and for having the credentials to prove it. He earned both his associate degree in industrial electronics and EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.
Over the past decade, Alabama’s community and technical colleges have served as the launching pad for countless transfer students. Braxton Clines is among the 14% of ACCS students who transferred to a four-year institution and entered a health care program.
Before even receiving his high school diploma in 2023, Clines had already crossed the stage at Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC).
“I really enjoyed the way that I could adapt my schedule around my classes because most were available online,” said Clines.
By securing a head start, he not only saved time and money but also swiftly earned his white coat at Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy. It typically takes up to seven years of schooling, but he found a way to reduce it by three years when starting at an Alabama community college.
“I am extremely grateful,” said Clines. “Dual enrollment has shaped the way that I’ve learned material and has been a necessary part of my training for pharmacy school.”
More reasons to consider the dual advantage
Dual enrollment graduates are more likely to transition with more benefits and certainty than classmates who don’t enroll.
The top reasons students consider dual enrollment at a community college are:
Cost Savings: Pay less than half the cost—or little to nothing—for many dual enrollment courses offered at your local community college.
Simultaneous Credit: Coursework counts for high school and college, at the same time!
Experience: Start college early. Ease the transition when graduating high school.
Achievement: Dual enrollment students are more likely to enroll in college right out of high school, earning a higher GPA in their first year of college!
Get connected
Scholarships for dual enrollment classes are available. Eligible students must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, have a 2.5 GPA and obtain written approval from a principal or superintendent.
The path to success frequently starts within one’s own community. Students, regardless of their future goals, can lay a strong foundation for their journey at any Alabama community college. This solid groundwork supports them no matter where their academic and professional pursuits may lead.
Removing cell phones from classrooms felt like progress — a collective sigh of relief from parents worn out by the digital tug-of-war. But as I’ve spoken with families across Alabama, one concern keeps coming up: even without personal devices, our children are still immersed in screens throughout the school day.
Chromebooks. Online worksheets. Digital reading programs. Screens haven’t disappeared — they’ve simply been rebranded.
Laptops have replaced notebooks. Tablets have taken the place of textbooks. Assignments now live behind digital portals, not in folders parents can flip through. And all of this is happening as Alabama’s reading scores continue to slide.
The truth is this: while cell phones are gone, screens still dominate our classrooms. And they are limiting the positive effects of Alabama’s laws.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — widely known as The Nation’s Report Card — Alabama students are reading worse today than they were nearly a decade ago.
The U.S. Department of Education describes NAEP as the gold standard for measuring academic achievement across states and over time. Their reports offer a clear, consistent measure of how well students are mastering foundational skills. And it was startling to see the decline in Alabama’s scores:
A steady, nearly decade-long decline — even as the use of screens, devices, and digital curriculum has expanded across Alabama classrooms.
If technology were the answer, these numbers would be improving.
They’re not — and the data is too clear to ignore.
Falling reading scores are troubling enough, but screens also create barriers that undermine Alabama’s transparency laws.
In 2024, the Legislature passed the Parents’ Right to Know Act, requiring school curricula to be posted publicly online so families can clearly see what their children are learning. The State Superintendent’s directive was simple: instructional materials must be available on school websites — not buried in apps or hidden behind logins.
Yet that’s exactly what’s happening.
Instead of publicly posting instructional content, many schools are embedding it inside school-issued devices. That means the only way for parents to view lessons is by logging in through their child’s laptop or tablet.
This presents several problems:
Many schools don’t allow students to bring devices home.
Even when devices are sent home, parents often cannot log in to view content.
And most importantly, this practice undermines the spirit — and arguably the letter — of the law.
This isn’t just a tech policy failure. It’s a transparency failure. Parents cannot support learning if they are blocked from seeing what is being taught.
When lawmakers passed the Act in 2019, the purpose was clear: ensure every child can read on grade level by the end of third grade. That mission requires real literacy instruction — phonics, vocabulary, handwriting, sustained reading, and practice.
Nothing in the Literacy Act calls for Chromebooks or digital programs. Its foundation is built on research-backed methods: explicit instruction, repetition, and human-led support.
Today, too many classrooms have replaced physical books with devices and writing practice with typing games. That’s not what the law envisioned — and it certainly isn’t what improves literacy.
Over the past year, I’ve read deeply on this topic. Books like The Tech Exit, Glow Kids, and Screen Schooled all point in the same direction: excessive screen use is harming children’s ability to focus, comprehend, and retain what they read.
Research consistently shows that screens encourage:
Shallow reading and reduced comprehension
Fragmented attention
Lower memory retention
Declines in writing, spelling, and critical thinking
Paper and print do the opposite. They slow the mind down. They deepen comprehension. They support the development of strong, fluent readers.
If Alabama wants literacy to rise, screens cannot continue to replace books.
One of the biggest myths sold to parents is that “tech in schools prepares kids for the future.”
But the people selling that idea don’t raise their own children that way.
Many Silicon Valley executives send their kids to low-tech or even tech-free schools because they understand what cognitive science confirms: early learning requires focus, not multitasking. It requires attention and paper, not apps.
We shouldn’t be afraid to say what parents already know in their gut: screens are not helping our kids become better readers.
Meanwhile, the EdTech industry is booming. Schools continue spending millions on devices, apps, and subscription platforms promising to “personalize learning.”
But if screens actually improved literacy, we would see the results by now.
Instead, we see:
NAEP scores dropping
Digital spending rising
Children reading less deeply
Every dollar spent on a new EdTech contract is a dollar not spent on:
High-quality books
Reading specialists
Proven instructional materials
Teacher coaching and training
It is fair for parents to ask: Is this really about helping students — or helping corporate profits?
Fixing literacy doesn’t mean banning all technology. It means being wise, intentional, and guided by research and common sense.
Alabama should lead the nation by:
Reducing screen use in early grades when developing brains need focus
Returning physical books to classrooms and homes
Ensuring transparency, with all curriculum posted on public websites as the law requires
Using technology as a tool, not a replacement for teaching
Our children deserve more than apps and logins. They deserve strong teachers, real books, and the kind of learning that actually lasts.
If we want Alabama’s children to read — truly read — we must teach them the way strong readers are made: through practice, patience, and the printed page.
Emily Jones is a mom from Jackson County running for the State Board of Education and advocating for Alabama families.
In the heart of downtown Decatur, The Princess Theatre stands as a beacon of history, culture, and community. Over a century old, the Princess has grown from a humble livery stable into one of North Alabama’s most treasured performing arts centers, a place where generations have gathered to celebrate the magic of theater, music, and dance.
A Century of Stage and Screen
The theatre first opened its doors in 1919 as a silent film and vaudeville house. Over the years, it witnessed the evolution of entertainment—from organ-accompanied films to talkies, and eventually to live performances that filled its auditorium with applause and laughter. In 1941, the Princess underwent a major Art Deco makeover that still defines its character today. Local architect Albert Frahn decorated the auditorium with burgundy and gray walls and murals that glow under blacklight.
(Ginny Gray/SoulGrown)
The lobby features a terrazzo floor with a map of Alabama, highlighting Decatur and the Tennessee River, along with sleek veneer walls and curved stair rails. Outside, the geometric façade is accented with glass bricks, yellow and black vitrolite, and a two-story marquee boasting more than 3,000 feet of neon tubing—an iconic symbol of downtown Decatur. The theater reopened on August 7, 1941, with Tom, Dick and Harry starring Ginger Rogers, a moment that cemented its place in the community’s cultural life.
A Hub for Arts and Education
After closing as a movie house in 1978, the Princess was reborn as a vibrant center for learning and creativity, transforming into a performing arts hub that nurtures both artists and audiences of all ages. The City of Decatur purchased the building and invested $750,000 to renovate it as a performing arts center. The 677-seat theater became home to local performing arts groups, a multipurpose rental facility, and an arts education resource for schools.
Today, as North Alabama’s largest classroom, the Princess annually serves more than 20,000 students and teachers through Young Audience Professional Series performances, school matinees, master classes, and teacher workshops. Visiting artists participate in residencies in the community, offering both performances and hands-on workshops for students and the public.
Visiting artists participate in residencies in the community, offering workshops and performances for schools and the public. The theater is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, highlighting its significance as both a cultural and historic landmark.
For more than twenty years, the Princess has hosted an array of national and regional events, including performances by Tony Randall, Ray Charles, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Broadway tours like Evita and Big River. Local performing groups continue to make the Princess stage their home, presenting children’s theater, choral concerts, musicals, dance, and theater productions. Annually, more than 60,000 people attend events at the Princess.
Community and Cultural Impact
More than just a performance space, the Princess Theatre serves as a cornerstone for Decatur’s cultural life, bringing together residents and visitors alike while fostering a sense of connection, creativity, and shared experience.
Reflecting on the theater’s impact, managing director Jen DiCarlo says, “I’m so grateful for the people it brings. It’s beautiful that we attract visitors from all over—last year alone, we had guests from 39 different states come to see our shows. I think that’s really the heart of it: the theater brings together such a diverse mix of people who get to experience Decatur and see everything our community has to offer.”
(Ginny Gray/SoulGrown)
DiCarlo emphasizes that the arts play a vital role in enriching lives, inspiring creativity, lifting spirits, and fostering both personal and community well-being. “The arts are extremely important for health and happiness,” she says.
The Princess continues to be a hub for music and performance in Decatur. Most concerts are presented by the theater itself, and the coming months are packed with exciting events. Country music legend Marty Stuart is set to perform, while the holiday season will bring screenings of classic films and a magical presentation of The Nutcracker by a local dance company.
Holiday Movies for the Family
During the Christmas season, the Princess Theatre becomes a true holiday destination. In addition to live performances, the theater will host screenings of beloved holiday films, including It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, and White Christmas. Families and visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere while revisiting classic holiday favorites on the big screen. The full schedule of holiday movies and events can be found on the theater’s website, offering plenty of opportunities to celebrate the season in Decatur’s historic crown jewel.
Whether you visit for a national touring artist, a local performance, or a children’s show, the Princess Theatre offers an experience that is both historic and alive with energy. Its Art Deco charm, glowing murals, and neon marquee remain a captivating reminder of Decatur’s cultural heritage.
For a full schedule of upcoming shows and tickets, visit princesstheatre.org and discover all that this North Alabama treasure has to offer.
Alabama’s school choice money is about to be back on the table and the clock is ticking.
Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday that Alabama families can now access updated information for the 2026-2027 CHOOSE Act’s (Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024) education savings account application process.
The Governor’s Office noted that the program’s updated website now provides details on eligibility requirements, online applications for both renewing and new families, FAQs, key deadlines, and guides for parents and education service providers.
The state will open the renewal family application portal on December 15, 2025. New applicants may begin submitting applications on January 2, 2026. Both portals will close on March 31, with award notifications scheduled for April 15, 2026.
“The CHOOSE Act is a great success for real Alabama families and our state’s continued educational growth,” said Governor Ivey.
“I am excited for even more Alabama parents to have a greater voice in their children’s education, and I urge parents to apply and choose the education that best suits their children.”
In recent months, Ivey has highlighted families benefiting from the CHOOSE Act, including the McDades and the Walkers of Montgomery, the Siemenses of Dothan, and the Carbonells of Birmingham. She plans to continue showcasing families positively impacted by the state’s growing school choice initiative.
The CHOOSE Act establishes refundable tax credits, known as ESAs, to help eligible K5-12 students cover education-related expenses. Families may use funds for tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, and other qualified costs at approved service providers.
Program funding includes $7,000 per participating student enrolled in a participating school and $2,000 per participating home-education student, capped at $4,000 per family.
For the 2026-2027 school year, new applicants must have an adjusted gross income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Beginning in 2027–2028, the program will be open to all Alabama families, regardless of income.
Priority for ESA awards will be given to students with special needs, participating students and their siblings, and dependents of active-duty service members enrolled in or assigned to a priority school. Remaining ESAs will be awarded based on family income relative to the federal poverty level.
Alabama Power invited high school students from across central Alabama to spend two days exploring potential career paths in the utility industry.
Students experienced Alabama Power’s Lineworker Career Days, held earlier this month at the company’s General Services Complex in Calera.
The annual event, now in its sixth year, drew more than 200 students from multiple high schools to learn about the skills and responsibilities involved in linework and related trades.
First launched in 2018, the program provides students with a hands-on introduction to the work performed by Alabama Power crews across the state.
Students from six schools attended across the two days, where they rotated through six learning stations covering basic electricity, mechanical equipment, vehicles, welding, linework fundamentals and other utility careers.
Additional stations were available during lunch, offering experiences such as fiber training, a defensive driving simulator, drone demonstrations, vegetation management and hands-on activities like knot-tying and rubber glove use.
“Hopefully, what we can do with this program is expose [students] to what we do at Alabama Power,” said Eric Boykin, Southern Division general manager for Power Delivery. “That’s what I’m hoping that these kids will get out of these days. They will see what we do at Alabama Power, the value that we truly bring to our customers here in the state of Alabama, and that one day they will want to be part of that picture.”
Boykin said the event is part of Alabama Power’s continued effort to invest in the future workforce by showing students practical career options.
“We’re just really trying to show these young kids the opportunities that we provide to try to attract them to the industry so that once they graduate high school, then maybe they will seek some of these opportunities,” he said.
Alabama State University (ASU) has received the largest single donation in its 158-year history: a $38 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
ASU President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. announced the news on social media Monday, sharing a letter to the university community that called it “a defining moment in the history of Alabama State University.”
“Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated an extraordinary $38 million gift to our great University,” Ross wrote. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms Alabama State University’s reputation as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in higher education. This is truly a pivotal moment in ASU’s history.”
Founded in 1867, Alabama State University is a prominent HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Montgomery. University officials say this donation will help strengthen the school’s academic mission and expand its capacity to serve students.
MacKenzie Scott is a novelist, billionaire, and one of the world’s most influential philanthropists. She helped found Amazon.com alongside her former husband, Jeff Bezos, in 1994. After their 2019 divorce, she received a 4% stake in the company, which became a major source of her philanthropic giving.
Britannica states that since 2019, Scott has donated more than $16 billion to roughly 2,000 organizations, with a strong emphasis on racial equity, childhood development, and higher education. Many of her previous gifts have gone to HBCUs, tribal colleges, and Hispanic-serving institutions as part of her broader commitment to supporting organizations that advance equity and opportunity. She is known for giving unrestricted donations, allowing recipients to use the funds where they are needed most.
Scott signed The Giving Pledge in 2019, committing to give away the majority of her wealth. In 2024, Forbes estimated her net worth at $37 billion.
7. President Donald Trump nominated Thomas Govan as U.S. Attorney for Alabama’s Middle District and Rightside Radio host Phil Williams for the Northern District.
6. The Southeastern Conference permanently suspended referee Ken Williamson following a review of controversial officiating during the Auburn-Georgia game, prompting calls for improved oversight.
5. CBS’s Stephen Colbert covered the arrest of a Fairhope protester in an indecent penis costume on “The Late Show,” turning the “No Kings” protest embarrassment into an unfunny national late-night comedy bit.
4. The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Russian oil exports. targeting the country’s energy sector to pressure Moscow to end the Russia-Ukraine war; the move increased the average cost of oil 5%.
3. A grassroots effort supporting the Alabama Public Library Service’s amendment garnered a majority of public letters to remove inappropriate books from the children’s sections of libraries.
2. Democrats are rolling out their own ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) tracker app; Attorney General Pam Bondi is calling out the obvious targeting of agents, which is leading to an increasing amount of violent rhetoric and actual attacks against those federal agents.
1. The Alabama Education Association failed to read the room, citing reports of a record number of children not returning to public schools in order to push for new homeschool reporting requirements; the move sparked debate over parental rights and state oversight, which the public does not want.
Listen here:
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.
Alabama officials have announced the launch of the Alabama Digital Education Network, a $16 million public–private initiative aimed at bringing tech training and broadband access to rural communities.
The project, led by Ed Farm with support from Apple and Alabama Power, will create a statewide network of “learning spaces” through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community centers.
“The launch of the Alabama Digital Education Network is a landmark moment for our state,” Governor Kay Ivey said.
“Alabama is a national leader in both workforce development and broadband connectivity, and this initiative builds on that success by ensuring every student has access to the tools they need to succeed in our modern economy. We are bridging the digital divide, bringing the power of technology and high-quality education and workforce training directly to our most rural communities, and securing a brighter future for all Alabamians.”
Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said, “Advancing Alabama’s digital infrastructure plays a vital role in developing our workforce and providing strong opportunities for the people of our state.”
“ADEN is much more than just a partnership with Ed Farm and Apple — it is a lifeline for West Alabama and will have a generational impact on the region. This project has been over two years in the making, and I’m incredibly grateful for all of Alabama’s public and private partners’ support,” Ledbetter added.
ADEN will be delivered by Alabama-based nonprofit Ed Farm, using Apple’s curriculum through its Apple Foundation Program to build in-demand digital skills and provide workforce training statewide.
“At Apple, we have always believed in the power of education to create opportunity for learners of all ages,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We have longstanding relationships here in Alabama to support teachers, students, and adult learners, and we are thrilled to build on that work alongside Ed Farm and state leaders.”
“This partnership will allow us to expand and accelerate our mission to grow digitally fluent learners who are prepared for the future of work,” said Waymond Jackson, president of Ed Farm. “By scaling our proven model, we can create lasting economic opportunity across the Black Belt.”
“Since 2017, we’ve installed more than 2,000 miles of fiber to make our grid stronger and support faster restoration efforts,” said Jeff Peoples, president and CEO of Alabama Power. “We’re grateful this infrastructure investment is helping ADEN advance workforce development and educational opportunities across rural Alabama.”
Alabama State University (ASU) will serve as the Montgomery hub for ADEN, housing the program in its Continuing Education Building. As an HBCU in the heart of the Black Belt, ASU brings crucial educational partnership and deep community ties to the initiative.
“Alabama State University is proud to serve as the Montgomery hub for this transformative initiative,” said Dr. Quinton Ross Jr., president of Alabama State University.
“As a Historically Black College and University rooted in the heart of the Black Belt, we understand the vital role access to digital infrastructure plays in closing opportunity gaps and empowering communities. This partnership allows Alabama State to continue setting the pace in workforce innovation and community impact bringing bold, tech-driven solutions to the forefront of education. This initiative marks yet another historic milestone in our mission to lead, serve, and uplift.”
State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) called the initiative “a transformative moment for the Black Belt with the potential to close long-standing gaps in access and ensure that every Alabamian has a fair shot at success in the modern workforce.”
aldotcom has yet another anti-school choice piece on their website where they attempt to smear parents who want more for their kids.
As usual, the complaints are based on the students’ faith and the lack of government control over the schools, which they fail to understand is the entire point.
With enemies like this, school choice will continue to expand.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.
Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth put out a call Thursday to the public to send him “experiences, critiques, and assessments of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, along with recommendations for needed changes and reforms in the governing body.”
His action follows AHSAA’s recent decision to deny eligibility to CHOOSE Act students.
“The AHSAA’s decision to declare itself above the law is the symptom of a much bigger problem — a complete lack of accountability for its actions,” Ainsworth said in a release Thursday.
“It is obvious that we must look into reforming how high school athletics are governed and regulated in Alabama, so I invite the public to send me their thoughts, suggestions, and experiences as we put together a plan.”
“Despite the fact that state law specifically shields students from having their athletic eligibility stripped as a result of participating in Alabama’s CHOOSE Act school choice program, the AHSAA has chosen to ignore the statute and deny them participation, wrongly claiming the voucher system that simply allows taxpayer dollars to follow the child is a form of financial aid.
“The same Alabama High School Athletic Association responsible for making sure teams do not break the rules is BREAKING THE LAW by denying eligibility to CHOOSE Act students. I’ll offer legislation to strip AHSAA of its power and give it to an entity that will follow the law.”
The CHOOSE Act ruling was just the latest in a series of high-profile controversies surrounding the AHSAA, which operates with little to no oversight or accountability.
In 2022, the AHSAA generated national headlines by forcing Oakwood Adventist Academy in Huntsville, a school affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to forfeit a Saturday afternoon regional semifinal basketball game to Faith Christian School because students and coaches did not wish to violate their religious beliefs by playing on their Sabbath.
Postponing the game by just three hours would have allowed the Oakwood Academy team to play in the tournament without sacrificing religious practices.
In 2019, the AHSAA was again mired in national controversy when it denied the senior year eligibility of Charles Henderson High School standout basketball player Maori Davenport of Troy.
The AHSAA rescinded Davenport’s eligibility due to a clerical error involving her play with the Team USA basketball program, and the controversial decision prompted several influential sportswriters, television personalities, and professional athletes across the United States to speak out on the high school student’s behalf.
A Pike County circuit judge issued an emergency order restoring eligibility to Davenport, who was ranked as the 15th best women’s basketball recruit in the nation, after her family filed a lawsuit.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
For years, the media and their Democrats have sought to cancel conservatives and anyone who dares to fall outside of their ever-shifting social rules.
But after Charlie Kirk was killed, these same people demanded that teachers, doctors, and social media users who gloated over his death were to be left alone.
No, that is not how this is going to work.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN
Two of Montgomery’s top lobbyists have teamed up to co-found a new, namesake government relations and public affairs firm: Ross Taylor & Associates.
John Ross and Charlie Taylor are behind the venture, which is launching with a roster of blue chip entities at the highest levels of Alabama’s public and private sectors, including major players in utilities, education, healthcare, and technology.
With offices in Montgomery, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, the firm is making its debut in the competitive scene through an expansive practice, offering services that include state lobbying, federal government affairs, public affairs, business development strategy, and strategic advisory.
Ross, a young but seasoned veteran of Alabama politics and the State House, brings over two decades of experience in governmental affairs, public policy, and strategic consulting to the new partnership.
He earned his reputation first as a top architect of the Alabama Republican Party’s historic 2010 campaign cycle. As Executive Director of the party, he and colleagues broke through to secure GOP victories on every level of the ticket, ending 136 years of Democrat majorities in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature.
In the time since, Ross has been responsible for continued electoral dominance. He serves as a trusted advisor to officials across government, particularly, the senior leadership of the Alabama Legislature. In 2014, he managed Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter’s (R-Rainsville) initial campaign victory, and continues to be a close friend and advisor.
Ross has led successful campaign efforts on the gubernatorial, senatorial, congressional, and state legislative levels.
Joining him as founding partner is Charlie Taylor, who most recently served as Vice Chancellor for External Affairs for the University of Alabama System. Taylor is among the most high-profile and trusted operators in Alabama politics.
At UA System, Taylor managed lobbying efforts resulting in billions of dollars of state and federal funding for capital projects and operational needs in education and healthcare.
Taylor has also arranged and overseen each recent visit President Donald Trump made to the University of Alabama, including a commencement address to 2025 graduates and a historic gameday between Alabama and Georgia, during which President Trump sat in Taylor’s box in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
With elite relationships among Senate and House leadership, both Ross and Taylor have been, and will continue to be,perennial features of the annual Yellowhammer News Power & Influence list.
“Ross Taylor & Associates is built on the belief that trusted relationships, honest counsel, and proven experience deliver real results,” said Ross.
“We’re excited to help our clients achieve their public affairs goals while contributing to the long-term success of our state.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) states that students using the CHOOSE Act, a school choice bill, must sit out a year before they can participate in sports.
The actual law states that participation in school choice can not be used to limit eligibility, but this group has operated this way in the past, and it is beyond time to shut these bureaucrats down and bring this organization under control.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN
Alabama and many other states have implemented a cell phone ban in public schools, and some people are not happy.
This is being done in order to get discipline under control and bring the focus back to schoolwork; it seems to be working.
Students and some parents are not happy, but teachers are seeing the benefits of the cell phone ban early in the school year.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.
Along with an impressive array of endorsements from influential state organizations, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has picked up public support from Season 5 American Idol winner and Birmingham native, Taylor Hicks in his campaign for Governor of Alabama in 2026.
Tuesday morning on “Alabama’s Morning News with JT”, Hicks explained his decision to endorse Tuberville in 2026, saying he will help better education in the state. The endorsement marks the first time Hicks has issued public support for a political candidate.
“I believe Senator Tuberville is the best candidate for governor for Alabama, and I’m putting my full endorsement behind him,” Hicks said.
“I’ve known Senator Tuberville for going on about ten or fifteen years. And you know, first and foremost, let’s not forget that he’s an educator. You know he was a coach at Auburn. He was an educator at Auburn. I think one of the things that I like is his idea to beef up education in the state. As I tour around the country, I go to schools and perform, and I think that education is something that Alabamians really need to take a look at and make sure that we take care of our kids. I think Coach will do that.”
Hicks added that support and focus from Tuberville will extend also to the Yellowhammer State’s defense economy and farmers across Alabama.
“Let’s not forget about our farmers. I had a show… I got to be with a lot of farmers throughout the country… We need to take care of our farmers in Alabama. I think that they’re important just as much as our children are. And I think Senator Tuberville will be able to take care of that as well.”
Hicks said has full confidence in Tuberville’s ability to lead Alabama.
“I think he’s the best candidate for governor,” Hicks continued. “And not only that, he’s a good guy. I’ve done some homework and I think Senator Tuberville will do a great job.”
“He’s a good guy, and he likes to play golf, and… he’s pretty funny too.”
The Alabama Republican primary is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
7. Multiple teachers across Alabama have reported that students are more focused, engaged, and more disciplined in the first weeks of the 2025 school year after Alabama banned cell phones in classrooms, but students are whining about the policy.
6. A Montgomery mother praised Alabama’s CHOOSE Act, signed in 2024, for providing up to $7,000 per student for homeschool, private school, or switching school districts. She is urging parents to utilize the program, saying that applying was easy, as it is “only paperwork.”
5. A Court of Criminal Appeals refused to dismiss the murder charge against former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette for the 2023 shooting of Steve Perkins during a vehicle repossession confrontation, meaning that the trial is still on schedule for Sept. 15.
4. Former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) seems to be inching close to a 2026 U.S. Senate run but continues to call another run for U.S. Senate as “possible but improbable,” expressing doubts about whether current candidates will prioritize preventing national insolvency and call out President Donald Trump when he makes errors.
3. President Donald Trump’s endorsement is poised to heavily influence Alabama’s 2026 U.S. Senate race, with candidates Attorney General Steve Marshall, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), and Jared Hudson seeking his support in a contest where a poll shows Marshall leading with 24%, but 51.4% of voters are undecided so a Trump endorsement could swing the race.
2. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet at the White House today after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for hours, with both Trump and Putin signaling a peace deal may be in the offing with land concessions and an agreement not to join NATO, and a peacekeeping force as part of the deal.
1. Media bias is on full display as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s Ukraine policy, accusing the CBS Margaret Brennan of pushing a “stupid media narrative” over European leaders being invited by the U.S. to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a White House meeting, and they are not coming to keep Zelensky from being bullied.
Listen here:
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN
7. Stardome, the Birmingham comedy club that canceled Michael Rapaport’s show, says they had no intent to silence his pro-Israel views, but cancelled his show so people who made threats about those views would stop making threats – which is the same thing.
6. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is eyeing a U.S. Senate bid against Attorney General Steve Marshall, while former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) teases a major announcement, which is expected to be running for the seat he just lost against Moore.
5. State Sen. Matt Woods (R-Section) prefiled (refiled?) HB7, aiming to enhance student safety with harsher penalties for making school threats, including mandatory jail time and mental health evaluations.
4. Fort Stewart in Georgia had an active shooter incident involving Army Sgt. Quornelius Radford, who was out on bail for a DUI charge; Radford wounded five soldiers who are all expected to survive.
3. Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss strategies related to the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases, including releasing the transcript of the recent interview Blanche did with Maxwell.
2. Body camera footage shows Jabari Peoples had a gun and fought police before being fatally shot, with the district attorney calling it a tragic decision, while his family claims he was running for his life.
1. President Donald Trump announced increased tariffs on imports from India, Canada, Brazil, and other nations citing stalled trade negotiations, ranging from 10-25% to pressure these nations into resuming trade talks stalled over market access disputes; meanwhile, Apple will spend total of $600 billion on domestic production for iPhone parts to avoid tariffs.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.
Alabama educators and administrators received some very welcome news this weekend with the release of $50 million in frozen federal funds for essential education programs.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Management and Budget released $21 million earmarked for afterschool and summer programs, after freezing the funds on June 30 to review their necessity, according to the Alabama Daily News.
The pause impacted several grant programs administered under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including Title I-C for migrant student education, Title II-A for effective instruction, Title III-A for English language acquisition, and Title IV-A for student support and academic enrichment. Title II funds under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) were also reviewed.
The newly released funds support a wide range of educational services across the state, including salaries for approximately 280 teachers, State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey toldADN.
An additional $10 million in federal support for postsecondary adult education was also unfrozen.
“I am ecstatic that our stance for reasonable transparency and consistency in government has won the day,” Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey told ADN. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for maintaining the faith with our students and our schools. This is indeed great news to start the new school year!”
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), one of ten Republican senators who pressed for the release of the funds, also welcomed the decision.
“I applaud the announcement from OMB Director Vought to release the outstanding education formula funds to states,” Britt said last week. “I have long stated our local communities know how to best serve students and families. This funding will help states and school districts provide students an excellent education.”
Nationwide, the funding freeze affected more than $7 billion in federal aid. Alabama’s share, including the $21 million previously released and the $50 million announced this weekend, exceeds $70 million.
Federal funds account for roughly 10% of the state’s overall K–12 education budget, with large portions designated for special education and support for low-income students.
