State Rep. A.J. McCampbell (D-Demopolis) has introduced legislation to change Alabama's "failing school" definition, which critics believe harms students and staff.
The Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) of 2013 requires the Alabama State Department of Education to list schools as "failing" if they fall in the worst 6% of all public schools in scholastic achievement.
The "failing" school definition is required since the AAA provides tax credit-funded scholarships for families desiring to leave the lowest-performing schools.
The AAA provided educational tax credits and allowed parents of students in the worst-performing schools to receive a tax credit to offset the cost of sending a student to a nonfailing public or nonpublic school.
The income tax credit a parent receives will equal 80% of the average annual state cost of attendance for a public K-12 student during the applicable tax year or the actual cost of attending a nonfailing public or nonpublic school, whichever is less.
Since the AAA passed, the state has had a long-standing debate about changing the terminology used to describe underperforming schools. Critics of the language believe it hurts students and families attending "failing" schools and makes hiring quality teachers and principals harder.
Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey have both said in the past that they supported changing the "failing" label for schools.
McCampbell recently filed two bills in the House to change the terminology used by the ALSDE, removing the "failing designation."
House Bill 30 (HB 30) would change the designation of a "failing school" to a "lowest sixth percent school" and the designation of a "nonfailing school" to a "highest 94th percent school" for the purposes of school grading and the AAA.
House Bill 31 (HB 31) would change the designation of a "failing school" to a "fully supported school" and the designation of a "nonfailing school" to a "non-fully supported school" for the purposes of school grading and the AAA.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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