The Alabama Senate passed a $9.3 billion education budget Thursday that includes teacher pay increases and increased funding. This is the largest education budget in state history.
The Senate also passed an additional $651 million in spending. All public schools, colleges and universities in the state will undergo additional testing in the coming weeks.
The House of Representatives has already passed an education budget bill. The budget now returns to the House to consider changes to the bill in the Senate. If approved and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, the budget would go into effect Oct. 1.
The education budget and additional spending is sponsored by state Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), who chairs the House Ways and Means and Education Committee. They are being carried to the Senate by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.
The Senate budget is $9,348,506,169, an increase of $549,912,128 from last year.
- K-12 schools will receive $6,365,972,327, an increase of $376,760,340.
- Higher education will receive $2,397,664,702, an increase of $140,695,664 compared to 2024.
- There are many state agencies, including Congress itself, that are funded at least in part through the Education Trust Fund. The amount spent was $584,869,140, an increase of $32,456,124 compared to 2024.
- 70.64% of the budget goes to K-12 schools. 27.36% of the budget is allocated to higher education. The K-12 and higher education splits remain virtually unchanged from the 2024 budget.
The Senate version of the bill adds funding to feed school children during the summer when they are not in school. This was a federal coronavirus relief program, but Congress is no longer funding it. States were given the option to take over the program and provide funding.
“We are grateful for the work we do to feed our children,” said State Sen. Roger Smitherman. “The kids who will starve this summer don't have lobbyists.”
The state also funds private schools, Talladega University, Tuskegee Institute, and Southern Preparatory School (formerly known as Lyman Ward).
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