CLAS 2024 Legislative Priorities

STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Our Mission: The mission of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools is to coordinate and facilitate the resources of all members for the advancement of public education.

ETF APPROPRIATION PRIORITIES Principal and assistant principal stipends as pledged in the School Principal Leadership & Mentoring Act

Allocation of one assistant principal for every school with 250-499 ADM

Allocation of one-half assistant principal unit for every school with 100-249 ADM

Our Priorities: In the 2024 Legislative Session, CLAS will proritize policy and budget items that ensure the academic needs, physical safety, and health and wellbeing of every child.

Our legislative priorities are those that the CLAS Board of Directors has indicated are most important for their school’s and system’s success in FY2025. CLAS will advocate for these until accomplished.

Fund the full salary and benefits of elementary instructional coaches mandated by the Literacy and Numeracy Acts

Fully fund mental health services coordinators

Increase percentage of transportation funding by 5%

More Information: Visit our legislative advocacy page on our website at clasleaders.org/advocacy or scan the code below to access our full legislative platform.

Allocation of one nurse and one counselor per school

Increase the fleet renewal reimbursement to match the average school bus purchase price

ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS

via supplemental appropriation

Dedicated funds for school safety

Funds for capital projects and deferred maintenance

Originally formulated by the School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) and further developed and adopted by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS)

LEGISLATIVE POLICY PRIORITIES In the 2024 legislative session, CLAS will continue to advocate for state-level policies and legislation that pertains to the field of education:

Any ESA or voucher program must have academic and financial accountability as well as a cap on funding.

All student due process policies, along with student discipline policies, should be set by the local board of education.

Mandate yearly appropriation from the A&T Fund when the account balance reaches $300 million.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADVOCACY PRIORITIES CLAS maintains a close working relationship with the State Department of Education and is expanding the association’s partnership with the State Board of Education (SBOE). In 2024, CLAS will collaborate with the SBOE to explore alternative accountability measures for secondary schools, including investigating options to replace the ACT as the primary tool for secondary school accountability.

CLAS GUIDING PRINCIPLES CLAS believes public education dollars should be spent on public education. CLAS will always advocate for the support and preservation of public schooling and the appropriate proportional funding of K-12 education.

CLAS believes that local control is essential for effective school governance. School and school system leaders are hired locally and are the experts of their school, system, and community. Therefore, they are best positioned to make decisions impacting their students and those under their care.

COUNCIL FOR LEADERS IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS (CLAS)