Latest news with #HB266
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate OKs program for high school dropouts to earn diplomas
Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, stands in the Alabama House of Representatives on May 8, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate passed a bill Tuesday to create a program allowing high school dropouts to get their diplomas through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, would be known as the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act. A 17-year-old student can leave high school early if their parents agree and after an exit meeting. The exit interview informs the parent or guardian about the potential negative impacts of dropping out, such as lower future earnings and a higher chance of unemployment, and the student is provided with information on the 'detrimental impacts and effects of early withdrawal.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The REACH Act would require students to be provided with information during the exit interview on options available after dropping out, and require local education boards to report to the Alabama State Department of Education on student withdrawal rates. The bill passed with no discussion on a 34-0 vote and goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. The Alabama Community College System endorsed the bill at its March meeting. Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs, said then that more students would be able to take advantage of the system's adult education program, and the 'State Department of Education to get better data.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Community College System approves legislative agenda
Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs for the Alabama Community College System, speaks at the monthly board meeting on March 12, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama. Kinard presented a legislative update to the ACCS Board of Trustees. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Community College System approved its legislative agenda at its monthly board meeting on Wednesday. With the Legislature almost halfway through the 2025 session, some of ACCS' priorities have already made it through both chambers of the Legislature. Boone Kinard, executive director of external affairs, told the board that HB 102, sponsored by Rep. Jeanna Ross, R-Guntersville, passed and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Kay Ivey. 'Every kid in the state, regardless of your zip code, who wants to take advantage of a dual enrollment course, this bill will allow them to do that,' Kinard said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation prohibits school districts from preventing students from entering dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses for college credit at community colleges and universities. A request for comment from Ivey's office was sent Wednesday afternoon. Kinard also highlighted HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Mat Woods, R-Jasper, also known as the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act. The legislation would create a program for high schoolers that drop out of high school to get their high school diploma from their previous high school. 'So this bill would expand this program and would allow more students to take advantage of it,' Kinard said. 'It would also require us to work with the State Department of Education to get better data.' The bill has passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Kinard also said the system requested an amendment for a paid parental leave bill that would include community college educators. SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, would provide up to eight weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave to state employees in most cases. 'Community college employees were inadvertently left out of the original version of the bill. We've engaged with the governor's office,' Kinard said. 'We've been able to add an amendment to the bill to add our community college employees to make sure that they can receive this benefit should this bill pass.' The system's agenda also supports the creation of a state lottery to fund scholarships for any Alabama resident to attend a state public, two-year community and technical college. Legislation for a state lottery and gaming failed on the last day of the 2024 session. So far, there have not been any bills filed to create a lottery. The board will meet on April 9 at Jefferson State Community College for its next meeting. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to create nontraditional high school diploma program passes House
Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, stands in the Alabama House of Representatives on May 8, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Woods sponsors a bill that would create a nontraditional high school diploma program. It passed the House unanimously on Feb. 25, 2025. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) A bill that would create a nontraditional high school diploma program for people who have dropped out passed the Alabama House unanimously on Tuesday. HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, allows former students to enroll in a program to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma at 18 years old. Woods said the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School Act expands the options for people who've dropped out to get back on track with their education. 'This bill addresses a segment of our population that's falling between the cracks,' Woods said. 'We believe that we can help them pursue their educational pathway.' There is a nontraditional diploma option for adult education, but Woods said the minimum age is 19. He said his bill lowers the age to 18. 'The idea behind that is that a student who drops out of high school won't have to wait as long before they can finish their high school diploma,' Woods said. Although supportive of the bill, Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, said she wants to look into preventing high school withdrawals. 'At some point we've got to challenge those things that cause these young people to be at the point where they are dropping out of school,' Hall said. Rep. Van Smith, R-Clanton, offered an amendment to allow students to enroll in the REACH program before they withdraw to expand their options. 'It will put in an opportunity for students to enroll in this program that Rep. Woods is presenting to us,' Smith said. 'Then that individual will not be counted as a dropout.' The amendment passed 103-0. The bill goes to the Alabama Senate.
