Charter School Choice
Does the state have charter schools?
Are for-profit charter schools or management companies allowed?
A public charter must be governed by a non-profit, but there is no mention of whether a charter's education service provider must be non-profit. An education service provider is defined as "[an] entity with which a public charter school intends to contract with for educational design, implementation, or comprehensive management. This relationship shall be articulated in the public charter school application."
Is there a cap on the number of charter schools?
Only 10 new start-up approvals per year. There are no limits on the number of conversion public schools that may be approved in a year.
Are charters required to provide transportation for any students?
Can charter schools employ uncertified teachers?
Teachers are exempt from state teacher certification requirements: "Public charter schools shall comply with applicable federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding the qualification of teachers and other instructional staff. In accordance with subsection (a), teachers in public charter schools shall be exempt from state teacher certification requirements."
Virtual School Choice
Do state statutes allow for full-time virtual schools?
Virtual public schools are permitted. "Before the 2016-2017 school year, each local board of education shall adopt a policy providing, at a minimum, a virtual education option for eligible students in grades nine to 12, inclusive, beginning with that school year."
Are virtual schools required to track attendance?
No mention.
Do virtual schools have to comply with state teacher certification requirements?
"A board of education shall be exempt from any provision of general law, local law, or administrative rule that applies to the traditional delivery of instruction including, but not limited to, requirements relating ...staffing requirements...to the extent any of the foregoing conflict with the delivery of the virtual program."
Private School Choice
Does the state have voucher programs?
Does the state have educational expense tuition tax credits or deductions?
The Accountability Act of 2013 includes a declaration to "provide financial assistance through an income tax credit to a parent who transfers a student from a failing public school to a non-failing public school or nonpublic school of the parent's choice."
Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?
However, parochial schools are allowed in the tax credit program.
Is there a cap on the number of students or private schools participating in voucher programs?
Are voucher students in private schools required to take any standardized tests?
However, "For students in the local school system who are participating in the tax credit program, the local school system shall provide locations and times to take all statewide assessments required by law."
Can private schools be removed from voucher programs based on performance?
Are private schools in voucher programs required to provide transportation?
However, "If a parent enrolls a student in a nonpublic school or in a non failing public school within another local school system, regardless of whether that system provides transportation services for other enrolled students, transportation of the student shall be the responsibility of the parent."
Interdistrict School Choice
Does the state have interdistrict choice programs?
"A public charter school shall be open to any student residing in the state."
Are receiving schools or districts required to provide transportation to any students?
Public charter schools allow for open enrollment, and public charters are not required to provide transportation. However, we did not find a law that explicitly addresses whether receiving schools/districts are required to provide transportation to students.
AL Code 16-6F-10(b)(5): Reporting of enrollment, attendance, etc.; funding.