Education Budget Passes Alabama Legislature

The state education budget is on its way to Governor Kay Ivey. Lawmakers in the state Senate and House of Representatives this morning gave final approval to the $6.4 billion education trust fund. The budget, if signed into law, would keep state schools mostly funded at the same levels as this fiscal year but provides some increases for K-12 and other programs. The bill provides money to hire another 152 teachers in fourth through sixth grades. It would also give a $13 million increase to the state's pre-kindergarten program. That, along with federal grant money, should allow 100 more pre-kindergarten classrooms to open.