The Alabama Senate made history on Thursday by passing a $9.3 billion education budget, the largest in the state’s history. This budget includes significant increases in funding for teacher pay raises and overall education funding.
In addition to the education budget, the Senate also passed a $651 million supplemental appropriation. This means that every public school, college, and university in Alabama can expect additional funding in the coming weeks.
State Rep. Danny Garrett and Sen. Arthur Orr played key roles in sponsoring and carrying the education budget and supplemental appropriation. The budget, totaling $9,348,506,169, represents a substantial increase over the previous year.
K-12 schools will receive $6,365,972,327, while higher education will receive $2,397,664,702. The budget also includes funding for state agencies, including the Legislature, with a total increase of $32,456,124 over the previous year.
One notable addition to the budget is funding to feed school children during the summer months, a program previously supported by federal COVID relief funds. State Sen. Rodger Smitherman expressed appreciation for this funding, highlighting the importance of ensuring children have access to meals even when school is not in session.
Overall, the passage of this education budget represents a significant investment in Alabama’s education system and the well-being of its students. The budget now awaits approval from the House and Gov. Kay Ivey before going into effect on October 1.