Bill > HB438

This bill establishes the Education Transparency Board, a temporary board within Alabama's Department of Education, designed to conduct a comprehensive impact study if the U.S. Department of Education experiences budget reductions of more than 20%. The board will consist of five members appointed by legislative leaders, ensuring bipartisan representation, and will be charged with analyzing how such federal budget cuts might affect public K-12 schools across Alabama. The impact study will include detailed district-by-district assessments of potential changes in funding, staffing, resources, and student outcomes, and will be conducted by an independent, nonpartisan entity with education policy expertise. Once completed, the board will publish a final report within 90 days, which must be distributed to key state officials, local superintendents, and posted on the Department of Education's website in an accessible format. The report will also include elected officials' public statements regarding the federal budget reductions. After publishing the report, the board will be dissolved. The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt rules for implementing the act, which is set to take effect on June 1, 2025, with the primary goal of ensuring transparency and accountability in education funding and policy changes.