Alabama School Leaders Want $375M Budget Increase for School Security, Teacher Stipends

Alabama Board of Education outlines key budget asks ahead of FY27

Alabama education officials outlined FY 2027 budget priorities at their monthly meeting ahead of the budget vote next month.

Alabama Department of Education’s 2027 budget request focuses on services

Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey speaks to Alabama State Board of Education members in the Gordon Persons Building after the Alabama State Board of Education meeting on July 8, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) will request a $5.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 to support programs like the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), English language learners (ELL) a…

Alabama school leaders want $375M budget increase for school security, teacher stipends

Alabama education leaders are asking for a 6% budget increase for K-12 schools this year to help pay for school security efforts, teacher stipends and other longstanding reading and math reforms.The Alabama State Board of Education on Thursday said it plans to ask state lawmakers for $6.7 billion from the Education Trust Fund – an increase of about $375 million.