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HB 396

Public school grading system, revised to include and weight specific indicators for schools that include a 12th grade class and schools that do not include a 12th grade class; Alabama Workforce Development Board and State Department of Education to develop system to analyze student performance data, Accountability Council created

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terri Collins

Alabama revises school grading to use differentiated metrics for schools with/without 12th grade, establishing data analysis system and oversight council.

Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy
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Bill Summary · HB 396

Legislative bill overview

HB 396 revises Alabama's public school grading system to create differentiated accountability measures for schools with and without 12th-grade classes. The bill directs the Alabama Workforce Development Board and State Department of Education to develop a data analysis system and establishes an Accountability Council to oversee school performance evaluation.

Why is this important

School grading systems directly influence funding allocation, teacher evaluations, and public perception of school quality. Different accountability standards for elementary/middle schools versus high schools could better reflect their distinct educational missions and student populations, potentially reducing unfair comparisons across grade configurations.

Potential points of contention

  • Different grading standards: Creating separate metrics for schools with/without 12th grades may make comparisons difficult for parents and could mask performance issues if standards are applied inconsistently
  • Implementation complexity: Developing two distinct evaluation systems requires significant resources and coordination between agencies; unclear whether the bill adequately funds this effort
  • Accountability Council composition: The bill doesn't specify how the Accountability Council will be constituted, who holds decision-making power, or how transparent its processes will be to the public

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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