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Bill

HB 266

Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act, providing for a nontraditional high school diploma option for students 17 years of age and older who withdraw from school through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System; to provide for the sharing of data on students who drop out of high school; and to provide that participating students are eligible for driver's licenses

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Woods

Alabama allows students 17+ who quit school to earn alternative diplomas via community colleges and obtain driver's licenses, while tracking dropout data across systems.

Enacted
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Bill Summary · HB 266

Legislative bill overview

HB 266 creates an alternative pathway for Alabama students aged 17 and older who have withdrawn from traditional high school to earn a nontraditional diploma through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. The bill also establishes data-sharing mechanisms to track high school dropouts and permits participating students to obtain driver's licenses.

Why is this important

This addresses a significant demographic—older students who have left school—by offering a legitimate credential pathway that may increase workforce participation and educational attainment. The driver's license provision removes a potential barrier to employment and participation in adult education programs, while dropout data-sharing could help identify at-risk populations for intervention.

Potential points of contention

  • Diploma equivalency concerns: Whether a nontraditional diploma carries equal weight with employers and colleges compared to a traditional high school diploma, potentially creating a two-tier credential system
  • Definition and standards: The bill's lack of specificity about curriculum requirements, testing standards, and what makes a "nontraditional" diploma legitimate raises questions about educational rigor and consistency
  • Data privacy: Sharing dropout data between K-12 and community college systems involves student information that raises privacy and FERPA compliance questions, particularly regarding how data is used and protected

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

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