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State Profiles
Alabama
When the Alabama Office of School Readiness (OSR) was established by the Legislature in 1999, its mission was to oversee a system that would provide all four-year-old children with access to high-quality pre-k. To help coordinate the Alabama Pre-Kindergarten Program and to minimize duplication of services Children’s Policy Councils were created at both the state and county levels. Each council conducts an annual needs assessment, the results of which are used to determine program recommendations for the upcoming year.
Despite this elaborate infrastructure, the Alabama Pre-Kindergarten Program started out small; the OSR funded eight pilot pre-k programs in 2000-01. It expanded to 70 classrooms by 2002-03, but budget cuts in 2003-04 significantly reduced the number of pre-k classrooms available. Today, the program serves a mere four percent of four year olds in the state. The Alabama Pre-Kindergarten Program revised it’s teach certification standards to require new hires to have specialized training in early childhood education beginning in the 2005-2006 school year. This change in requirements resulted in the initiative meeting all 10 of the NIEER quality benchmarks. Effective in 2009, all teachers in the program will be required to earn a preschool- third grade add-on to their degree or complete additional early childhood education coursework.
Fortunately, pre-k in Alabama is ripe for expansion. The program is one of the top two in the nation in terms of quality (according to the National Institute for Early Education Research), and the recent creation of the Alabama School Readiness Alliance (ASRA) is helping to provide a unified voice for pre-k in the state. Pre-k in Alabama is on the right track and will rely on continued support from the public and policymakers to make voluntary pre-k for all a reality.
Key Milestones
| 1999 |
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The Legislature establishes the Office of School Readiness within the newly created Department of Children’s Affairs.
Voters defeat a lottery that would have, among other things, funded voluntary four-year-old kindergarten for all children. Following this loss, the Governor’s Early Learning Commission is created, which is made up of key business leaders throughout the state. |
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| 2000 |
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The Alabama Pre-Kindergarten Program is established and every four year old in the state is eligible to attend. The program is extremely high quality (meeting 10 out of 10 NIEER quality standards), administered through the Office of School Readiness, and funded with a combination of state, federal, and local matching dollars. Pre-k classes are offered in public schools, private child care centers, Head Start programs, universities, and community-based organizations.
The Legislature creates a state Children’s Policy Council. County councils are also formed throughout the state and begin developing countywide needs assessments to better serve Alabama’s children. |
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| 2001 |
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The Governor’s Commission on Early Learning issues a comprehensive  report with specific recommendations to improve early learning for children birth to five. One of those recommendations is to make “...pre-kindergarten available on a voluntary basis throughout the State of Alabama.” |
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| 2002 |
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Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) is created in response to the Governor’s Early Learning Commission Report. The goal of this state level non-profit agency is to develop, design, and implement a unified approach to early childhood programs and services that will improve the lives of children from birth through age five. |
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| 2006 |
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Alabama's pre-k program is recognized by the National Institute for Early Education Research as one of only two state pre-k programs in the country meeting all 10 of their quality benchmarks.
After nearly a year of discussion and planning, a group of key individuals and organizations unite to form a collaborative partnership, the Alabama School Readiness Alliance (ASRA). The mission of ASRA is to expand quality pre-k programs in Alabama as a means to close the achievement gap.
The state Legislature approves a $1.1 million increase in appropriations for the OSR. This brings total pre-k spending in Alabama to $5.4 million, a 400 percent increase since the program's inception in 1999. Unfortunately, this funding increase is not enough to significantly expand pre-k access; Alabama still only serves about two percent of its four year olds.
A statewide poll conducted in December finds that improving education is an extremely high priority in the state, and voters recognize the importance of pre-kindergarten education as an integral part of that effort. Further, the poll finds that three quarters (76%) of voters believe that Alabama should fund voluntary pre-k for all families, just as it does for K-12, and two thirds (64%) of voters feel strongly about this assertion. |
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| 2007 |
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Governor Bob Riley proposes to increase pre-k funding by 75 percent, adding another $3.3 million to the program. The legislature votes to incease pre-k funding even more, adding $4.6 million to the Office of School Readiness pre-k budget. |
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| 2008 |
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Under the leadership of Governor Bob Riley (R), the state legislature approved an education budget in a special legislative session to double funding for pre-k to $20 million in one of the nation’s highest quality programs. This increase will allow the pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds to add more than 1,100 students across the state, expanding from 2,250 students to 3,384. |
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| 2009 |
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In a year when states across the country are cutting pre-k programs in the face of revenue shortfalls, Governor Riley (R) and leaders in the legislature formed a broad coalition and passed a 20%, $3.2 million increase in state funding for pre-k. |
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| 2010 |
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A statewide, bipartisan poll finds that, despite the tough economic climate, support for pre-k expansion in Alabama remains as strong as it was four years ago. Detailed findings can be found on the Alabama School Readiness Alliance website. |
Pre-K Champions
The Alabama School Readiness Alliance, comprised of VOICES for Alabama’s Children , A+ Education Foundation, Alabama Partnership for Children, and Alabama Giving, is leading the campaign for high-quality pre-k in the state. This unique alliance represents three statewide advocacy organizations which are devoted to improving the lives of Alabama’s children and promoting education reform. The fourth partner, Alabama Giving, is a membership organization representing the largest and most active funders in the state – all with a focus on channeling public and private resources and philanthropy toward this important initiative.
ASRA has successfully taken advantage of many types of media to build their coalition. Click here to see one of their recent videos.
Next Steps for Alabama
ASRA’s long-term goal is for every child in the state to have access to a voluntary, high-quality pre-k program that lays the foundation for school success. To accomplish this goal, ASRA will work to build grassroots support for pre-k, broaden its statewide coalition, and support increased appropriations for the Alabama Office of School Readiness.
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"Redefining ESEA" Webinar
Looking for resources from our Webinar, "Redefining ESEA: The Critical Role of Pre-K and the Early Grades in School Reform Efforts”?
Access our PowerPoint presentation from the March 17 call here.
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Recovery Round-up
You've got questions? We've got answers -- and when it comes to pre-k and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we've got lots of them. Courtesy of Pre-K Now's federal team, here is our great collection of resources to help you navigate and apply ARRA funding.
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Meeting the Challenge of Rural Pre-K
Families everywhere struggle to find high-quality pre-k programs for their children, but the problem is even more acute in rural areas. Pre-K Now has come out with recommendations for federal policymakers to help states meet the unique challenges of rural pre-k.
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Tour a Pre-K Classroom
Through our virtual classroom tour and our short video following real children through their pre-k year, we will help you recognize high quality, understand why it makes a difference, and show you how children benefit.
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The Case for Pre-K in the ESEA
