HJR 346

HJR346 INTRODUCED
1 HJR346
2 NRULLT8-1
3 By Representatives , Baker, DuBose, Crow, Ross
4 RFD: RULES
5 First Read: 07-Apr-26
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NRULLT8-1 04/07/2026 GP (L)GP 2026-1586
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4 HJR___ ESTABLISHING THE ACCOUNTABILITY COUNCIL.
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6WHEREAS, the state supports improved outcomes and
7 long-term success for all Alabama students, particularly on
8 closing achievement gaps; and
9WHEREAS, the creation of an accountability mechanism
10 would further the Legislature's desire to create
11 transparency and ensure the state's educational
12 accountability system supports those outcomes; now therefore
13BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
14 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That there is created the
15 Accountability Council.
16(a) The membership of the council shall consist of
17 all of the following:
18(1) Five members appointed by the Governor: One
19 member who is a national expert on school accountability,
20 two members who are from the business community, and two
21 at-large members.
22(2) The Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation
23 Education Committee.
24(3) The Chair of the House Ways and Means Education
25 Committee.
26(4) The Chair of the Senate Education Policy
27 Committee.
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28(5) The Chair of the House Education Policy
29 Committee.
30(6) One member appointed by each of the following:
31a. The Secretary of Workforce.
32b. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
33c. The Minority Leader of the Senate.
34d. The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
35e. The Minority Leader of the House of
36 Representatives.
37f. The State Superintendent of Education.
38g. The Alabama Education Association.
39h. The School Superintendents of Alabama.
40i. The Alabama Association of School Boards.
41j. The Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
42k. The A+ Education Partnership.
43l. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
44m. The Alabama Public Charter School Commission.
45n. The Business Education Alliance.
46o. The Alabama STEM Council.
47(b) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their
48 appointments to assure the council membership is inclusive
49 and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural,
50 and economic diversity of the state.
51(c)(1) The duties of the Accountability Council shall
52 be as follows:
53a. Critically review the current state report card
54 provided in Section 16-6C-2, Code of Alabama 1975, and
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55 research other state report cards for best practices for
56 improving student achievement.
57b. Guide the relevant state agencies and experts to
58 design an annual return on investment study as provided in
59 subdivision (2).
60c. Critically review the annual return on investment
61 study data to determine if college and career readiness
62 indicators are preparing students to be successful after
63 graduation.
64d. Monitor state report card implementation and
65 engage in formal reviews at established intervals.
66e. Provide recommendations for revisions to the
67 accountability system to the Governor, the Legislature, the
68 State Board of Education, and the State Department of
69 Education designed to increase student performance and
70 achieve lifelong success.
71(2) To inform the review of the Accountability
72 Council and to ensure that the college and career readiness
73 indicators accurately signal that students are prepared for
74 high-wage, high-growth opportunities in this state, the
75 Alabama Workforce Board, with support from the State
76 Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on Higher
77 Education, shall develop a system for collecting, analyzing,
78 and reporting the public school student outcomes associated
79 with the completion of each college and career readiness
80 indicator. All agencies shall provide updated, relevant data
81 as necessary to complete the study. The study shall include
82 a legislative report, which the Alabama Workforce Board
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83 shall submit to the Legislature no later than November 1,
84 2026. The legislative report shall capture the education
85 system's return on investment, ensuring the state captures
86 and reports on results beyond what is in the accountability
87 formula including, but not limited to:
88(1) Postsecondary enrollment and persistence;
89(2) Military enlistment;
90(3) Industry-recognized credentials;
91(4) Income within six years after graduation; and
92(5) Employment in high-wage, high-demand career
93 sectors and occupations.
94(d)(1) The first meeting of the council shall be held
95 at the call of the Chairs of the House of Representatives
96 and Senate Education Policy Committees, at which time the
97 council shall elect a chair and vice chair. The council may
98 then meet as necessary to conduct business.
99(2) The Legislative Services Agency, the Clerk of the
100 House of Representatives, and the Secretary of the Senate
101 shall provide administrative and other assistance for the
102 work of the task force as necessary.
103(e)(1) The legislative members of the council shall
104 be entitled to their legislative compensation, per diem, and
105 travel expenses for each day they attend a meeting of the
106 council pursuant to Section 49 of the Constitution of
107 Alabama of 2022.
108(2) The nonlegislative members of the council shall
109 serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for
110 necessary expenses in attending meetings of the council
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111 pursuant to the policies of their respective appointing
112 authority.
113(f) The council shall prepare a report of its
114 findings, conclusions, and recommendations for proposed
115 legislation to the Legislature not later than November 1,
116 2026, at which point the council shall stand dissolved and
117 discharged of any future duties and liabilities.
118(g) Pursuant to Section 36-14-17.1, Code of Alabama
119 1975, the council shall provide a notice of all meetings,
120 the name of each member serving on the council, and a copy
121 of the final report and any other documents produced by the
122 council throughout its duration to the Secretary of State.
123(h) Each appointing authority named herein shall be
124 provided a copy of this resolution upon its passage.
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