By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
The Local Control School Flexibility Act of 2013 is certainly the most controversial bill in the “We Dare Defend Our Rights” Agenda adopted by House Republicans before the session began. It may be the most controversial bill that the legislature will take up in this legislative session, but it sailed through the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday with a 65 to 37 vote count. The bill (HB84) would give local school boards the option to ask the state school board for some flexibility in the myriad of state laws which force Alabama school systems to operate and function in a similar fashion across the state. The Alabama Education Association has fought tirelessly aginst the bill gaining some concessions along the way. But Speaker of the House had vowed to pass the Act even to the point of threatening caucus who might vote against it.
The AEA has contended that the bill and its senate companion are little more that a backdoor route to ending teacher’s tenure and opening the door for charter school’s.
The bill will now be taken up in the senate.
