Trisha Powell Crain
Trisha's Recent Stories
Alabama FAFSA data show thousands of seniors using waivers
More than 15,000 Alabama public high school seniors have parent or district waivers from the state's FAFSA graduation requirement.
May 29, 2026
Early learning resources for Alabama families and educators – all in one place
Meet the Early Childhood team that brings you high-quality resources in person and on demand.
May 14, 2026
Helping your child get ready to read starts before kindergarten
What parents can do now to help young children build early literacy skills.
May 11, 2026
Britt says Brown University weakened campus safety before shooting that killed Ella Cook
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt is accusing Brown University of “actively dismantling” campus safety protections.
April 29, 2026
$100K in scholarships offered for Alabama aviation, construction students
The new program awards $2,000 each to 50 students.
April 28, 2026
Alabama names ‘Sweet 16’ finalists for 2026-27 Teacher of the Year
The program recognizes teachers who promote excellence in the classroom and inspire students.
April 8, 2026
Alabama lawmakers finalize $12.4 billion education budget package
The final ETF budget also includes a 2% pay raise for educators as well as a one-time bonus for retired educators.
April 8, 2026
UAB leads Alabama colleges among U.S. News graduate school rankings
UAB earns 16 graduate and specialty programs ranked in the top 20 of the U.S. News & World Report 2026.
April 7, 2026
Alabama lawmakers pass education bills, leave dozens more pending in session’s final days
The eight-bill package flew through a Senate Education Budget committee.
April 6, 2026
Alabama Senate committee passes education budget, one-time bonus for education retirees
More than 60000 of the 100000 retired education employees have income that places them at or below the federal poverty level.
April 2, 2026
Alabama House approves religious instruction release time bill
The Alabama House on Tuesday passed a bill that clarifies how public school students can participate in off-campus religious instruction during school.
April 1, 2026
Alabama House passes bill reshaping faculty senates, tenure at public universities
The version that passed the House backed away from some of the more prescriptive language in the original bill.
April 1, 2026
U.S. Navy puts $30M in Alabama community colleges for submarine, shipbuilding training
The Navy projects a need for between 4000 and 5000 new maritime workers along the Alabama Gulf Coast over the next five years.
March 31, 2026
Alabama bill would loosen sick leave donation rules for K-12 employees
Under SB211, beginning with the 2027-28 school year, direct donation of sick leave would not be limited to catastrophic illness cases.
March 29, 2026
Alabama CHOOSE Act applications exceed 37,000 with deadline approaching
Alabama’s school voucher program has outpaced last year's total even as first-time applicants slow.
March 24, 2026
Student Retention Council outlines effort to keep more college graduates in Alabama
Alabama’s Student Retention Council is raising awareness to keep graduates in the state.
March 23, 2026
Senate approves revised school-threat bill focused on penalties and intervention
Alabama senators strengthen criminal penalties for school threats.
March 23, 2026
Alabama bills would give neighboring school districts option to merge
House Bill 178, sponsored by House Education Budget Chairman Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would allow contiguous city school districts to merge.
March 20, 2026
Alabama House committee advances bill reshaping faculty senates, tenure at public universities
House Bill 580, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, would take effect Oct. 1.
March 19, 2026
House committee approves bill to track student-athletes’ eligibility, transition plans
“There’s a big difference in high school eligibility and NCAA eligibility,” Walker said.
March 19, 2026
Bill would allow CHOOSE Act families to sue over athletic eligibility
House Bill 563, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would create an enforcement mechanism for a provision in the CHOOSE Act.
March 16, 2026
House committee approves scaled-back school accountability bill
House Bill 396 prescribed changes in the weights of the report card metrics.
March 16, 2026
Alabama House committee advances K-12 student screen-time bill
House Bill 584, sponsored by Rep. Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville, would establish guidelines for screen-based instruction in Alabama schools.
March 15, 2026
Alabama Board of Education approves social studies textbooks in 5-4 vote
Social studies textbooks were last adopted statewide 12 years ago.
March 13, 2026
House committee approves education budget package, reshuffles supplemental spending
The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved its version of the state’s education budget package for the 2027 fiscal year.
March 12, 2026
Alabama House committee advances religious instruction bill rejected last year
A bill allowing Alabama students to leave campus during the school day for religious instruction cleared the House Education Policy Committee.
March 12, 2026
House advances constitutional amendment allowing student-led school prayer
House members voted 94-3 to approve House Bill 511, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road.
March 11, 2026
Alabama House begins negotiations on record $10.5 billion education budget this week
Lawmakers will begin negotiations on Gov. Kay Ivey's $10.5 billion Education Trust Fund spending proposal.
March 9, 2026
Lawmakers file bill tying college funding to graduation, job outcomes
Lawmakers are proposing to tie tens of millions of dollars in higher education funding to how well Alabama's public colleges and universities perform.
March 8, 2026
School prayer bills advance in two Alabama House committees
House Bill 43 passed the House Education Policy Committee, while House Bill 511 cleared the House State Government Committee.
March 5, 2026
Ten Commandments display bill advances in Alabama House committee
The measure would require schools to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in classrooms serving grades five through 12.
March 5, 2026
PEEHIP faces $380 million shortfall as budget negotiations continue
The projected gap applies to fiscal year 2027, which begins Oct. 1, 2026.
March 4, 2026
Report: Alabama meets national standards for pre-K assistant teachers
Alabama exceeds that requirement, mandating 30 hours of professional development for lead teachers and 20 hours for assistant teachers.
March 3, 2026
School prayer, grading, career tech bills set for committee vote this week
With 13 legislative days remaining, several proposals are set for committee votes this week after drawing debate in earlier hearings.
March 3, 2026
Lawmakers unveil career tech package, including $150M funding request
Alabama lawmakers unveiled a coordinated package of career and technical education initiatives.
February 26, 2026
Proposed changes to Alabama’s A-F school report card spark debate
The scholarship would provide up to $3000 in eligible expenses for each academic period for college and workforce training.
February 26, 2026
School prayer proposal fails to advance in House committee
Because the proposal is written as a constitutional amendment, it would require approval by Alabama voters before taking effect.
February 26, 2026
Advocates seek $14M to cover school breakfast reimbursement gap
Lawmakers allocated $7.3 million in supplemental funding this year.
February 25, 2026
Bill shifting behavior analyst oversight to ADMH draws pushback from parents, providers
Supporters of the bill call it overdue reform and critics warn it could weaken professional oversight and make behavior therapy services harder to get.
February 19, 2026
Senate Judiciary committee considers one-year suspension bill for school threats
This bill would require automatic one-year suspensions for students charged with making school threats and increase criminal penalties.
February 18, 2026
Alabama board honors Blue Ribbon, top and most improved schools
Five Alabama schools were already in the running when the U.S. Dept. of Education discontinued its long-running National Blue Ribbon School program.
February 15, 2026
Alabama school board debate over social studies textbooks centers on role, authority
The Alabama State Board of Education returned to approving new social studies textbooks.
February 13, 2026
Sex education, Ten Commandments, religious released time bills advance in Senate committees
Senate committees advanced a number of education-related bills Wednesday, including several that didn’t reach final passage last year.
February 12, 2026
Alabama wants public input on proposal to add workforce test to federal high school grading system
Alabama education officials are seeking public comment on a proposal to change how high schools are graded under federal law.
February 11, 2026
As national attention grows, Alabama looks to sustain school gains
PSC members are currently elected by the public, but under the bill, they would be appointed by the governor and legislative leadership.
February 10, 2026
Alabama charter commission approves school expansion, facilities policy
Commissioners got a look at a new public data dashboard displaying enrollment, academic performance, financial health and operational data.
February 10, 2026
Alabama lawmaker proposes changes to A-F school report cards
The changes place a heavier emphasis on academic growth - especially for the lowest-performing students.
February 8, 2026
Alabama’s Semiquincentennial Schools: teaching history, civics and community
More than 500 Alabama schools have joined the effort to strengthen civic education, American history and community engagement in classrooms.
February 6, 2026
Senate approves bill requiring universities to plan for federal funding cuts
The bill directs universities to prepare a written plan for two scenarios: a 5% reduction in federal funding and a more severe 25% cut.
February 6, 2026
Alabama House committee advances bill expanding college-level math access in high school
Schools would be required to automatically enroll students in an advanced math pathway if they score proficiently.
February 5, 2026
Education officials outline cost pressures ahead of budget talks
Gov. Kay Ivey has proposed a record $10.5 billion education budget, but lawmakers are expected to make changes to that plan.
February 3, 2026
Montgomery Christian School sees growing interest as Alabama expands private school funding
School leaders say a newer education savings account program is helping open additional doors for families seeking a private education.
February 1, 2026
State suspends Bessemer school board from regular meetings during intervention
The state law governing intervention gives Mackey authority over a local board of education, despite the board being an elected body.
January 29, 2026
Britt pitches early investing as Trump Accounts launch
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt described Trump Accounts as a way to introduce children to investing at an early age.
January 29, 2026
Alabama House advances bill limiting screen time for young children
Alabama lawmakers advanced a bill to limit screen time in publicly funded child care and early learning programs.
January 28, 2026
Alabama’s Katie Collins named Finalist for National Teacher of the Year
Bluff Park Elementary School Teacher Katie Collins is only the second Alabama teacher to be named a national finalist.
January 27, 2026
School choice isn’t just private: Alabama public schools offer wide-ranging options
Jefferson County's public school system offers one of the most expansive public school choice models in Alabama.
January 27, 2026
Attorney General Steve Marshall said the withdrawal followed the December proposal to remove gender dysphoria from the list of disabilities.
January 27, 2026
CHOOSE Act no longer impacts athletic eligibility in private schools, AHSAA says
A controversy over how Alabama’s education savings accounts affect athletic eligibility appears to have been settled.
January 23, 2026
Lawmakers move quickly on education workforce, reading bills
Three education bills in the Legislature received approval in their first chamber on Thursday and moved to the second.
January 23, 2026
Alabama Senate committee advances bill creating faster pathway for veterans to teach
“Veterans offer a unique perspective, which is needed across many careers, including in our classrooms,” Ivey said.
January 22, 2026
Alabama House education budget chairman targets outdated mandates, local control early in session
Alabama House education budget committee Chairman gives schools more autonomy and flexibility while adding more transparency for the public
January 20, 2026
Three Collins education bills head to Alabama Senate
Three education bills stalled on the Senate floor late in last year’s session.
January 16, 2026
Ivey proposes 2% raises for both teachers and state workers. “Our teachers are certainly key to our success,” Ivey said.
January 14, 2026
BEA report finds decade of education initiatives produced gains in Alabama
BEA report finds decade of education initiatives produced gains in Alabama.
January 12, 2026
Baldwin Prep points toward the future of career technical education
Baldwin Prep opened in 2024 as a standalone high school that combines core academics with full-time career and technical training under one roof.
January 11, 2026
In Mobile, Alabama Board of Education previews legislative and policy issues
The Alabama State Board of Education met Thursday on the University of South Alabama campus for its January meeting, work session and retreat.
January 5, 2026
State House education leader Collins not seeking reelection
Representative Terri Collins ends her 16-year tenure in the Alabama House.
January 5, 2026
Wage garnishment resumes for defaulted student loan borrowers
It's unclear how or when the change could affect the roughly 92000 Alabamians who have defaulted on $2.1 billion in student loans.
January 4, 2026
ACHE: College degrees may not pay off right away, but by 30, the gap is clear
A new analysis from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) explains whether college degrees are worth the cost.
January 2, 2026
After strong first year, new CHOOSE Act applications open Jan. 2
Applications for Alabama’s CHOOSE Act education savings account program will open Jan. 2 for new families.
December 28, 2025
Hispanic enrollment drops sharply under new federal reporting rules, PARCA shows
Data shows that the number of students classified as Hispanic fell sharply, while the number classified as “two or more races” increased.
December 26, 2025
New teacher prep report cards show uneven results in reading preparation, highlight shortages
That's concerning that only 56% of our students are passing it on the first attempt,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey said.
December 24, 2025
Alabama nears 500,000 credential goal as Success Plus deadline passes quietly
When Ivey set that ambitious Success Plus credentialing goal in 2018, no one knew that a global pandemic was less than two years away.
December 19, 2025
Alabama nears 500,000 credential goal as Success Plus deadline passes quietly
When Ivey set that ambitious Success Plus credentialing goal in 2018, no one knew that a global pandemic was less than two years away.
December 19, 2025
At Innovate Alabama forum, leaders focus on keeping talent home
If Alabama wants to compete in a fast-changing economy, state leaders say it can't just focus on jobs. It has to focus on people.
December 17, 2025
Federal government adds earnings comparison to the FAFSA process
FAFSA applicants will now get a "lower earnings" warning if they choose a school where college graduates earn less than high school graduates.
December 15, 2025
ACCS board approves new programs, fee hike as enrollment climbs
ACCS board approves new programs, fee hike as enrollment climbs.
December 11, 2025
Pike County agriscience teacher Christian Stanley wins Milken Award, $25K prize
Pike County agriscience teacher Christian Stanley wins Milken Award, $25K prize.
December 11, 2025
UA report: Alabama advancing statewide broadband, rural gaps persist
A new report from University of Alabama researchers details how the state has made progress since 2018 and what challenges lie ahead.
December 9, 2025
Ivey, education leaders praise federal move to merge education, workforce programs
State Superintendent Eric Mackey said the federal merger will help educators better prepare students for high-demand careers.
December 8, 2025
Bloomberg, City Fund launch $20M initiative for Alabama HBCU, charter school partnerships
Alabama will serve as the launch site for a new $20 million national initiative.
December 7, 2025
Islamic Academy drops Hoover plans following zoning rejection, Tuberville remarks
The Islamic Academy has operated in Homewood for nearly 30 years with no concerns from city officials or neighbors.
December 7, 2025
Alabama board split on process, content as social studies textbook vote delayed
Alabama board split on process, content as social studies textbook vote delayed.
December 4, 2025
PEEHIP shortfall persists ahead of 2026 legislative session
Alabama's teacher health insurance program is heading into the 2026 legislative session with a shortfall.
December 3, 2025
Alabama seniors earning college credit before graduation nearly doubles since 2019
More high school graduates are leaving school with college credits.
December 1, 2025
Alabama first-time college-going rate is up, PARCA says
More Alabama public high school graduates than ever are going to four-year colleges directly after graduation.
November 26, 2025
HBCU CARES launches new fellowship for Alabama student innovators
A new statewide fellowship aims to turn big ideas from the state's historically Black college and university students into real companies.
November 26, 2025
Deadline nears for public comment on Alabama’s updated computer science standards
The deadline for public comment on Alabama's updated computer science standards is Thursday.
November 25, 2025
Judge orders mediation in Ivey, Ledbetter lawsuit over CHOOSE Act athletic eligibility
A temporary restraining order remains in place to allow students to participate in sports if they're using CHOOSE Act funds to attend schools.
November 24, 2025
Troy’s Hawkins to retire in 2028
Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr., will retire at the end of 2028 under a transition plan.
November 23, 2025
Alabama board gets update on school safety law implementation
Alabama education officials begin implementing a school safety law that sets statewide standards for public school emergencies.
November 20, 2025
UA’s record economic impact shows strong return on state investment
The study states UA generated $3.4 billion in economic impact statewide and $2.4 billion in the Tuscaloosa metro area, both record highs.
November 20, 2025
UA to launch new School of Leadership and Policy in 2027
The school will offer a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Master of Public Policy, beginning in fall 2027.
November 20, 2025
Seven takeaways from Alabama’s 2025 school report cards
Alabama's newest school report cards — state and federal — offered a snapshot that is equal parts progress report and a warning.
November 17, 2025
Alabama’s $3B in education reserves reflect lessons from the Great Recession
Alabama Senate Education Budget Chairman Arthur Orr defends the state's conservative approach to building education reserves.
November 12, 2025
Huntsville business community hits $1M milestone to fund National Board teachers
Huntsville business and education create a unique model that officials say could serve as a national model.
November 10, 2025
Ed Farm, Apple join Alabama in $16M push to bridge digital divide in rural communities
Alabama leaders are partnering with Birmingham-based nonprofit Ed Farm and Apple on a state-funded $16 million initiative.
October 17, 2025
Alabama charter commission renews three schools, adding conditions for one
Alabama charter commission renews three schools, adding conditions for one.
October 16, 2025
First look: CHOOSE Act data show which Alabama private schools enroll the most ESA students
Other private schools also enroll high percentages of students using ESAs.
October 15, 2025
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