BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – One of Gov. Kay Ivey’s legislative priorities moved forward Wednesday after the Senate Education Policy Committee unanimously approved a bill creating a new pathway for qualified military veterans to begin teaching in K-12 schools as early as the next school year.
“Veterans offer a unique perspective, which is needed across many careers, including in our classrooms,” Ivey said in a statement Tuesday.
“Not only will we be providing a quality education for children across our state and getting more teachers in the classroom, we will allow more veterans to be gainfully employed when returning from service. This legislation will go a long way for students and veterans alike.”
Sen. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, who sponsored Senate Bill 149, told committee members the bill would address both teacher shortages and workforce opportunities for veterans.
“It not only would strengthen our teacher recruitment efforts, but also creates a clear pathway for veterans to continue to serve our state by bringing their leadership, discipline and real world experiences into the classroom,” Woods said.
Under the bill, veterans would still be required to meet academic and testing benchmarks before entering the classroom.
Military veterans would qualify for a temporary teaching certificate for up to five years if they:
- Have at least 60 hours of college credit,
- A minimum 2.5 GPA, and
- Pass the Praxis test for the subject areas they plan to teach.
Veterans entering the classroom under the program would also be assigned a mentor teacher for at least their first two years.
“We’re trying to hold their hand and get them up to speed,” Woods said. “Nothing about this would short-change the requirements to be an educator that we currently require. It just gives them a little bit more time to actually get their education.”
Veterans would also have to show proof of 48 months of military service, undergo a background check and be recommended for certification by a local superintendent or private school administrator.
These are similar to requirements for teacher candidates who use an alternative pathway to teaching, but will be able to teach using a temporary teaching certificate for five years, longer than other alternative certifications.
Alabama lawmakers have spent nearly a decade expanding the number of ways people can enter the teaching profession in response to ongoing teacher shortages. Beyond traditional university-based preparation programs, the state already allows educators to earn certification through alternative pathways designed to bring mid-career professionals into classrooms more quickly.
Lawmakers briefly clashed over how quickly the new pathway could be implemented.
Woods initially offered an amendment requested by education officials that would have delayed the program’s start until the 2027-28 school year. Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, questioned the need for the delay, citing ongoing teacher shortages and the desire to help veterans transition into classrooms sooner.
State Superintendent Eric Mackey said the delay was tied to the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act, which governs how state agencies adopt rules to implement new laws. Mackey said it can take up to eight months after a law takes effect to finalize a set of rules.
While Mackey said the department could begin drafting rules once the governor signs the bill, he added it would still be unlikely for veterans to enter classrooms through the program by the start of the upcoming school year.
After discussion, Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, suggested Woods work toward a compromise, and the amendment was withdrawn.
The broader issue of how quickly new education laws should be implemented has surfaced in recent State Board of Education work sessions. Mackey has told board members that his goal this session is to ask lawmakers for sufficient time to complete required rulemaking processes in an orderly way.
Despite the debate over timing, committee members from both parties voiced strong support for the bill’s underlying goal.
“If you can bring in people who have a military background, who are used to structure and making sure everything is done a certain way, it’s going to have a very positive influence on our kids,” said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham.
Committee Chairman Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, echoed that sentiment.
“We need more structure and more discipline in our classrooms, and I think these veterans would definitely bring that into the classroom, which would be a welcome addition to education in our state,” Chesteen said.
The bill now heads to the Senate floor.
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