BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A new education report highlights measurable gains tied to a decade of public education reforms.
The report, “Higher Expectations Set and Met,” comes as Alabama lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative session this week.
Commissioned by the Business Education Alliance of Alabama and prepared by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, the report looks back at nine sets of policy recommendations issued since 2014 that helped shape state education policy. The BEA, formed in 2013, was created to unite the business and education communities so they could work together to find solutions to improve the state’s economy and overall wellbeing.
Together, the studies outline 24 specific actions aimed at raising academic expectations, expanding early education and better aligning schools with workforce needs. And, according to the analysis, many of the goals set over that period were met or made substantial progress.
Alabama’s high school graduation rate climbed above 90%, access to the state’s nationally-recognized First Class Pre-K program expanded significantly and student performance improved in early grade reading and math.
The state also expanded access to dual enrollment and career technical education, allowing more students to graduate with college credit or workforce credentials.
The BEA, which has advocated for these reforms since its formation, credits sustained legislative support for the progress outlined in the report. Alliance President Joe Morton thanked state leaders for funding key initiatives highlighted over the past decade.
“The BEA expresses its thanks to its partners who made each report possible, and we additionally express our gratitude to Gov. (Kay) Ivey and the Alabama Legislature for reading the reports, asking serious questions and annually funding key programs and initiatives that improve student academic success and workforce development,” Morton said in a news release.
The report’s release comes as lawmakers face growing pressure on the state’s education budget. The Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan is facing an estimated $380 million shortfall, legislators are weighing educator pay raises and recent revenue reports show slowing growth in the Education Trust Fund.
That tension raises a central question highlighted in the report: Whether Alabama will continue funding the strategies tied to recent gains as money tightens and competing priorities crowd the agenda.
The authors caution that continued progress on the initiatives that have been implemented is not guaranteed. Alabama saw similar gains in early reading more than a decade ago, only to see momentum stall when attention and funding shifted.
With federal COVID-19 relief dollars now gone, the report argues that sustaining improvement will require continued focus and investment.
While noting success, the authors raise unresolved questions: “Are students earning high value credentials or taking shortcuts to readiness? Are they graduating with a path to long term economic opportunity? Are we doing enough to level the playing field for all students regardless of family and community resources?”
As lawmakers prepare to consider health care costs, educator pay and other demands in the weeks ahead, the report’s authors emphasize the need for Alabama to keep funding and focusing on what works.
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