The Classroom Is In Session and Alabama Is Leading the Nation

As the school bells ring across Alabama this fall, students aren’t just returning to class, they’re stepping into a better future. Thanks to the bold leadership of Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Legislature, our state has just delivered one of the most transformative education reform packages in the nation. With the passage of the RAISE Act, CHOOSE Act, and FOCUS Act, Alabama has made a clear and courageous statement: we’re not here to follow; we’re here to lead.

Together, these three landmark laws form the backbone of a smarter, fairer, and more focused school system, one that lifts up struggling students, empowers parents, and restores discipline to the classroom. It’s not about throwing more money at the problem. It’s about doing the right things, for the right kids, at the right time.

The RAISE Act (Renewing Alabama’s Investment in Student Excellence) modernizes our outdated school funding formula by targeting additional dollars to the students who need it most, those with special needs, English language learners, and children living in poverty. Equity in education doesn’t mean treating every student the same.

It means giving each child the tools they need to thrive; and this bill finally makes that a reality across all 67 counties.

The CHOOSE Act gives power back to those who deserve it most: parents. With $7,000 Education Savings Accounts, families will now be able to access the school, public or private; that works best for their child. The program prioritizes students with special needs, children of active-duty military, and low-income families. This isn’t about undermining public schools, it’s about giving parents the freedom to make the best choice for their child’s future. It's bold, it’s fair, and it’s long overdue.

The FOCUS Act brings common sense back to the classroom by banning personal cell phones and smartwatches during instruction time. Teachers can finally teach, and students can finally learn—without the constant buzz of distraction. Add to that a new social media safety course required before 8th grade, and we’re equipping our kids not just for academic success, but for a healthy digital life in a complicated world.

Governor Kay Ivey deserves special recognition for signing these bills into law and making it clear that education is not just another issue, it’s the issue. As she said, this package is “a bold investment in our children’s future, and a promise kept to Alabama families.”

At a time when Washington, D.C. is paralyzed by bureaucracy and buzzwords, Alabama is moving at full speed ahead with results. These laws weren’t written by lobbyists or think tanks. They were built by listening to parents, teachers, and real people in real communities. That’s why they work.

So as the school year begins, let’s celebrate more than sharpened pencils and new backpacks. Let’s celebrate a new era: an Alabama that invests in excellence, chooses opportunity, and demands focus.

The road to education reform runs through Alabama, and we’re just getting started. Stay engaged. Support your local schools. And let your legislators know that you stand with bold, student-first leadership. The future of Alabama’s children depends on it.

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a former state legislator, the 2016 Trump Victory Chair, a member of the Alabama Republican State Executive Committee, and a political commentator whose columns are widely published including in the Alabama Gazette.

Opinions published in the Gazette are the views of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Alabama Gazette staff or publishers.