MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) Governor Robert Bentley announced he will sign the School Flexibility Bill given the final passage by the Alabama Legislature Thursday night. The bill allows schools to make changes to address specific needs of a school.
The bill passed by lawmakers has extra legislation that allows parents to take students out of "failing" public schools and place them in private schools through a tax credit.
"I'd pull my child out of school and put him in private," said concerned parent Velicia Fritts.
State lawmakers stated the Flexibility Bill will allow students to have an opportunity for a better education.
Fritts said, "It would be a wise choice because anybody would want their children to have a better education."
Superintendent Martha Peek said private schools may appear to be a better option, but they are not held strictly regulated.
"We're accountable. We have to share, and we readily do the accountability for our schools our testing scores. When students opt to move into other private venues for education, that's not part of it," said Peek.
She added less students means less money for county schools which is major concern for the Mobile County Public School Systems.
"That is a concern too because we used every penny that we get to improve the instructional program for our students," said Peek.
Ashley Strickland is a Library Media Specialist at Whitley Elementary and a member of AEA. She said the teachers union and all state public education are against the bill. Strickland stated the bill is a jab at educators.
"We as public education employees do a great job at the schools and across the state, if we would get proper funding," said Strickland.
One parent agreed, "Why don't they take the money that they're giving to the tax break and put it in the public schools."
