(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) It is vital that Alabama's public schools challenge and encourage students who are capable of completing accelerated academic work.
(2) Programs to encourage accelerated students can often be maintained by schools, after an initial start cost, with funding roughly equivalent to what they currently receive.
(3) This state should encourage schools to develop and implement gifted and talented student programs to provide options for students capable of doing advanced class work.
(b)(1) The State Department of Education shall award available grants to public schools for the purpose of initiating new programs or continuing existing programs to offer advanced and specialized educational services to gifted or talented children. The number of schools receiving grants under this section shall be determined based upon funds available to the department during a fiscal year.
a. A grant shall be made for a single year, with the rebuttable presumption that the grant will be renewed for a single additional year contingent upon available funding.
b. Grants shall be awarded upon consideration of all of the following criteria:
1. Grants should be awarded to programs that offer educational services specifically targeted at gifted or talented children.
2. The quality of the proposed curriculum, qualifications of persons acting as instructors, and integration with the infrastructure of the school must be a primary consideration.
3. Preference must be given to programs that are offered during the traditional school day or, alternatively, to programs that provide after-school transportation.
4. Preference must be given to programs that explicitly provide for the encouragement of participation by students from traditionally underserved populations.
5. All programs awarded grants pursuant to this section must provide a means for assessing the impact of the program on participating students' academic growth.
(2) The department shall adopt rules providing an explicit formula for evaluating proposals for grants awarded under this section. The scoring of grant applications shall be considered public information.
(3) For the purposes of this section, gifted or talented children shall mean children who are age four through the age of 19 or children who receive a regular high school diploma, whichever occurs first, who, by virtue of certain outstanding abilities, are capable of a high level of performance in an identified field. The term includes children identified by professionally qualified persons who may require differentiated educational programs or services beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize those children's full contribution to self and society. The term also includes children who have demonstrated achievement or potential ability in any of the following areas, singularly or in combination:
a. General intellectual ability.
b. Specific academic aptitude.
c. Creative or productive thinking.
d. Leadership ability.
e. Visual and performing arts ability.
f. Psychomotor ability.
(4) In the implementation and administration of this section, the State Department of Education shall comply with the guidelines and innovative practices set forth in Chapter 39.
(5) Any funds designated for grants under this section may not affect other funding by the Legislature from any source for programs earmarked for the benefit of gifted or talented children.
(6) The appropriate local board of education shall match up to five percent of any grant funds awarded by the department under this section.
Structure Code of Alabama
Chapter 1 - General Provisions.
Section 16-1-2.1 - New School Construction to Include Approved Safe Space or Hallway.
Section 16-1-2.5 - (Effective February 1, 2022) Contracts.
Section 16-1-3 - Photographing or Microphotographing Records - Authorized; Force and Effect.
Section 16-1-5 - Photographing or Microphotographing Records - Intent.
Section 16-1-6 - Association of School Board Members.
Section 16-1-7 - Eye Protective Devices for Pupils and Teachers Participating in Certain Courses.
Section 16-1-8.1 - Classroom Instructional Support.
Section 16-1-10 - Selling, etc., Alcoholic Beverages to School Children; Keeping on School Premises.
Section 16-1-11 - Private Schools to Register and Report;.
Section 16-1-11.1 - Autonomy of Nonpublic Schools - Legislative Findings.
Section 16-1-11.3 - Autonomy of Nonpublic Schools - Applicability of Statutory Requirements.
Section 16-1-11.5 - Teacher Certification.
Section 16-1-11.6 - Membership of Nonpublic Schools in Alabama High School Athletic Association.
Section 16-1-13 - Teaching Pupils of Disparate Ability, Background and Achievement.
Section 16-1-15 - Classification and Grouping of Pupils Upon Consideration of Social Attitudes, Etc.
Section 16-1-16 - Special Courses, Tutoring, Counseling, etc., for Special Groups of Pupils.
Section 16-1-16.1 - Alabama Council on Family and Children.
Section 16-1-17 - Contest of Certain Elections.
Section 16-1-18.1 - Accumulation of Sick Leave.
Section 16-1-18.2 - Payment for Unused Sick Leave Upon Death of Employee.
Section 16-1-20 - Period of Silence for Meditation at Beginning of First Class in Public Schools.
Section 16-1-20.1 - Period of Silence for Meditation.
Section 16-1-20.2 - School Prayer.
Section 16-1-20.3 - Student-Initiated Voluntary Prayer.
Section 16-1-20.4 - Period of Quiet Reflection.
Section 16-1-20.5 - Protection of Student Religious Liberties.
Section 16-1-20.6 - Released Time for Student Participation in Religious Instruction.
Section 16-1-22 - Audit of Certain Institutions.
Section 16-1-23 - Hazing Prohibited; Penalty.
Section 16-1-24.2 - Department of Education to Develop Statewide Violence Prevention Program.
Section 16-1-25.1 - Access by Professional Educators' Associations.
Section 16-1-26 - Compensation of School Board Members.
Section 16-1-27 - Use of Electronic Communication Devices on School Property.
Section 16-1-30 - Written Educational Policies, Rules and Regulations of Local Boards of Education.
Section 16-1-31 - Elective Course Credit for Participation in Ymca Youth and Government Programs.
Section 16-1-32 - Debit Cards; Authorized Uses; Transaction Fees.
Section 16-1-33 - Written Reduction-in-Force Policy.
Section 16-1-35 - Governor's Academic Achievement Program.
Section 16-1-36 - Tutoring Programs for Students Accessed Below Average Sat Scores.
Section 16-1-37 - Issuance of High School Diplomas to Certain Honorably Discharged Veterans.
Section 16-1-39 - Self-Administration of Medications by Student.
Section 16-1-40 - Education Trust Fund Proration Relief.
Section 16-1-41 - Orientation and Training for Members of Local Board of Education.
Section 16-1-41.1 - School Board Governance Improvement.
Section 16-1-42 - High School Fast Track to College Program.
Section 16-1-43 - Waiver of Undergraduate Tuition and Fees for Purple Heart Recipients.
Section 16-1-44 - School Emergency Operations Plans.
Section 16-1-44.1 - School Security Personnel and School Resource Officers.
Section 16-1-44.2 - Electronic Notification System.
Section 16-1-45 - Automated External Defibrillator Requirements.
Section 16-1-46 - Farm-to-School Procurement Processes and Procedures.
Section 16-1-48 - Anaphylaxis Preparedness Program.
Section 16-1-50 - Possession and Use of Over-the-Counter Sunscreen by Students.
Section 16-1-52 - Participation in Athletic Events to Be Based on Biological Sex of Athletes.
Section 16-1-53 - Broadcast of Public K-12 School Sporting Events.