This Could be the Year for Charter Schools in Alabama

State School Board member Randy McKinney says he believes Charter Schools may have a place in some areas of Alabama, particularly urban or rural areas where public schools are not living up to expectations.

But the Alabama Education Association is firmly against any legislative approval of charter schools.  The teachers' union believes the private alternative schools would take money from an already strained education budget.  AEA member Danny Goodwin of Mobile says it would be better to improve public education rather than take money to fund alternatives.

Charter schools would be publicly funded, but would be held to higher standards in terms of student progress.

It's likely whatever the legislature decides that the schools would begin in the state in a pilot program in only certain areas, according to some members of the legislature.