Alabama State Board Meetings, Schools, Testing, Certification & Parent Help
Alabama Board of Education searches can lead to several different systems: the Alabama State Board of Education, Alabama State Department of Education, a local city or county school board, the State Report Card, ACAP testing, teacher certification or a school-choice program.
This guide separates those systems and gives families, educators and residents practical next steps for 2026 Board meetings, local calendars, school performance, graduation, certification, public records, special education and statewide school-choice resources.
State Board, ALSDE, local districts and Revenue are different
| Entity | Best use | Usually not responsible for |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama State Board of Education | State rules, Courses of Study, educator-preparation policy, statewide Board action and public Board meetings. | One child’s bus route, lunch account or local holiday calendar. |
| ALSDE | Assessment, accountability, educator certification, special education, school improvement, state reports and statewide K–12 administration. | Most local transcripts, student attendance or district enrollment documents. |
| Local city/county school system | Enrollment, student calendars, attendance, buses, meals, school assignment, transcripts and local Board meetings. | State teacher certification or State Board agendas. |
| Alabama Department of Revenue | CHOOSE Act education savings accounts and applicable education tax-credit programs. | ACAP, teacher certificates or SBOE meeting documents. |
| GED / college agency | GED and postsecondary records through their responsible systems. | ALSDE K–12 public-record requests. |
Fast test: if your question contains a specific student’s bus, absence, school assignment, transcript or first day of school, you probably need the local school system rather than the State Board.
Alabama State Board and ALSDE quick facts
Agency
Alabama State Department of Education
Physical address
50 North Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
Main phone
Mailing
P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36104-3833
State Superintendent
Eric G. Mackey, Ed.D.
Board President
Governor Kay Ivey
Representation
Eight State Board districts
Next regular meeting
September 10, 2026
Use Alabama Achieves after confirming your issue is statewide rather than local.
Open Alabama Achieves →Alabama State Board meetings, work sessions, agendas and minutes
Current status: the August 13 regular meeting is past. August 14 is listed as a State Board retreat date. The next regular State Board meeting is September 10, 2026.
| Date | Regular Board meeting | Work session | Action before attending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 10, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Check the September agenda and current meeting notice. |
| Oct. 8, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Verify agenda, presentations and any hearing item. |
| Nov. 12, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Check attachments before travel. |
| Dec. 10, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Recheck the official posting for changes. |
Meeting vs work session
Board Meeting
Review the agenda for formal Board business, resolutions, administrative-code actions, recognitions and other items scheduled for Board consideration.
Work Session
Work sessions can contain detailed presentations on assessment results, graduation/CCR, reading, Courses of Study, workforce programs and certification policy.
Open Meeting / Agendas
Use the official schedule page rather than an old calendar screenshot.
Choose the correct month
Board and work-session documents can be posted together but represent different portions of the day.
Review agenda attachments
Presentations may appear after accessibility and compliance processing.
Use official video
Follow ALSDE’s live or archived video route instead of a third-party stream.
Return for minutes
Minutes can lag behind the meeting date and should be used for the formal proceeding record.
Why minutes matter: an agenda tells you what was scheduled. A presentation tells you what was presented. Approved minutes are the stronger source when you need the formal meeting record.
How the Alabama State Board public-hearing process works
The current meeting page gives specific instructions for people interested in speaking during the public-hearing portion of a Board Meeting on subject matter listed on that Board agenda.
Do not read this as an unlimited general-comment promise. The official instruction specifically refers to the public-hearing portion and subject matter listed on the Board Meeting Agenda.
Before calling to speak
ALSDE also maintains a separate public-comment page for current proposals.
Check Current ALSDE Public Comment Items →Alabama State Board members and officers
Gov. Kay Ivey
President
Eric G. Mackey, Ed.D.
State Superintendent • Secretary / Executive Officer
Jackie Zeigler
District 01
Tracie West
District 02
Kelly McCarthy Mooney
President Pro Tem • District 03
Yvette M. Richardson, Ed.D.
District 04
Tonya S. Chestnut, Ed.D.
District 05
Marie Manning
Vice President • District 06
Allen Long, M.D.
District 07
Wayne Reynolds, Ed.D.
District 08
Before contacting an officer: verify current roles on the State Board page because Vice President and President Pro Tem assignments can change.
State Board business is broader than school calendars
Courses of Study
Statewide content standards and Courses of Study can move through Board review and adoption.
Educator certification
Administrative-code and educator-preparation rules can require State Board action.
Textbooks
Textbook committee recommendations and adoption actions can reach the Board.
Administrative Code
The Board can consider amendments, repeals and replacement education rules.
State performance
Assessment, graduation, reading and college/career-readiness data appear in Board work sessions.
Resolutions
Adopted resolutions provide a searchable record of various formal Board actions.
Alabama does not use one statewide student attendance calendar
State Board schedule
State Board meeting, work-session and retreat dates belong to statewide governance.
Student school calendar
First day, holidays, teacher workdays, spring break, graduation and last day are normally published by each local school system.
Identify the responsible system
Alabama has county systems and separate city systems.
Open the district’s official calendar
Use the exact local system rather than assuming the county calendar applies.
Confirm 2026–27
Search engines may surface older PDFs with nearly identical filenames.
Check changes locally
Weather closures, makeup days and individual school events can change after the calendar is adopted.
Use the statewide listing before guessing the district
The Alabama Public and Private School Listing is useful when you know a school, community, city or county but are unsure which local school system handles the student.
Find the school
Confirm the exact school before looking for calendar or enrollment information.
Identify the system
Determine whether the school belongs to a county, city or another public education entity.
Move to local resources
Use that system’s site for buses, school assignment, registration, calendars, meals and transcripts.
Use the Alabama State Report Card for more than a letter grade
The Alabama State Report Card allows users to choose a reporting year, school system and school. Supporting datasets provide much deeper information than the headline accountability grade.
Accountability indicators
Review achievement, growth, graduation, CCR, chronic absenteeism and other applicable indicators.
Participation & proficiency
Compare students tested, participation rates, proficiency and achievement levels.
Graduation & CCR
High-school data can include graduation and College and Career Readiness attainment.
Educator credentials
The Federal Report Card supporting data include educator credential information.
Educator experience
Supporting data can help users examine experienced and inexperienced educator measures.
In-field / out-of-field
Federal supporting data include whether educators are working in or out of their certified field.
Do not rank a school from one number alone. Compare accountability indicators, proficiency, attendance, educator context, program offerings and local information.
Which Alabama assessment does the student take?
| Assessment | Students | Main content |
|---|---|---|
| ACAP Summative | Grades 2–8 | ELA and math; science in Grades 4, 6 and 8. |
| ACAP Alternate | Eligible students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in Grades 2–8, 10 and 11 | ELA/math; science in applicable Grades 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11. |
| ACT with Writing | All Grade 11 students enrolled in Alabama public high schools | English, math, reading, science and writing. |
| WIDA ACCESS | Eligible English learners | English-language proficiency. |
| NAEP | Selected schools/students | Nationally administered assessment program. |
ALSDE provides parent guides for interpreting ACAP individual student reports. Use those guides alongside classroom grades, teacher feedback and local school information.
Use the graduation rules for the student’s class year
Classes of 2026 & 2027
ALSDE maintains Board-approved Option A and Option B requirement documents specifically for these graduating classes.
Class of 2028 & beyond
Use the separate current Option A and Option B requirements for these later cohorts.
Do not use a sibling’s old graduation chart. Requirements can differ by cohort, and local systems may also have local requirements or endorsements.
Confirm graduation class
Determine whether the student is Class of 2026, 2027 or 2028+.
Open the matching state document
Review Option A / Option B and current College and Career Readiness indicators.
Compare local requirements
Confirm the student’s individual plan with the local school counselor.
Priority schools, charter schools and CHOOSE Act are separate systems
| Program | Purpose | Correct starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Priority-school choice | School-choice information associated with Alabama accountability/priority-school rules. | ALSDE School Performance |
| Public charter schools | Public charter schools and authorizing under Alabama charter law. | ALSDE Office of Charter Schools |
| CHOOSE Act | Education savings accounts funded through refundable Alabama income-tax credits for qualifying education expenses. | Alabama Department of Revenue / CHOOSE Act Alabama |
2026–27 CHOOSE Act status
Applications are not currently open for the normal 2026–27 cycle. The application portals closed at midnight on March 31, 2026.
Do not send a CHOOSE Act account question to the State Board. The Alabama Department of Revenue administers the program.
ALSDE’s Office of Charter Schools publishes authorizers, current schools, laws and timelines.
Open Alabama Charter Schools →Alabama teacher certification: AIM, ACE, fees and fingerprints
AIM
ALSDE Identity Management is the account system used before supported certification applications, online payment and fingerprint registration.
ACE
ACE is the Certification Dashboard used to view background status, view/download certificates and apply through supported online certification processes.
Create or sign in to AIM
Complete required account and demographic information.
Open ACE
Choose the certification application appropriate to your credential and pathway.
Upload the required documents
Reciprocity, renewal, additional certification and alternative approaches do not use identical documentation.
Complete background clearance if required
Applicants who lack required ASBI/FBI clearance use the authorized Fieldprint process.
Pay only through approved routes
ALSDE says online card payments have a transaction fee and certification application fees are non-refundable.
ALSDE asks applicants to allow five business days after criminal-history results are received by the Department before making a background-clearance inquiry.
Valid renewal and expired-certificate reinstatement are different
Certificate is valid
Use the current renewal requirements for the exact certificate type and expiration date.
Certificate is expired
Use the appropriate reinstatement route instead of treating the credential as a normal valid-certificate renewal.
Do not reuse the January 31–June 30, 2026 online renewal window as a current universal deadline. That date range has passed.
The current renewal page states that requirements for certificates expiring June 30, 2027 or later are available beginning August 1, 2026. Always choose the requirements tied to your certificate’s actual expiration.
How to verify an Alabama educator certificate
ALSDE provides a public TCERT certificate-search system. This is more useful than relying on a résumé, old staff page or third-party educator database.
Open TCERT public search
Use the Alabama State Department of Education certification search.
Search the educator
Review the certification record returned by the state system.
Open Courses
The system can show the courses the educator is properly certified to teach.
Note the update cycle
TCERT says course information is updated in July to show courses for the upcoming school year.
Certificate lookup is not a personnel complaint process. Use TCERT to verify certification information; use the responsible school system or formal state process for a separate employment or conduct concern.
Some Alabama credentials require employer initiation
| Credential | Who generally starts it? | What the applicant should do |
|---|---|---|
| Substitute License | Eligible employing school-system/nonpublic-school administrator | Work through the employer’s certification process. |
| Emergency Certificate | Eligible employing entity | Do not attempt to self-issue the credential. |
| CTE Temporary Certificate | Eligible employing superintendent/administrator | Follow employer and ALSDE requirements. |
| Out-of-State Reciprocity | Eligible individual applicant | Review reciprocity requirements and use AIM/ACE. |
Scam warning: be cautious of a third party promising to directly issue an Alabama emergency or substitute credential without the required employing entity.
Before submitting an ALSDE Open Records request
Confirm ALSDE has the record
ALSDE is a K–12 public-school agency and specifically excludes several common record types from its public-record service.
Search published data first
Board minutes, report cards, accountability reports and many public state documents are already online.
Use the Data Request Portal
ALSDE requires its public-record requests to be submitted through the official portal.
Include an address
ALSDE states that an address is required for the Open Records request to be considered.
Do not request these from ALSDE Public Records
| You need | ALSDE Public Records says | Better starting point |
|---|---|---|
| GED information | Not provided by this K–12 public-record service. | Responsible GED/adult-education records system. |
| High-school graduation transcript | Not provided. | Former school / local school system. |
| Homeschool information | Not provided through ALSDE Public Records. | Use the legally responsible local/state route for the specific homeschool question. |
| Private/church-school information | Not provided through this K–12 public-school records service. | Responsible private/church school or applicable authority. |
Privacy reminder: do not attach private student IDs, medical information, disability documents, custody records or passwords to an unofficial records form.
Local IEP support and state dispute resolution are different steps
Student-specific issue
Evaluation, eligibility, placement, IEP services and school-level implementation normally begin with the child’s school and local school system.
Formal state dispute
ALSDE provides written state complaint, mediation, facilitated IEP and due-process resources.
Written State Complaint essentials
Which dispute route fits?
Written State Complaint
Alleges a public agency violated a requirement of IDEA Part B.
Mediation
A voluntary process using a qualified impartial mediator to try to reach agreement.
Facilitated IEP
A structured facilitation option intended to help an IEP team work through difficult discussions.
Due Process
Used for eligible disputes involving identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE.
These routes are not interchangeable. Read Alabama’s procedural safeguards and dispute-comparison material before choosing a formal filing.
Statewide resources that can help before calling the Board
Learning at home
State family-engagement resources include math, science, school-success and grade-band learning guidance.
MTSS & student support
Family resources can help explain multi-tiered support and academic intervention concepts before a school meeting.
English learner resources
ALSDE provides parent-oriented English-learner and assessment information.
Child Nutrition
State Child Nutrition resources cover statewide program requirements; meal-account and daily menu questions remain local.
Transportation
State transportation resources support school systems, but individual route and stop questions belong to the local district.
Career & Technical Education
Use statewide CTE information for program context, then confirm actual course availability with the local school system.
Alabama State Department of Education contact details
Do not mail sensitive documents to the general office simply because you found the address. Certification, Special Education, Public Records and other programs have their own submission processes.
Public information vs legitimate education fees
Normally free to check
Board agendas, meeting schedules, minutes, archived video, Board members, State Report Card data, public school-performance files, testing guides, school listings and TCERT educator-search information.
Official costs can exist
Educator-certification applications, card transaction fees, fingerprints, local transcripts, meals and other district services can involve legitimate charges.
Payment warning: do not pay a random search-result website simply to see a State Board agenda, public report card or educator certificate search.
Alabama education task router
| You need | Correct first stop |
|---|---|
| Child’s first day / spring break | Local city or county school system |
| Bus stop / transportation eligibility | Local school system transportation office |
| School enrollment | Local school system |
| High-school transcript | Former school / local system |
| State Board agenda or minutes | ALSDE State Board meeting pages |
| School report card | Alabama State Report Card |
| Verify teacher certificate | TCERT public certificate search |
| Apply for / renew teacher certificate | ALSDE Teacher Certification / AIM / ACE |
| ACAP or ACT information | ALSDE Assessment |
| IDEA complaint | ALSDE Special Education Dispute Resolution |
| CHOOSE Act account | Alabama Department of Revenue / CHOOSE Act Alabama |
| Public charter information | ALSDE Office of Charter Schools |
Common Alabama Board of Education problems and fast fixes
🗓️ I need the next State Board meeting
Fix: the next regular meeting after the August meeting/retreat cycle is September 10, 2026 from 10:00–11:00 a.m., with the work session at 11:00 a.m.
🎤 I want to speak during a public hearing
Fix: confirm the subject is on the applicable Board agenda and contact Nora Thorington at 334-694-4900.
📅 I need my child’s school calendar
Fix: find the correct local city/county system. Do not use the State Board schedule as a student calendar.
🏫 I don’t know the school system
Fix: start with Alabama’s Public and Private School Listing.
📊 I want to compare a school
Fix: use the State Report Card plus School Performance files rather than relying only on one letter grade.
📝 I need my child’s ACAP information
Fix: use ALSDE’s parent interpretation resources and contact the school for student-specific testing logistics.
🎓 My child graduates in 2027
Fix: use the Classes of 2026–27 requirements, not the Class of 2028+ document.
👩🏫 I need to verify a teacher
Fix: use TCERT public certificate search and review the Courses tab for proper certification.
🔐 AIM or ACE login fails
Fix: call 334-694-4777 or email helpdesk@alsde.edu for AIM technical support.
♻️ My certificate expires in 2027
Fix: use the current requirements for certificates expiring June 30, 2027 or later; do not reuse the ended 2026 renewal window.
📬 I need a high-school transcript
Fix: contact the former school/local system. ALSDE Public Records says it does not provide graduation transcripts.
🎒 I want CHOOSE Act for 2026–27
Fix: the normal application portals closed March 31, 2026. Use Alabama Revenue for current award/account information.
🧩 I need an IDEA complaint
Fix: use ALSDE’s formal dispute-resolution resources. A state complaint cannot be anonymous and normally uses the one-year/60-day framework.
📄 An agenda says an item was proposed
Fix: return later for the approved minutes or adopted resolution before stating that final action occurred.
Alabama Board of Education FAQs
When is the next Alabama State Board of Education meeting?
After the August 13 regular meeting and August 14 retreat date, the next regular Alabama State Board meeting listed for 2026 is September 10 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by the work session at 11:00 a.m. Recheck the official agenda before attending.
Who is President of the Alabama State Board of Education?
Governor Kay Ivey is listed as President. Marie Manning is Vice President and Kelly McCarthy Mooney is President Pro Tem.
Who is the Alabama State Superintendent of Education?
Eric G. Mackey, Ed.D., is the Alabama State Superintendent of Education and serves in the State Board’s executive/secretary role.
Does Alabama have one statewide public-school calendar?
No. Alabama city and county school systems normally publish their own first day, breaks, holidays, graduation dates and last day. Use the student’s local school-system calendar.
Where can I check an Alabama school’s report card?
Use the Alabama State Report Card to select a reporting year, system and school. Supporting data also cover accountability indicators, proficiency, graduation/CCR and educator information.
Which grades take ACAP in Alabama?
ACAP Summative is given in Grades 2 through 8. It covers English language arts and mathematics, with science in Grades 4, 6 and 8. ACAP Alternate has separate eligibility and grade rules.
How can I verify an Alabama teacher’s certificate?
Use ALSDE’s TCERT public certificate-search system. The search can display certification information and the courses an educator is properly certified to teach.
Can ALSDE send me a high-school transcript?
No. ALSDE’s Public Records page says it does not provide high-school graduation transcripts. Contact the school or local school system that maintains the record.
Is CHOOSE Act Alabama run by the State Board?
No. The Alabama Department of Revenue administers the CHOOSE Act. The normal 2026–27 application portals closed March 31, 2026.
How do I file a special-education state complaint in Alabama?
Use ALSDE Special Education Dispute Resolution. A written state complaint must be signed, generally concern a violation within the prior year, cannot be anonymous and normally receives findings within 60 days subject to permitted extensions.
Final verification checklist
Right government level?
Separate State Board/ALSDE, local school system, Alabama Revenue and other record agencies.
Current document?
Recheck agendas, certification requirements, school-choice deadlines and graduation rules immediately before acting.
Secure official route?
Use ALSDE, the responsible local system or Alabama Revenue before submitting personal data or payments.
Sources checked August 14, 2026 Alabama local date: Alabama State Board of Education, Meeting/Agendas, Meeting Minutes, Board videos, Public Comment, State Board members, Superintendent’s Corner, Alabama School Calendars, Public and Private School Listing, State Report Card, School Performance, Assessment/ACAP, Graduation Requirements, Teacher Certification, Certificate Renewal, TCERT, Charter Schools, Public Records, Special Education Dispute Resolution, Families & Students and Alabama Department of Revenue CHOOSE Act resources.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an informational guide and is not the Alabama State Board of Education, Alabama State Department of Education, Alabama Department of Revenue or a local Alabama school system. Current official rules, records, notices and forms take priority.