Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh spoke to the BCA's Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday and outlined the importance of charter schools.

"This is very important for business and, obviously, very important for the children of Alabama," Marsh said. "The (poll) numbers show that the people of this state want (education) choice."

The Senate later that day passed his charter school bill, SB 45, by a vote of 22-12, and sent it to the House where it was assigned to the House Education Policy Committee.

The committee conducted a public hearing on its charter school version, HB 192 sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur. "My intent is to give a local system the ability to use flexibility and innovation to help students in a way they haven't been before," Collins said.

The committee met Thursday afternoon, substituted Marsh's SB 45 for the House bill, and gave it a favorable report. The bill could see final passage next week.

Proponents at the hearing were led by the Alabama Coalition for Public Charter Schools, the Black Alliance for Educational Options, Students First, and a host of parents, teachers and community leaders.

Business Education Alliance of Alabama Chairman and President Joe Morton, Ph.D, testified in favor of charter schools at the House public hearing. He said Alabama can benefit from the experience of charter school laws in 42 other states and avoid any mistakes.

"Hopefully we're going to be the 43rd state," Morton said.

Courtesy of the Business Council of Alabama