During her final State of the State Address Tuesday evening (Jan. 13), Gov. Kay Ivey proposed a 2% pay raise for educators and state employees and more money for the state’s new school choice program.
Ivey, in her final year as governor, used the annual address to highlight the accomplishments of her administration and the state since she took office in 2017. These included investments in education, high-speed internet access, and economic development, as well as job creation.
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“The momentum is in our sails in Alabama – and we are not done yet!” Ivey said from the Old House Chamber in the Capitol.
“… Since (2017), we have seen investments totaling $69 billion which has created 100,000 jobs — and counting,” she said. “Alabama consistently ranks among the top 10 states for doing business. We are prioritizing workforce development, guaranteeing site readiness and remaining steady and reliable for economic growth.”
She highlighted improved K-12 test scores.
“In fourth-grade math (in 2017), we ranked dead last at 52nd,” she said. “In fourth-grade reading, we were 49th.
“…We are now 32nd in math and 34th in reading.”
Among her school spending priorities in the legislative session that started Tuesday, Ivey is proposing increasing funding for the CHOOSE ACT, which allows families use public money for private and homeschool educations, to $250 million.
She’s also proposing $50 million more for school safety efforts.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Trisha Powell Crain and Mary Sell and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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