The Alabama Credential Quality and Transparency Act, along with the Alabama Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics on Career Pathways Act and the Alabama College and Career Readiness Act, are introduced in this bill. The legislation aims to establish a free, searchable public online registry of educational and occupational credentials, with measures to protect personally identifiable information and procedures for data breaches. It also seeks to define statewide college and career readiness and includes the formation of a committee to advise on making credential and competency data publicly available. This committee will reflect the state's diversity and will develop a list of credentials aligned with in-demand occupations.

Additionally, the bill sets up the Alabama Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics (ATLAS) on Career Pathways as a secure system for exchanging and matching individual-level education and workforce data, which will help policymakers improve education and workforce outcomes. A diverse council will govern this system, develop a strategic plan, and ensure data protection. The bill also mandates the creation of the Office of Education and Workforce Statistics within the Department of Commerce and introduces the Alabama College and Career Readiness Act, requiring public school students to meet certain readiness indicators before graduation. The council will oversee data use, privacy, and security, approve data report requests, share data with the public, and provide an annual report to government officials and the State Board of Education.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-29-350
Enrolled: 41-29-350