This bill, designated as HB22 Enrolled, aims to amend Section 16-28A-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975, concerning the roles and responsibilities of assistant principals in public K-12 schools. The bill establishes legislative findings that recognize the enhanced role of principals as instructional leaders and the necessity for additional support for them. It defines the role of the assistant principal to include assisting the principal with administration and enforcement of board policy and applicable laws, including student discipline, instruction, management, safety, security, and other assigned duties. The term "assistant principal" is clarified to refer to any school administrator who reports directly to the principal and assists in the overall administration of a school.

The bill mandates that starting with the 2024-2025 school year, each public K-12 school in Alabama shall have an assistant principal, provided that funding is available. If a school employs more than one assistant principal, the local superintendent of education or their designee will determine how to divide duties among them. Additionally, the bill requires the State Board of Education to ensure that each local board of education develops a written policy on student discipline and behavior, which must be widely disseminated and provided to teachers, staff, parents, and students. The bill includes a deletion of the word "them" and an insertion of "the policy" to clarify the dissemination of the student discipline and behavior policy. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2024, and was passed by the House on April 2, 2024, and by the Senate on May 2, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-28A-3
Engrossed: 16-28A-3
Enrolled: 16-28A-3