MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama House Education Policy Committee has approved a bill to give local school systems the ability to waive certain regulations or requirements.
The committee voted Wednesday afternoon in favor of the measure by Rep. Chad Fincher, R- Semmes.
Supporters, including state schools Superintendent Tommy Bice, told lawmakers that research has shown reducing rules and regulations can increase creativity in the classroom. Bice called the bill a vote of confidence in teachers and school leaders.
The measure was opposed by the Alabama Education Association - the state's teacher's union - which said the legislation would give school systems the power to add more requirements on teachers and was a "backdoor" attempt to legalize public/private charter schools.
A bill to allow charter schools in Alabama failed last year.
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