By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A record six-point-seven (b) billion dollar state education budget was approved Wednesday by a House committee. The spending plan includes funds to give teachers a seven percent raise and to give retired teachers a one-time bonus later this year.
The proposal also increases funding for school nurses, textbooks, classroom technology and for an initiative to improve student proficiency in math and science. It also provides additional money for a program to help at risk students and for a distance learning initiative that allows students in rural areas to take classes that aren't normally offered at their schools.
The budget is about 450 (m) million dollars more than last year's education spending plan and one-point-three (b) billion more than was spent on education two years ago.
The budget and a separate bill granting the pay raise now go to the full House, where they are expected to be debated next week.
Alabama has historically been near the bottom nationally in classroom funding, but committee chairman, state Representative Richard Lindsey of Centre said this budget should improve the state's ranking.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)