Alabama Department of Education

Alabama students of all ages are getting a little bit of financial help in taking the next steps in their futures when it comes to higher education. Alabama College Application Week is happening now, where application fees at certain college and universities are being waved.

Alabama students of all ages are getting a little bit of financial help in taking the next steps in their futures when it comes to higher education. Alabama College Application Week will take place Oct. 7-11 with waived application fees. Some colleges and universities also refer to this time as "Free App Week."

An estimated 1,800 Alabama students will repeat third grade because of low reading scores under a new state promotion requirement, the education superintendent said Thursday.

Alabama's education superintendent said Wednesday that some data was "breached" during a hacking attempt at the Alabama State Department of Education. Superintendent Eric Mackey said the June 17 attack was stopped while it was in progress. He said they are working to determine exactly what information might have been compromised.

Some new Alabama laws go into effect this Saturday. One is supposed to broaden the rights of parents. Another deals with squatters.

Children of color are behind in most categories at state and national levels, according to the Race for Results report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Improvements have been made over the past decade, but no racial or ethnic group came close to the maximum index.

Alabama is still experiencing a shortage in medicine used to treat one of the most common neuro-developmental disorders. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a common condition that is shown through inattention, hyperactivity and sometimes, impulsivity.

The Milken Educator Award started in 1987, and Alabama joined the program in 1998. Throughout the years, a total of $1M has been awarded to 40 Alabama recipients. This award is unique because it targets early-to-mid career educators, and it has awarded top educators nationally.

Alabama students are returning to the classroom, and with that comes homework, tests and other assignments. Sometimes, coursework can be challenging, and one state government office offers a free service to help remedy these troubles.

Alabama lawmakers advanced a voucher proposal that would give parents up to $6,900 per child each year to pay for private school or home-schooling expenses.