Governor Riley Signs $6.2 Billion Education Budget

Press Release

Governor Riley Signs $6.2 Billion Education Budget

FY 2010 spending plan provides millions for proven programs: ARI, AMSTI, ACCESS Distance Learning and First Class Pre-K

Governor Bob Riley today signed a $6.2 billion education budget that provides funding to sustain Alabama's nationally renowned learning initiatives and avoid layoffs for teachers or school support personnel. The budget received final passage in the Alabama Senate on April 30.

To view a video of the budget signing, plus comments from Governor Riley, visit http://governor.alabama.gov.

The Governor said he was pleased that the final version of the budget includes funding for the initiatives that are helping students achieve more: $42 million for the Alabama Reading Initiative, $29 million for the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, $20 million for ACCESS Distance Learning, and $19 million for First Class Pre-K.

"For the first time, we are beginning to have an understanding in the Legislature that these programs are setting Alabama apart," said Governor Riley.

State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joe Morton, who was with Governor Riley when he signed the budget into law, said funding would maintain these critical programs and continue the progress the state has seen in recent years.

"We are delighted with the budget that the Governor signed," said Dr. Morton. "It keeps our programs active and keeps them in our schools. We've had great results from the Alabama Reading Initiative, our distance learning initiative and the Math and Science and Technology Initiative. Even in these very bleak economic times, those initiatives are funded at a level that we can sustain learning in all of our schools."

Dr. Morton also thanked Governor Riley for supporting the learning initiatives throughout the legislative session. Protecting these successful programs, he said, can be a feat given the influence of special interest groups.

"If you have an ally like Governor Bob Riley, it makes it a lot easier," said Dr. Morton. "The governor made sure we had great emphasis placed on the necessity and importance of funding those initiatives. It was a very big challenge, but the governor was very supportive and very involved. Without his efforts and influence it would not have been possible."

Governor Riley made a point to thank State Senator Hank Sanders for his efforts to keep funding for Alabama's learning initiatives in the budget throughout the sometimes complicated budgeting process in the Legislature.

"I want to thank Senator Hank Sanders," said Governor Riley. "When it came down to it, he was under a tremendous amount of pressure to cut these programs, but I think he understands probably more than anybody in the Senate how much this has done for rural Alabama schools. I want to thank him for standing up to the political opposition that he faced."

The $6.2 billion education budget is a full $2 billion more in education funding from the $4.2 billion education budget in fiscal year 2003 when Governor Riley came into office.

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