AlabamaAlabama students learn violence prevention before high school graduation
Starting in the 2027–2028 school year, Alabama public school students must complete instruction on preventing violence and resolving conflicts before they graduate.
What it does
Alabama public school students must complete lessons on preventing violence and resolving conflicts peacefully before graduating from high school.
The state education department must make course materials available to local boards and help train teachers to provide the instruction.
The State Board of Education must adopt rules as needed to carry out the law.
Argument forStudents may learn ways to prevent violence and settle disagreements peacefully, including through voluntary peer mediation.
Argument againstSchools may need to set aside class time for this required instruction, leaving less time for other lessons.
More detail
Alabama public school students must complete a course or program in violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation before graduating. The instruction is provided in grades six through twelve and covers decision-making, school violence and harassment, and peaceful ways to resolve conflicts, among other related topics. Local school boards choose the curriculum that meets the requirement. The student requirement begins with the 2027–2028 school year.
The State Department of Education must prepare and share course materials and models with local boards, and help train teachers. The materials and teacher training concern violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation instruction. Local boards choose the curriculum; they may use the state materials as guidelines. The department must make the materials available before June 30, 2027.
The State Board of Education must adopt rules as needed to carry out the law. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 17EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1354Passed House
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1354. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Ready to Enroll
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 8Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Apr 8Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Education Policy)Minor
- Apr 1Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1055. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1055Passed Senate
- Apr 1Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education PolicyMinor
- Apr 1Pending Committee Action in Second House (Education Policy)
- Mar 17Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Mar 17Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Education Policy)Minor
- Mar 11Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education PolicyMinor
- Mar 11Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)Introduced
EducationPublic Safety