WHEREAS, the Education Budgets of FY 2009 and FY 2010 have experienced proration; and

WHEREAS, the 19.5 percent proration over two years has greatly impacted the classrooms of Alabama’s public schools; and

WHEREAS, the FY 2011 Budget should have as its top priorities the directing of all available growth revenues in state-collected taxes to the classroom and the operations of schools; and

WHEREAS, the initiatives centered around reading, math and science, and distance education have shown results to the nation that Alabama students and teachers can compete nationally and globally if given the right tools:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby affirm its vote of November 12 on employee benefits and a fairer distribution of Education Trust Fund available dollars to K-12 education with a minimum of 70 percent of the FY 2011 Education Budget being devoted to K-12 education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education has adopted the attached funding priorities for FY 2011 within the K-12 portion of the FY 2011 Education Budget; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby recommend all actions included herein to Governor Bob Riley for his consideration of inclusion in his 2010 Regular Legislative Session Education Budget that shall be presented to the Alabama Legislature.

Done this 10th day of December 2009.