Alabama Legislature Green Lights Education Budget

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)- The Alabama Legislature gives the green light to an education budget that expands the state’s prekindergarten program.

Tuesday, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a conference committee agreement on the spending plan.

The budget now goes to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature.

The budget gives an additional $10 million to the state’s pre-kindergarten program. The increase is projected to enable another 1,800 four-year-olds to attend the public preschool program.

Education budget chairman Bill Poole says the budget makes classroom spending a priority. The budget does not include raises for state teachers.

Alabama lawmakers are still working on the state’s other budget. The General Fund budget could include funding cuts to state agencies, unless lawmakers agree on new revenue.