Public schools; athletic associations required to adjust schools' athletic classification to relfect English language learners who do not participate in athletics

Plain English Breakdown

There is a contradiction in the provided official bill metadata: one field states the bill 'Passed Legislature', while another says it is 'Pending Committee Action'. The text excerpt shows an effective date of June 1, 2026 (Section 2), but Section 1(d) applies to the 2028-2029 school year. Due to this conflict in status and dates within the provided source material, specific future application dates were removed from 'what_it_does' to avoid presenting unverified timelines as fact.

Adjusting High School Sports Classes for English Learners

This bill requires athletic associations to change how they rank public high schools by counting students who learn English but do not play in school sports.

What This Bill Does

• Requires athletic associations to adjust a school's size category based on the number of non-athlete English language learners enrolled there.
• Limits this rule only to ranking schools for championship games or other interscholastic sports events.
• Directs the State Board of Education to create rules needed to carry out these changes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Athletic associations that manage public high school sports competitions
• Public high schools in Alabama
• English language learner students who do not participate in interscholastic athletics

Terms To Know

athletic association

A group that organizes and manages sports competitions between public high schools.

English language learner

A student who is learning English as a new language while attending school.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not explain the exact math or formula for how many points to add per non-athlete student.
• It only applies to sports rankings and does not change other ways schools are classified.
• Specific rules from the State Board of Education have not been written yet.

Official Summary Text

Public schools; athletic associations required to adjust schools' athletic classification to relfect English language learners who do not participate in athletics

Current Bill Text

HB333 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB333
U935BDD-1
By Representatives Colvin, Kiel
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 27-Jan-26
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U935BDD-1 08/29/2025 ZAK (L) ZAK 2025-2592
Page 1
First Read: 27-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would require athletic associations to
adjust a public high school's athletic classification
to reflect the number of English language learner
students who do not participate in athletics that are
enrolled at the school.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to public high schools; to require athletic
associations to adjust schools' athletic classifications to
reflect enrolled English language learners who do not
participate in athletics.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For purposes of this section, the term
"athletic association" has the same meaning as provided in
Section 16-1-52.1, Code of Alabama 1975.
(b) Solely for purposes of classifying public high
schools for competition in athletic association championship
programs or other interscholastic athletic events, an athletic
association of which a public high school is a member shall
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HB333 INTRODUCED
Page 2
association of which a public high school is a member shall
adjust the school's athletic classification to reflect the
number of English language learner students enrolled at the
school who do not participate in any interscholastic athletic
events.
(c) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
implement this section.
(d) This section shall apply beginning with the
athletic classifications in effect for the 2028-2029 academic
school year.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on June 1,
2026.
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