Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund

BCA Encourages People To Give Money For Private School Vouchers Instead Of Paying State Income Tax

By Larry Lee Education Matters When attendees at a recent Business Council of Alabama conference at Point Clear opened their “goody” bags, one of their treats was a flier asking “Do you pay Alabama income tax?” Open the flier and readers were told to “redirect your tax liability and provide a scholarship.” This not-so-subtle message … Continued

October 3, 2016

No Accountability in Accountability Act

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee The Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) has made public the latest reports of scholarship granting organizations (SGO) participating in the Alabama Accountability Act. And once again we see how little accountability there really is in this law. There are currently nine SGOs listed by ADOR. All were supposed to make … Continued

October 27, 2015

“AAA the gift that keeps on giving,” maybe not

EDUCATION MATTERS By Larry Lee Legend has it that the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving,” was used to describe early versions of the phonograph in the 1920’s. Just 31 months ago the legislature gave us an act that they promised would also, “keep on giving.” It was the Alabama Accountability Act. But as … Continued

October 2, 2015

Parent Company of Riley’s SGO Sitting on Hundreds of Millions

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporte MONTGOMERY—In Alabama, school children don’t have textbooks, teachers don’t have classroom materials, even toilet paper is in short supply. But, the parent company of former Gov. Bob Riley’s SGO is sitting on piles of taxpayer dollars. According to Federal Tax filings by Step Up For Students, Inc., (SUFS) the … Continued

April 2, 2015

Riley Alabama Figure Head for Florida-Owned SGO

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Federal filings show that an Alabama scholarship granting organization (SGO) is actually a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida nonprofit. Former Gov. Bob Riley has promoted his Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund (AOSF) as if it were the soul of the State’s Accountability Act. Yet, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of … Continued

March 31, 2015

Revisions to Accountability Act Would Keep Riley SGO from Failure

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Current legislation before the State Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee changes the terms of the Alabama Accountability Act to potentially benefit one particular Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The primary beneficiary of the revised law would appear to be the Florida-owned SGO led by former Governor Bob Riley (Riley’s … Continued

March 30, 2015

Riley’s SGO Sponsors March For School Choice

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—School choice supporters will gather for a historic march on Montgomery, Wednesday, January 28, to “demand greater school choice in the Yellowhammer State,” according to Sonya DiCarlo, Director of Communications for former Gov. Bob Riley’s Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund (SGO). The rally for school choice is headlined by Dr. … Continued

January 23, 2015

Riley SGO Spotlighted at Legislative Orientation

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—So great is the effort to promote former governor Bob Riley’s SGO, the Opportunity Scholarship Fund, that it has been invited to the orientation sessions for in-coming legislators. The orientation session traditionally held at the University of Alabama School of Law has been moved to Montgomery for reasons unspecified. … Continued

December 10, 2014

Hubbard, Marsh Ask Supreme Court to Rule Quickly On AAA For “Poor Children”

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—On Wednesday, before the Alabama Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Alabama Accountability Act, Speaker of the Alabama House Mike Hubbard and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh have filed a “friend of the court” brief with the Alabama Supreme Court, asking them to expedite its ruling. Chief … Continued

December 4, 2014