Early Childhood Education

Education

Alabama recognized for pre-K quality for 20th year

Alabama again met every national preschool quality benchmark, while expanding access statewide and marking two decades of top-tier standards, a new report found.

April 23, 2026

Alabama Senate passes bill to limit screen time in early childhood education

Lawmakers unanimously approved legislation Thursday banning screen time for children under age 2 in publicly funded early-learning centers.

February 27, 2026

Gov. Ivey supports legislation limiting screen time for early childhood education

Gov. Kay Ivey announced support for limiting electronic screen access in childcare facilities, saying exposure risks harming critical development.

January 27, 2026

House Education Policy Committee passes bill to limit screen time in early childhood education

The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act passed unanimously, limiting screen time for children 5 and younger in publicly funded learning centers.

January 22, 2026

Dolly Parton Imagination Library expands to Alabama foster kids

State agencies broadened access, ensuring every foster child aged 0-5 receives a free book monthly, cultivating a love of reading and early success.

August 21, 2025

Ivey signs “first grade readiness” bill into law

Students entering first grade without completing kindergarten will take the assessment to determine whether they need educational intervention.

May 20, 2024

Chairs, table and toys. Interior of kindergarten.

Alabama furthering efforts to improve early childhood education

Over 400 pre-K through 3rd grade classes are funded through the P-3 initiative.

May 16, 2024

Alabama School Readiness Alliance Pre-K Task Force seeks additional $22.5 million

Gov. Kay Ivey has recommended the Legislature boost pre-k spending by $22.5 million.

February 15, 2022

Groups ask Ivey to spend $4 billion in pandemic aid on those most in need

Groups say money should go to expand Medicaid, improve housing, education and access to broadband.

July 9, 2021

Jones, Romney, and Casey introduce bipartisan Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act

Monday, U.S. Senators Doug Jones (D-Alabama), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), introduced the bipartisan Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act, which would ensure school leaders are able to effectively support early education teachers and provide children with high-quality early learning programs. “Alabama has a nationally recognized pre-k program that is hailed for its high … Continued

November 7, 2019