http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/03/alabama_accountability_act_wou.html
The Alabama Accountability Act is supposed to be signed by Governor Bentley today. The Alabama Association of School Boards and School Superintendents of Alabama have asked him to amend the act before signing. The Bill would allow families that have children zoned for schools that are deemed “failing” to be eligible for tax credits to help offset the cost of attending a private or another public school. In addition the “failing” school would be responsible for providing transportation and special education services to those children no longer attending these schools. The bill is supposed to allow parents different options for their child’s education when the school they are zoned for is not suitable. I think there are far more unintentional consequences to an already struggling public school system. First, public schools are granted money on enrollment. If there is a drop in the number of students the funds will be cut and the children left attending will suffer. Also, the financial burden for the “failing” schools to provide transportation and special need services to the children that leave would make a bad situation worse for the limited funds that schools already receive. The bottom line is these schools will probably be closed and then children will be sent to surrounding schools that will contribute to overcrowding. I believe this is the beginning of a downfall of the states’ already insufficient school system.
Social Policy 
I think that on the paper this Act looks good, but there are certainly downfalls to it. I wonder why the government does not want to help the failing schools. It seems like they are running from the bigger problem by offering a tax credit for those families who are affected by it. Good job. 🙂
Based on what I’ve read, it looks like Alabama Republicans are setting up a system to subsidize charter schools, which they’ve been trying to bring to the state for a while. Cost estimates from Alabama Arise look like it would essentially bankrupt the public school system in order to offer the tax credits. Numerous lawmakers have commented on the legislation saying it would make the education system operate more like a business. Here’s a good resource explaining what can be known at this point: http://www.arisecitizens.org/index.php/component/docman/doc_view/955-alabama-accountability-act-paper-3-6-13?Itemid=44.