Alabama lets high schoolers skip ahead to college for free

New law sends juniors and seniors to college

Alabama just gave some high school students a fast track to a college degree.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Move on When Ready Act into law on May 14, 2025, and it takes effect July 1, 2026.

Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, eligible juniors and seniors can leave high school and enroll full-time at a public college at no cost.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, sponsored the bill, and Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, carried it in the House.

Students leave high school entirely

This is not dual enrollment. Students in the program fully exit their high school and become college students.

They cannot take classes at their old school or play on any high school sports teams. Orr described it as a clean break, with funding following the student to the college.

Two-year schools like community colleges and trade schools automatically qualify. Four-year public universities can opt in if they choose.

A student who starts in 11th grade and finishes two years could walk away with both a diploma and an associate degree.

Families pay nothing for coursework

The law makes one thing clear: families cannot be charged a dime. A new Move on When Ready Fund covers tuition, materials, and fees.

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education runs the fund. Each student’s home school district gets a $200 records fee to handle the paperwork.

During a student’s second year, the district’s regular funding drops by whatever the college receives. So the money shifts, but the cost to families stays at zero.

Eligibility rules are still in the works

Students must be entering 11th or 12th grade and must have spent the prior year at an Alabama public high school. Beyond that, the details are still coming.

The Alabama State Board of Education is working with the community college system and the Commission on Higher Education to set the full eligibility criteria. As of early 2026, those rules have not been published yet.

Parents and students should check with their local school district for updates on when the criteria will drop.

Counseling comes before any paperwork

Local school boards must spread the word early. By April 1 each year, they must share information about the program with all middle school, ninth, 10th, and 11th grade students.

Before anyone enrolls, both the student and a parent or guardian must go through counseling about what the program involves. Then both must sign a form showing they understand the responsibilities.

The State Board of Education will develop those forms and counseling guidelines before the program launches.

Georgia ran this program for 20 years

Alabama did not build this from scratch. Woods said the bill was modeled after Georgia’s Move On When Ready program, which has been running for more than two decades.

Georgia’s version covers students in grades nine through 12 and includes both public and private school students. Alabama’s take is narrower.

It only applies to 11th and 12th graders in public schools. Still, Georgia’s long track record gave Alabama lawmakers a proven blueprint to work from.

Lawmakers backed it almost unanimously

The bill sailed through the Alabama Legislature with little opposition. The House passed it 100 to 2, and the Senate voted 34 to 0 to accept the House version.

Orr introduced the bill on Feb. 25, 2025, and it received final passage on May 6. Ivey signed it into law eight days later.

That kind of bipartisan support is rare for education bills, and it signals broad agreement that the program fills a real gap.

Fraud carries criminal penalties

Alabama built enforcement into the law. Anyone who knowingly makes false statements to help a college wrongfully receive payments from the fund can face criminal charges.

That applies to anyone who gives or accepts false information tied to the program. Violators can be charged with a misdemeanor.

The provision is meant to protect the fund and make sure the money actually goes toward students who qualify.

Not every college course counts

The State Board of Education and participating colleges must work together to approve which courses count toward a high school diploma. Any college course that closely matches an approved high school course qualifies.

Remedial classes and summer school courses do not make the cut.

But students who complete a course that is not on the approved list can still receive elective credit toward graduation. So even off-list classes are not wasted.

Alabama must track results every year

The Alabama Department of Education must publish a report on the program’s impact by July 1 each year.

That report must include how many students in each district participated, how many finished the program, how many graduated high school, and how many earned a college credential.

The department prepares the report with the Alabama Community College System and the Commission on Higher Education. Those numbers will show whether the program delivers on its promise.

Families should start watching for updates

The program does not begin until the 2026-2027 school year, so there is time to prepare. But families should not wait to pay attention.

Students enrolled in this program will not qualify for other state financial aid for courses taken under it. The State Board of Education is still developing the specific rules.

Parents should watch for announcements from their local school district and the Alabama State Department of Education as the launch date gets closer.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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