Ala. House Backs Major Education-Reform Package

By Millicent Lawton

After debate, delays, and amendments, the Alabama House has approved a major package of education-reform measures that, among other changes, would revamp the state's 50-year-old teacher-tenure act and offer principals the option of giving up their tenure rights in exchange for a pay increase.

After passing the bills late last month, House members last week turned to consideration of tax-reform legislation that would generate an estimated additional $529 million a year, much of it for education.

The only one of the 14 education-reform bills voted on by the full House last month to be defeated was a measure that would have amended the state constitution to require that school superintendents be appointed by local school...