Alabama

Gov. Kay Ivey reaffirms support for educational savings accounts – Alabama Reflector

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2024

Gov. Kay Ivey reaffirms support for educational savings accounts – Alabama Reflector

Gov. Kay Ivey Monday reaffirmed her support for creating education savings accounts at a rally on the Alabama State Capitol steps on Monday.

But Ivey and other speakers gave few details of what they would support on the issue, which has already drawn pushback from State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey and other educators in the state.

“It will be sustainable, responsible and it’s how we will shape the future of education in Alabama,” Ivey told several dozen people at a rally for “School Choice Week,” a push to expand nontraditional public schools and publicly-funded private school options.

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Education savings accounts are similar to vouchers in that they allow the use of money originally intended for public schools to be used for other items, including private school tuition. Vouchers send the money to an educational institution that the student attends. Education savings accounts go to the parents, who can use it for any number of services, including tuition, tutoring and counseling.

Ivey made expansion of education options a priority in last year’s legislative session. The Alabama Legislature passed legislation expanding the Alabama Accountability Act, a scholarship program allowing students in low-performing schools to qualify for scholarships to private schools.

The governor told the crowd that her “top priority is ensuring education savings accounts bill crosses the finish line.”

What emerges from the session will be up to the Legislature, and likely Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville and Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, the chairs of the legislative committees overseeing the Education Trust Fund budget, which would fund any type of Education Savings Account. Messages seeking comment were left with Orr and Garrett on Monday morning; neither man could be seen at Monday’s rally.

Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, filed an expansive education savings account bill last year, which would have allowed roughly $6,900 to follow a student. The bill, filed late in the session, did not become law.

Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, who filed a House version of Stutts’ bill, said Monday that he also supported an expansive education savings account option.

“It brings the free market back to education,” he said.

Stutts and Yarbrough tend to be some of the most conservative members of the Republican supermajority Legislature.

Yarbrough lined out his plans for “true school choice:” universal for all students; flexible spending ability; protects autonomy of private and home schools, while making traditional public schools’ curriculum transparent and is not an “attempt” to increase government spending.

“I believe that true school choice does not increase the size or scope of government,” he said.

The bill has not been filed as of Monday morning.

Students and parents spoke about their own experiences with education options in the state at the rally also.

June Henninger, a fifth grade student at the private Montgomery Christian School, said that she benefited from her experience at the school. She said she was grateful for her education and her teachers.

“I’m ready for my next school of my choice,” she said.

Montgomery Christian School students are on scholarships through donations and from scholarships from the Alabama Accountability Act.

“School choice” can refer to a number of things, namely charter schools, vouchers and/ or education savings accounts.

At the January State Board of Education board meeting and work session, State Superintendent Eric Mackey said that he would want the money to go to schools and would require accountability.

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Alabama

Alabama high school football predictions: Experts pick the state semifinals

Published

14 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Alabama high school football predictions: Experts pick the state semifinals

Thompson and Opelika are already in next week’s Super 7 championships at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.

The other 12 finalists will be decided Friday night in the Class 1A-6A semifinals.

Breaking down the semifinals

Round 4 news, notes, schedule

Thirteen teams are still undefeated heading into Round 4. The most surprising semifinalist is Scottsboro in Class 5A. The Wildcats are the only unranked team remaining. They host Moody with a chance to reach the finals.

Here is how the AL.com experts pick this week’s semifinal games:

CLASS 6A

Benjamin Russell (12-1) at Saraland (12-0)

Ben Thomas: Saraland 35-28

Dennis Victory: Saraland 42-28

Randy Kennedy: Saraland 35-33

John Vella: Saraland 36-24

Gerhard Mathangani: Saraland 31-28

Simone Eli: Saraland 34-20

Thomas Ashworth: Saraland 41-39

Clay-Chalkville (13-0) at Muscle Shoals (12-0)

Ben Thomas: Clay-Chalkville 21-14

Dennis Victory: Clay-Chalkville 31-30

Randy Kennedy: Clay-Chalkville 17-14

John Vella: Clay-Chalkville 32-30

Gerhard Mathangani: Clay-Chalkville 35-28

Simone Eli: Clay-Chalkville 27-17

Thomas Ashworth: Muscle Shoals 24-23

CLASS 5A

Vigor (11-2) at Williamson (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Williamson 20-12

Dennis Victory: Williamson 19-18

Randy Kennedy: Williamson 22-21

John Vella: Williamson 27-18

Gerhard Mathangani: Williamson 24-23

Simone Eli: Vigor 23-17

Thomas Ashworth: Vigor 24-23

Moody (11-2) at Scottsboro (9-4)

Ben Thomas: Moody 42-21

Dennis Victory: Moody 38-21

Randy Kennedy: Moody 41-24

John Vella: Moody 31-28

Gerhard Mathangani: Moody 38-31

Simone Eli: Moody 30-16

Thomas Ashworth: Moody 37-28

CLASS 4A

Jackson (11-2) at St. Michael (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Jackson 41-34

Dennis Victory: Jackson 51-50

Randy Kennedy: Jackson 43-42

John Vella: Jackson 40-33

Gerhard Mathangani: St. Michael 28-27

Simone Eli: St. Michael 38-35

Thomas Ashworth: Jackson 38-37

Anniston (13-0) at Plainview (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Anniston 28-17

Dennis Victory: Anniston 22-21

Randy Kennedy: Anniston 30-20

John Vella: Plainview 24-16

Gerhard Mathangani: Plainview 27-24

Simone Eli: Anniston 28-20

Thomas Ashworth: Anniston 34-23

CLASS 3A

Southside-Selma (13-0) at Bayside Academy (12-1)

Ben Thomas: Bayside Academy 31-23

Dennis Victory: Bayside Academy 24-22

Randy Kennedy: Bayside Academy 31-27

John Vella: Bayside Academy 30-28

Gerhard Mathangani: Bayside Academy 21-17

Simone Eli: Bayside Academy 24-23

Thomas Ashworth: Bayside Academy 34-31

Piedmont (13-0) at Mars Hill (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Mars Hill 38-30

Dennis Victory: Mars Hill 28-21

Randy Kennedy: Mars Hill 34-33

John Vella: Mars Hill 36-32

Gerhard Mathangani: Mars Hill 28-27

Simone Eli: Mars Hill 31-28

Thomas Ashworth: Mars Hill 37-35

CLASS 2A

Reeltown (10-3) at Lanett (11-2)

Ben Thomas: Reeltown 21-16

Dennis Victory: Reeltown 28-27

Randy Kennedy: Reeltown 20-19

John Vella: Reeltown 27-21

Gerhard Mathangani: Lanett 21-18

Simone Eli: Reeltown 34-27

Thomas Ashworth: Reeltown 31-27

Coosa Christian (11-2) at Pisgah (11-2)

Ben Thomas: Coosa Christian 33-17

Dennis Victory: Coosa Christian 35-28

Randy Kennedy: Coosa Christian 37-30

John Vella: Coosa Christian 39-28

Gerhard Mathangani: Coosa Christian 27-24

Simone Eli: Coosa Christian 42-21

Thomas Ashworth: Coosa Christian 20-16

CLASS 1A

Leroy (13-0) at Maplesville (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Maplesville 35-27

Dennis Victory: Maplesville 28-14

Randy Kennedy: Maplesville 20-10

John Vella: Maplesville 35-24

Gerhard Mathangani: Maplesville 14-7

Simone Eli: Maplesville 21-14

Thomas Ashworth: Maplesville 24-6

Wadley (12-0) at Addison (12-1)

Ben Thomas: Wadley 41-28

Dennis Victory: Wadley 38-28

Randy Kennedy: Wadley 35-15

John Vella: Wadley 45-30

Gerhard Mathangani: Wadley 21-18

Simone Eli: Wadley 38-17

Thomas Ashworth: Wadley 38-24

STANDINGS

Last week, overall

Ben Thomas 16-4, 212-68

Dennis Victory 15-5, 211-69

Randy Kennedy 14-6, 210-70

John Vella 15-5, 207-73

Gerhard Mathangani 13-7, 202-78

Simone Eli 16-4, 200-80

Thomas Ashworth 17-3, 198-82

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Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide Demolish The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels At The Players Era Festival

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2025

Press Room

Alabama Crimson Tide Demolish The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels At The Players Era Festival

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball team got crushed on Tuesday night by the No. 8-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. They lost by a final score of 115 – 76. This one was never really all that competitive. UNLV was down 15 at halftime and then allowed the Crimson Tide to shoot 63.6% from the field and 50% from three in the second half. The Rebs drop to 3 – 4 after the loss, while Alabama climbs to 4 – 2. Rebels’ head coach Josh Pastner spoke with the media about the loss after the game.

“Alabama is really good,” Pastner said. “As limited as we are and as small as we are right now, without our front-court guys, it was going to be an uphill battle from the start. They made some great shots, and we struggled to score. We just don’t have an inside presence right now. Tyrin (Jones) is a freshman playing our five spot, and he’s really a three/four. Doing that against an SEC team, one of the best teams in the country, makes it tough. We need to get healthy. We will put this behind us and get ready for a very good Rutgers team on Thursday.”

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn was the Rebels’ best player in this game. The junior guard led the team with 25 points, shooting 9 – 19 from the floor and 3 – 8 from beyond the three-point arc. He also chipped in with four rebounds, one assist, and three steals. Behind him in scoring was Issac Williamson, who put in 18 points of his own in the loss to the Crimson Tide.

Tyrin Jones led the team with six assists and had one of the Rebels’ two blocks. Kimani Hamilton was the team’s top rebounder with five, and he also chipped in with 13 points and four assists.

Alabama had six players in double figures, with junior guard Aden Holloway leading the team with 26 points. He made 9 – 14 from the field, 5 – 6 from three, and went 3 – 3 from the free-throw line. Holloway also chipped in with four rebounds and four assists. Aiden Sherrell led the Crimson Tide with eight rebounds, while Amari Allen led the team with six assists and two blocks.

The Runnin’ Rebels will be back in action on Thanksgiving when they take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

More UNLV Rebels On SI News

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Alabama

Alabama’s spot in latest CFP rankings revealed before Iron Bowl

Published

2 days ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Alabama’s spot in latest CFP rankings revealed before Iron Bowl

Alabama football remained No. 10 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings revealed Tuesday ahead of the Iron Bowl.

One more Tuesday rankings show remains before the rankings that actually decide the 12-team field are revealed Sunday, Dec. 7.

Alabama’s resume now includes wins over No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt and No. 19 Tennessee but losses to No. 8 Oklahoma and Florida State. Missouri is no longer ranked in the CFP top 25.

The Crimson Tide remains ranked behind No. 9 Notre Dame.

In the current rankings, Alabama would travel to face No. 7 seed Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi in the first round of the playoffs.

Alabama essentially finds itself in a playoff already, needing to beat Auburn on Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Iron Bowl to stay alive for a CFP spot. Lose, and Alabama has a 2% chance to make the field, per ESPN’s playoff predictor.

If Alabama wins the Iron Bowl, it will earn a spot in the SEC Championship Game. Win that game, and the Crimson Tide will lock up one of the automatic bids for the CFP. Lose the conference title game, though, and things are far from certain. ESPN’s playoff predictor gives the Crimson Tide a 59% chance to make the playoff in that scenario.