Over the summer, Alabama schools and families will adjust to more than a dozen new education laws passed during this year’s session.

Lawmakers updated and created a statewide cellphone ban, teacher benefits, more diploma pathways, safety updates and a record $12.1 billion education budget package that includes expanded funding for student needs.

State education officials will meet in June to discuss any new rules they’ll need to make to ensure districts are compliant and that new funding is distributed correctly.

Here’s a look at what passed and what to expect when classes start back:

Banning cell phones

Starting this fall, students will have to turn their cellphones and any other wireless communication devices off and stow them away during the school day.

Some school districts already have similar cellphone rules. The law, called the FOCUS Act, requires all school systems to adopt an official policy limiting cellphone use by July 1.

Phones may be used during emergencies or for learning purposes. Students with disabilities or who receive other support services may be exempt if noted in their individualized education or health plans.

The law also requires the state to develop a digital course on the risks of using social media and safe internet usage.

New courses, high school diploma options

The upcoming class of 2026 will be the first to graduate under new rules that require students to meet at least one “college and career readiness” indicator, such as taking a dual enrollment course or a career tech class.

Students also soon will have more pathways to get a high school diploma.

A new Workforce Pathway option, approved last year, is now available for students who want to build career and technical skills. The pathway limits the amount of science and math credits students must take and allows students to substitute those with CTE courses.

Starting this fall, the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act will allow students who have dropped out of high school to receive a nontraditional diploma by taking courses at a local community college. The act also requires the state department of education to identify school districts with the lowest graduation rates and help them come up with programs to help target struggling students.

Students who earn a nontraditional diploma are eligible for admission to any two- or four-year college in the state.

The legislature also approved an accelerated diploma option, called the Move On When Ready Act, as well as a new requirement for schools to provide a “success sequence” curriculum that coaches students on the benefits of completing high school, maintaining a full-time job and waiting for marriage before having children. Those programs will not take effect until the 2026-27 school year.

Changes to school funding models

Students could see some expansions to programs and services aimed at English learners, students with disabilities and gifted students this year. Lawmakers approved a total of $163 million to go toward high-needs schools this fall, in addition to the main education budget of $9.9 billion.

The program, called the RAISE Act, is meant to help the state transition to a new student funding formula over time.

Starting in October 2025, some districts could get hundreds of dollars more per student to hire staff or expand programs meant for different student groups. In Albertville, for example, leaders plan to use some of that money to add more translators and English language resources.

Other notable budget items include expansions to afterschool, career tech and school choice programs.

Staff benefits, programs

Teachers won’t get raises this year. And after heated debate last year, retirees won’t see a cost-of-living increase.

Instead, however, education employees can expect new benefits like workers’ compensation and parental leave to take effect.

Starting in July, education employees will be eligible for up to eight weeks of parental leave after a birth, stillbirth, miscarriage or adoption of a child. Staff will start to receive workers’ compensation benefits by October 2026.

A large chunk of the state budget this year will cover health insurance rate increases, so education employees won’t have to pay a higher premium. Gov. Kay Ivey also signed a bill that aims to make it easier for the legislature to pay out future increases to retirement benefits.

Another law will streamline the paperwork that teachers have to fill out to comply with state literacy and numeracy laws, as well as other mandated programs. A committee will start work on an audit this year, but teachers will not see changes until the 2026-27 school year.

Administrators participating in the new Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act will also see some changes to that program. In an effort to focus on high-poverty schools, lawmakers narrowed the number of principals eligible for an additional $5,000 stipend from 1,200 schools to 420.

All principals and assistant principals are still eligible for an initial $5,000-$10,000 stipend if they complete the leadership development program.

School safety

Alabama passed a major school safety reform last year, which required schools to update their safety standards and systems and submit plans to the state.

A new law will require school superintendents to handle school bus safety complaints, relieving bus drivers of that responsibility.

Starting this year, private schools can also contract with police departments to employ school resource officers. The school will have to pay the officer’s full salary and benefits.

Sex-based terminology

Rep. Susan Dubose’s “What is a Woman” law will take effect in October. The law defines sex as determined at birth and prevents schools and other public agencies from collecting data inconsistent with the definition.

Several partisan bills aimed at restricting pronoun usage, expanding Alabama’s Don’t Say Gay law and banning drag shows in libraries were left on the table this year.