BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Gov. Kay Ivey has proclaimed this week as Public Schools Week in Alabama, highlighting recent academic gains and continued investment in the state’s public education system.
The proclamation coincides with National Public Schools Week and comes as Alabama has approved record education budgets, increased teacher pay and reported improved national rankings in reading and math.
“Every child deserves a high-quality education, and every teacher deserves the right training and support. Together, Alabama’s students and teachers are proving that by focusing on the fundamentals of education and by working hard in the classroom, we can unlock a promising future for every child and for our state,” Ivey said.
Today, @GovernorKayIvey officially proclaimed this week as Public Schools Week in Alabama!
All week long, we’ll celebrate the historic gains made by students and educators across the state. Together, we’re building a stronger Alabama. #WeTeachAlabama #ALPublicSchoolsWeek pic.twitter.com/D2SLZlk4jw
— Alabama State Department of Education (@AlabamaAchieves) February 23, 2026
Ivey, who serves as president of the state school board, has championed educational improvement since taking office in 2017, when she launched her “Strong Start, Strong Finish” initiative. Since then, public education has seen record budgets and investments in supports for teachers and students.
Ivey’s Turnaround Schools Initiative, which provides school and community support through multiple state agencies for 15 chronically underperforming, high-poverty schools statewide, has shown success, with students in those schools improving at twice the statewide rate of growth.
On Tuesday, Ivey recognized Birmingham’s Booker T. Washington K-8 School for its significant academic improvement. She showcased the school’s students during her State of the State address this year, pointing out the school’s report card grade rose from a ‘D’ in 2019 to a ‘B’ in 2025.
On Wednesday, Ivey highlighted Alabama’s Teacher of the Year Katie Collins becoming a finalist for 2026 National Teacher of the Year. Collins is a first-grade teacher at Hoover’s Bluff Park Elementary School and is one of five finalists nationwide.
Teachers have received pay raises in six of the eight budgets Ivey has signed since taking office.
“In Alabama, we support our teachers – and that includes meaningful pay raises and stronger benefits. When we invest in our teachers, we invest in our students – and when our students succeed, Alabama succeeds,” Ivey said.
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Ivey has also celebrated National School Choice Week in January and championed the CHOOSE Act, which gives students opportunities to use state taxpayer funding to attend a participating private school or to homeschool.
On Thursday, Ivey issued a proclamation celebrating Home Education Day.
A review of past proclamations shows Ivey has not previously designated Public Schools Week in Alabama.
Communications Director Gina Maiola said the celebration of public schools was important to the governor this year.
“There has never been a better time for education in Alabama than now under Governor Ivey’s leadership,” Maiola said in a text to Alabama Daily News. “The governor is proud to celebrate our public schools and their historic gains, moving from the bottom to the top 30 in reading and math. As Governor Ivey often says, we are not just a football state; Alabama is an education state.”