>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THIS WAS THE 15TH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 30-DAY REGULAR SESSION.

THAT MEANS WE ARE HALFWAY FINISHED AND LAWMAKERS DON'T APPEAR TO BE SLOWING DOWN IN THIS ELECTION YEAR SESSION.

LET'S RUN THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE HOUSE.

TURN IT WAS HIGHER EDUCATION DAY HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

COLLEGE STUDENTS GATHERED AT THE STATE HOUSE TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

THE DAY INCLUDED A PARADE WITH MARCHING BANDS, A RALLY ON THE STATE HOUSE STEPS AND A BARBEQUE LUNCH FOR LAWMAKERS AND STAFF.

THE DAY OFFERS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE ON ONE WITH LAWMAKERS AND ENGAGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

SEVERAL STATE LEADERS SPOKE TO THE GROUP URGING THE COLLEGE STUDENTS COME HOME TO ALABAMA LATER IN THEIR CAREERS.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

>> I.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF EDUCATION.

WHICH IS WHY AS GOVERNOR I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED FUNDING OUR POWERS OF EDUCATION.

AND EACH OF YOU TODAY IS DOING YOUR PART TO HELP ALABAMA'S HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS THRIVE AND GROW.

>> MY CHALLENGE IS THIS: COME BACK TO ALABAMA!

YOU CAN GO OFF TO CHARLOTTE.

YOU CAN GO TO ATLANTA.

YOU CAN GO TO NEW YORK OR L.A. ORR WHEREVER YOU WANT TO AFTER YOU GRADUATE.

BUT COME BACK TO THIS STATE.

AND THE REASON IS: WE NEED YOU.

WE NEED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

OUR WORLD IS CHANGING.

THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY IS GROWING.

A LOT OF THE OLD SCHOOL MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE GOING AWAY, AND WE NEED HIGHLY EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS TO COME BACK AND ADMIT TO OUR STATE.

>> IT WAS ALSO MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

A JOINT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS CALLED TO HONOR ALABAMIANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES.

LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM GENERAL DONNIE WALKER OF THE U.S. ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND.

>> WHAT MAKES THIS STATE SO SPECIALIST THAT THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE FAMILY, OR IT'S NOT JUST ONE AT A TIME COUNTY OR ONE PART THE STATE THAT RAISES THEIR RIGHT HAND AT THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.

IT'S THE WHOLE STATE.

IT'S THE WHOLE STATE.

IT'S THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

ALABAMA, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS, IS KNOWN ACROSS THE NATION -- TRAVEL ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES ABROAD AND HOWEVER MANY YEARS -- IN THE MILITARY IT IS WELL RENOWNED AND RANKS AS A MILITARY-FRIENDLY STATE, A PATRIOTIC STATE.

>> ONTO LEGISLATIVE ACTION, THE SENATE PASSED THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET TODAY.

THE $2.7 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS THE LARGEST IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

IT FULLY FUNDS MEDICAID, MENTAL HEALTH, THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND OTHER NON- EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS.

SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON, WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE, SAID THE STATE IS SEEING THE BENEFITS OF CHANGES TO THE WAY THE GENERAL FUND COLLECTS AND SPENDS REVENUE.

>> WHEN YOU GET TWO OR THREE BUDGET ESTIMATES FROM THE EBO AND LSA AND -- WE TOOK THE LOWEST NUMBER.

OKAY?

THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE DO IT.

WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE ECONOMY, THE GROWING ECONOMY OF ALABAMA IS A FACTOR THERE.

PEOPLE SPEND MORE, IT COMES IN.

BUT IT WASN'T JUST THESE PAST TWO YEARS.

IF YOU LOOK BACK EVEN FURTHER YOU WILL SEE IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS -- I HAVE BEEN HERE NOW THIS IS MY 4TH YEAR IN THIS, AND EVERY YEAR HAS BEEN MORE.

THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE NOT JUST TO THE STIMULUS THAT HAS COME IN, WHICH IS PARTLY THERE, ESSENTIALLY, BUT ALSO FROM THE EVENTS THAT WE MADE TO FOLKS BEFORE US THAT MADE THE HARD CHOICES AND CHANGES TO BRING IN >> THE HOUSE PASSED A MEASURE THAT SEEKS TO REMOVE RACIST LANGUAGE FROM ALABAMA'S 1901 CONSTITUTION.

THE AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD GO BEFORE VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER, WOULD STRIP LANGUAGE ON SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, POLL TAXES AND OTHER RACIST ITEMS THAT REMAIN IN THE DOCUMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN INVALIDATED BY THE COURTS.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID REMOVING THIS LANGUAGE WOULD BE A POSITIVE STEP FOR THE STATE.

IS.

>> AS YOU THINK, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE CLIMBING UP THE CONSTITUTION AND THE WORDING IN IT AND I THINK THIS WILL MOVE US FORWARD WITH HELPING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

THERE'S SOME RACIST TERMINOLOGY IN THERE AND THIS IS GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT I WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THIS PAST-YEAR, SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

>> ONE ISSUE TO WATCH AS THE SESSION HITS ITS MIDWAY POINT IS WHAT LAWMAKERS WILL DO TO THE LITERACY ACT, AND SPECIFICALLY THE PROVISION THAT WOULD STOP THIRD GRADE STUDENTS FROM BEING PROMOTED TO FOURTH GRADE IF THEY CAN'T READ PROFICIENTLY.

UNDER CURRENT LAW, THAT WOULD START THIS SPRING.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND MOST REPUBLICANS FAVOR A ONE-YEAR DELAY OF THE HOLDBACK PROVISION IN ORDER ALLOW FOR MORE TESTING DATA.

BUT SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM IS MAKING AN AGGRESSIVE PUSH FOR A TWO-YEAR DELAY SAYING IT'S NOT FAIR TO HOLD BACK STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE ISSUE COULD COME TO A HEAD IN THE LAST HALF OF THE SESSION.

THE SPEAKER ALSO ADDRESSED THAT.

>> ON THE RACE ISSUE, THAT DELAY IS WHAT'S KEY.

AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE GOT, I THINK, WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR AS TO WHETHER IT'S ONE YEAR OR TWO YEARS.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT IT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PRODUCING GOOD RESULTS.

AND THE TRAINING AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM WILL START IMMEDIATELY.

NOW, THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE AT WHAT POINT IN ADVERTISEMENT DO WE GRADE THE STUDENTS?

>> I'LL SPEAK IN MORE DETAIL WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS, WHO AUTHORED THE LITERACY ACT, WHEN WE COME BACK.

>>> NEXT I'M JOIN BY TERRY COLONEL LIPS OF DERARITY.

>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR ASKING ME.

>> YOU PASSED A WILL ON THE FLOOR LAST NIGHT, THE LITERACY BILL THAT UPDATES THE ALABAMA LITERACY BILL THAT PASSED IN 2019.

WALK ME THROUGH WHEN THE THIS DOES.

>> IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING PROCESS AS WE WALKED THROUGH AND WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH IT BUT WE ALSO LEARNED LESSONS AS YOU DO WITH ALL LESSONS.

SO THERE WERE TWEAKS WE WANTED TO DO TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS.

IN 2019 WE WERE SETTING UP A LITERACY TASK FORCE AND A READING COMMITTEE.

THEY WEREN'T IN POLICE STATION GET.

NOW, THEY'RE IN PLACE AND DOING AMAZING WORK.

SO WE REASSIGNED SOME OF THE AUTHORITY TO SOME OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS FOR WHAT THEY WERE MEANT TO DO.

SCHOOL BOARD DOES APPROVALS, THE SUPERINTENDENT -- WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THE TASK FORCE SO WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF TRANSFERS MEMBERS.

THE GOVERNOR GETS FOUR PICKS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION GETS THREE.

WE MADE SEVERAL CHANGES LIKE THAT.

WE CLASSIFIED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, LIKE DYSLEXIA, COUNSEL WANTED SOME ADMISSIONS, TASK FORCE, ALMOST EVERYTHING HAD SMALL TECHNICAL TYPE CHANGES THAT CLARIFIED THINGS THAT HELPED US BE CONSISTENT ALL ACROSS THE STATE STATED.

AND NOT HEARING DIFFERENT MESSAGES.

THE MAIN CHANGES THOSE ARE IN THE GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTIONS.

>> IF YOU'RE IN AN IE PERFORMANCE AND YOU DON'T EVEN TAKE THE CERTIFICATE TEST YOU ARE COMPLETELY INCLUDED FROM THIS BILL.

WE CHANGED IT THEN TO THREE GOOD CAUSE.

WE WERE ABLE AS A STATE TO GET A FEDERAL WAIVER TO NOT COUNT ENGLISH LEARNERS UNTIL THEY HAS BEEN LEARNING THREE YEARS UNTIL TWO SO WE CHANGED THAT IN THE BILL.

WE CHANGED A SIMPLE AND TO AN OR BUT IT'S VERY CRITICAL IN THAT BEFORE YOU HAD TO HAVE HAD BY 3RD GRADE TWO YEARS AGO OF INTERVENTION TO HELP YOU LEARN TO READS.

AND BE RETAINED 81 YEAR.

WHERE WE CHANGED THAT TO ALONE "OR" SO THAT IF YOU HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF INTERVENTION AND YOU'RE TIP TOO LONG GET THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE RETAINED ONE GEAR SO MORE FLEXIBILITY.

>> MORE FLEXIBILITY.

AND THOSE WERE THE MAIN CHANGES.

IT WAS NEVER INTENDED DOOR STUDENT TO BE HELD BACK IN 3RD GRADE EVER.

WE JUST BASICALLY SAY THAT NOW.

YOU KNOW, THAT THEY MIGHT BE RETAINED ONE TIME BUT IT WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR THEM TO BE HELD BACK TWICE.

>> I SEE.

OKAY.

>> SO A LOT OF THAT WAS CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, BUT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT CLARIFYING LANGUAGE AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE OPEN THE BILL BACK UP AND WORK WITH IT.

>> YOU ALSO WHEN WE WERE SPEAKINGS ON THE FLOOR, YOU, YOU SHARED ENCOURAGING BE IN URS FROM THE EARLY STAGES OF THE LATE RACE ACT?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO.

THE LITERACY ACT GIVERS A LOOK A THE LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

WE TALK ABOUT 5 PERCENT.

THAT'S ABOUT 52 SCHOOLS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, EVEN DURING TWO YEARS OF COVID, EVEN WITH A VERY MUCH, MUCH MORE RIGOROUS TEST, 37 OF THOSE 52 SCHOOLS MOVED OUT OF THE BOTTOM 5 PERCENT SO THEY'RE MOVING UP.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE A LOWEST 5 PERCENT, BUT THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE THAT LOWEST 5 PERCENT IMPROVED.

THE OTHER THINGS THAT I SHARED THAT I THOUGHT WERE GREAT ON THE MORE RIGOROUS TESTS THAT WE HAD FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 2021 LAST-YEAR, RESULTS COME BACK IN FOUR SECTIONS FOR A -- FOUR QUADRANTS AND THE LOWEST LEVEL, QUADRANT ONE, LEVEL ONE, EVEN WITH THE MORE RIGOROUS TEST, EVEN AFTER TWO YEARS OF COVID WE HAD FEW EVER STUDENTS IN LEVEL ONE THAN WE HAD HAD BEFORE WITH THE EASIER TEST SO STUDENTS ARE MOVING UP EVEN THROUGH COVID WHICH IS EXCITING.

AND THE GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS, WHICH YOU HAVE, WORKING TO AUXILLARY TEACHERS IN OUR K-3 CLASSROOMS I STAY STARTED LOOKING AND I HAD NUMBERS PULLED.

THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE 50 PERCENT OR MORE IN THAT LOWEST QUARTILE, THE MORE FILING NEWS WAS THAT THE 1ST GROUP I LOOKED AT WAS OVER 200.

AND I'M JUST DEVASTATED AND THINKING WHO HAS STIFFER?

BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

THAT WAS FOR THE OTHER BILL.

THEN I REALIZED OH, THESE ARE OUR MATH SCORES.

AND WE HAVE THINGS THIS YEAR TO IMPROVE IT.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THOSE THAT HAD 50 PERCENT OR MORE IN THE LOWEST QUART TILE FOR LANGUAGE ARTS, FROM 200 SOMETHING, THERE ARE FOUR SCHOOLS.

AND THEY'RE REALLY AT 50 PERCENT.

THEY'RE NOT AT 75 AND 100 PERCENT.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE LAST THREE YEARS AGO IN WORKING.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS NOT ONLY IS LITERACY IMPROVING ACROSS THE STATE, EVEN DURING COVID, BUT IF WE WILL CONCENTRATE AND FOCUS WITH COACHES AND GOOD PROFILE INVESTMENT AND ALL OF THE THING THAT WE LEARN FROM LITERACY, ON MATH, WE CAN COULD THE SAME THING.

SO I'M EXTREMELY ENCOURAGED.

>> THAT IS ENCOURAGING.

>> SO DURING THE FLORIDA DEBATE -- SURGERY THE FLOOR DEBATE THE DELAY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE BILL.

I WANT TO GET CLARITY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DELAYING THE HOLD BACK PROVISION OF THE LAW.

THE GOVERNOR SAID ONE YEAR.

WHICH YOU AGREED WITH, THAT WAS IN YOUR BILL.

SENATOR SMITHERMAN SAID THREE YEARS.

AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO TWO YEARS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS BUT YOU DECIDED TO REMOVE OR AGREE TO REMOVE THAT DELAY PORTION FROM YOUR BILL.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE DAY?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, SENATOR SMITHERMAN FELT STRONG ACT THE RETENTION PIECE.

I MET WITH HIM SEVERAL TIMES LAST WEEK.

WE TALKED IT OVER AND WE MET WITH LEADERSHIP, AND WE MET WITH HOUSES AND SENATE AND GOVERNOR BENTLEY'S OFFERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WE ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT JUST WHAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET PASSED BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD BUT IF YOU CAN'T PASS IT THROUGH THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND SO WANTING TO -- MY PRIORITIES WERE THE CHANGES IN THE BILL.

AND I HAD A ONE-YEAR DELAY.

RIGHT NOW, SENATOR SMITHERMAN WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE DELAY IN HIS BILL.

THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE IN HIS BILL.

SO I THINK THAT THE PLAN IS THAT WE WILL MOVE MY BILL THROUGH SENATE NEXT WEEK AND HIS BILL WILL BE IN MY COMMITTEE NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THEN WE WILL MOVE THE CHANGES IN THE SENATE AND MAKE POSSIBLY THE SAME DAY AND THEN VOTE ON THAT DELAY YEAR.

>> WHAT DO YOU SENSE FROM THE CAUCUS?

BECAUSE -- YOU'RE RIGHT, IT ULTIMATELY HAS TO PASS THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I MEAN THE REPUBLICANS THAT I TALKED TO AGREE WITH YOU AND WITH THE GOVERNOR THAT ONE YEAR IS BETTER THAN A TWO YEARS DELAY.

WHAT DO YOU SENSE FROM THE CAUCUS?

DO YOU SENSE THEM WANTING TO AMEND IT OR GO BACK TO ONE YEAR OR IS IT A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, PICKING A FIGHT WITH SENATOR SMITH ARE MAN.

>> I THINK IT IS KIND OF THAT AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY WILL LAND ON THAT.

I WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

I -- THERE ARE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THOUGHT MY WILT HAD A TWO-YEAR DELAY AND PLANNED TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

>> BECAUSE IT WAS TWO YEARS.

>> BECAUSE IT WAS TWO YEARS NOT ONE.

AND I'M LIKE, WELL, ACTUALLY WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE THE ONE YEAR ROUTE.

MY BILL IS GOING TO HAVE IT LIKE -- CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT -- ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING ALL OF THE POSITIVE RESULTS.

SO -- BUT THE PLAN SO TO KNEW THE COLLINS -- I MEAN I THINK I HAVE GOT 35 CO-SPONSORS.

SO A LOT OF WORK THAT BILL THROUGH THE SENATE NEXT WEEK.

AND THEN SENATOR SMITHERMAN WILL BE WORKING HIS BILL THROUGH THE HOUSE.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WILL SEE WHAT WE HAVE THE VOTES TO DO.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME NOW BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK ONCE ALL OF THESE BILLS GET WORKED OUT TO COME AND TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

>> GLAD TOO.

THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> IT'S HIGHER ED DAY HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE AND I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY GORDON STONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHER EXCHANGE PARTNERSHIP.

MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE HERE.

WHAT A GRAY DAY HIGHER EDUCATION IS EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS MANY YEARS AS YOU KNOW.

IT'S BEEN FUN EVERY TIME BUT IT'S ALSO EXCITING TO KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE VOICES FROM OUR CAMPUSES ARE HERE TELLING THEIR STORY, MIKING SURE OUR LEGISLATORS KNOW EXACTLY WHY WE ARE DOING THIS AND HOW IMPORTANT OUR UNITED STATES ARE.

>> WELL, HIGHER ED DAY IS ALWAYS SUCH A MEMORABLE EVENT AT THE STATEHOUSE.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE BARBECUE LUNCH AND THE -- PROBABLY THE LOUDEST RALLY THAT THERE IS EVERY YEAR.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT -- I KNOW FOR YOUR MEMBERS AND FOR STUDENTS.

WHAT WAS YOUR MESSAGE THIS YEAR TO LAWMAKERS?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE ONCE WE'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BATTLE OVER EDUCATION FUNDING THE WAY WE USED TOO WHEN IT WAS PA SMALL AMOUNT AND ALL OF THE EDUCATION ENTITIES WERE JUST GETTING ENOUGH TO SURVIVE.

NOW WE HAVE HAD GOOD BUDGETS AND THAT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE THING.

BUT IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO REMIND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT, WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT BUDGETING AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE LINE ITEMS ON THAT SPREADSHEET THAT IT'S NOT JUST A NUMBER, THAT IT IS ACTUAL LIVES.

WE LIKE TO BELIEVE AND WE UNDERSTAND AND CAN VALIDATE WITH MANY, MANY DIFFERENT FACTUAL STORIES, THAT OUR INVESTMENT HELPS CHANGE LIVES.

IT HELPS IMPROVE OUR STATED, FROM OUR HOSPITALS TO OUR BRIDGES TO THE CLASSROOMS IN OUR SCHOOL AND OUR FINANCIAL OFFICERS DAY CARE TO ALTHOUGH OF MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING EVERY DAY TO MAKE ALABAMA A BETTER PLACE.

OUR STUDENTS REPRESENT THAT.

THEY REPRESENT WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN OUR STATE.

WE VERY OVER A THOUSAND OF THEM THAT COME DOWN.

AND EYEBALL TO EYEBALL, YOU KNOW, FROM THEIR VOICE TO THE LEGISLATORS' THEY TELL THOSE STORIES.

>> IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU SEE THAT.

I REMEMBER BEING INVOLVED IN HIGHER ED DAY AND ISSUES WHEN I WAS AT AUBURN.

IT WAS ALWAYS MY BELIEF THAT THE MORE THAT THE LAWMAKERS GET TO SEE FIRSTHAND -- MELT FIRSTHAND, NOT VIA EMAIL OR NOT VIA, YOU KNOW, LETTER, BUT 1ST HAND, THESE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THE BETTER OFF THAT THE MESSAGE WILL SET.

I'M GUESSING THAT'S STILL TRUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WAS FORMED 250 YEARS AGO WITH ONE GOAL -- THAT IS BRING THE CONSTITUENTS OF OUR PUBLIC UNIT UNIVERSITIES TOGETHER AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE STORIES ABOUT THE VALUE AND HELP ENRICH THE CAPACITIES OF OUR INSTITUTIONS TO FURL FILL THEIR VERY IMPORTANT MISSIONS.

SO WE BRING THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR VALUE SETS THAT WE HAVE OBJECT OR OUR CAMPUSES.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE'RE THE LARGEST INDUSTRY IN ALABAMA.

OVER 20 PARKING LOT DOLLARS IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT.

OVER 12 -- FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE LEGISLATURE INVESTS IN OUR CONSTITUTION WE HAVE A $12 RETURN.

SO WHEN YOU TALKS ABOUT THAT -- THAT PART OF WHAT UNIVERSITIES MEAN AND YOU HEAR IT FROM THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT'S A VERY, VERY POWERFUL MESSAGE.

>> I ALSO REMEMBER YEARS AND YEARS AGO, THERE SEEMED TO BE KIND OF SOME BAD BLOOD BETWEEN K-12 AND HIGHER ED STRUGGLING OVER THOSE NUMBERS.

LIKE YOU SAID FINITE RESOURCE EVERYTHING.

IS THAT THE CASE ANYMORE?

>> IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF US TO MAKE OUR CASE AND EXPLAIN WHY, WE WHEN WE SAY PRE-K THROUGH PH.D., EACH PART NEEDS TO BE TREATED WITH EQUITABLE IMPORTANCE.

THAT MESSAGE HAS NOT CHANGED BUT THE BATTLE OVER THOSE SMALL AMOUNTS OF GROWTH IN THE BUDGET HAS NO, SIR BEEN OF NOT BEEN THE CASE.

AND WE GO BACK TO THE PARTNERSHIP HAD SOME REAL BATTLES IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS.

BUT REALLY SINCE ABOUT THE MID-'80S, TO THE MID 2000'S TO NOW, WE HAVE SEEN THAT BUDGET SITUATION MORE FLUID AND BETTER FOR A ALTHOUGH OF US FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO NOT AS MUCH.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THE VALUE.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THE PERSONAL STORY.

IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT THESE STUDENTS WANT TO STAY IN ALABAMA.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THEM FIND THE KIND OF JOBS THAT COMPETE WITH OTHER STATES?

HOW CAN WE AS A STATE, WITH POLICY AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING WORKING WITH THE INNOVATION CORPORATION AND RETAIN ALABAMA.

THE THINGS THE PARTNERSHIP IS INVOLVED IN, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT SO THAT OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST WANT TO BE HERE AND SET UP THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS HERE IN ALABAMA?

>> WELL, YOU TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH.

THAT WAS MYSELF NEXT QUESTION.

BECAUSE AS GRADE GREAT OF THE UNIVERSITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE PROBLEM OF THE SO-CALLED BRAIN DRAIN, OF FOLKS GOING TO BIGGER CITIES AND THINKS LIKE THAT WHICH IS FINE.

YOU WANT TEAM PURSUE THAT HE REMEMBER DREAMS.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM.

WE LOVE FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HERE IN ALABAMA.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THE INNOVATION COMMISSION AND OTHERS ARE WORKING ON?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS IS HAVING THE STUDENT VOICE IN THE MIX WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT SOME OF THE SNIFF PROBLEMS BUT PLACE.

ONE OF THE EXCITING ASPECTS OF THAT IS THE REALIZATION THAT IF WE CAN KEEP THOSE PEOPLE HERE WE CAN STARTED CHANGING SOME OF OUR FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR ECONOMY.

OUR ECONOMY RIGHT NOW STRUGGLES TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO SOME OF THE MORE HIGH-PAYING, HIGH-TECH JOBS THAT MANY OTHER STATES ARE NOW DRAWING TO BOLT CENTER THEIR ECONOMIES.

LOOK AT THIS SIMMER STAT.

20 PERCENT OF OUR WORKFORCE HAS A FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 34 PERCENT.

THAT IS A DIFFERENT IN US AND THE OTHER STATES.

PER CAPITA WE'RE 46TH IN THE NATION.

IF YOU CAN'T BRING IN THE KIND OF JOBS THAT DEMAND THOSE KIND OF EMPLOYEES THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HIGHER PAVE SCALE WHICH ULTIMATELY FEEDS BACK INTO A EDUCATION BUDGET BUILT ON SAILS AND INCOME TAX.

SO W THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH THE STUDENT RETENTION COUNSEL THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS SAYING HEY, GUYS, THESE STUDENTS WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

WE JUST HAVE TO CREATE THE JOBS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND IF YOU WOULD FILLING AND WANT TO TAKE HERE IN OUR STATE.

AND WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT RECRUITING THEM.

CHANGING THE WORKFORCE DYNAMIC.

AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE STATE AND I COMMEND GOVERNOR IVEY AND THE WHOLE TEAM FOR BRINGING IN MANY JOBS AND MANY ARE MANUFACTURING BASED NOW WE'RE SEE NOTHING EMPHASIZE OF EMPHASIS ON THE KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DIGITAL WORLD THAT WE NOW LIVE IN.

HOW DO WE DO THAT AND SYNCH THAT WITH THE UNIVERSITIES.

WITHOUT THE 14 CAMPUSES AND THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

HUNTSVILLE, LOOK AT THE AMAZING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REDSTONE AND ALL OF THOSE CORPORATIONS IN THE CUMMINGS RESEARCH PARK AND UAH AND ALABAMA SAM AND LOOK AT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, UAB, AUBURN, ALL OF THE REGIONAL CAMPUSES -- JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO IMPROVE THOSE ECONOMIES AROUND THEM.

THE 12 COUNTIES WHERE OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE LOCATED EMPLOY OVER 1.5 MILLION ALABAMIANS.

IN A STATE THAT HAS 4.8 MILLION PEOPLE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR ECONOMIES ARE STRONG WHERE OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE SAYING LET'S LOOK ANOTHER THAT, STUDY THAT MODEL, LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS, BUILD ECONOMIES THROUGHOUT THE STATED, AND BECAUSE I GET THE GIFT OF THE BLESSING TO WORK AS A MAYOR I CAN HELP UNDERSTAND HOW MUNICIPALITIES THINK.

SO WE'RE FRYING TO BUILD A LINK TO SOME OF THOSE AREAS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP US GROW THOSE NEW JOBS.

>> WELL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON AND SHARING ALL OF THAT WITH US.

>> WELL, IT'S EXCITING.

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FOR COMING AND THE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR SUPPORTS AND THANK YOU FOR TO THE MASCOTS AND THE BANDS.

IT'S GEORGIA GREAT DAY BUT IT'S IMPORTANT ON SHOWS LIKE THIS AND SHARE THE STORY.

OUR LEGISLATORS ARE LISTENING AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

ONE THING I WILL SAY IN CLOSING.

WHEN YOU HAVE 60 PERCENT OF STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH DEBT, THAT FUNDING ISSUE HAS NOT GONE AWAY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE EQUITABLE FUNDING AND EQUITY KICKABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN ALABAMA.

I LIKE TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

IF YOU KNOW A 3RD GRADER, DOES THAT 3RD GRADERS BELIEVE THEY CAN GO TO COLLEGE?

WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO OR NOT, WE WANT EVERY 3RD GRADER IN ALABAMA TO BELIEVE THEY CAN.

>> A GRATE MESSAGE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON TO SHARE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR OUR "WEEK IN REVIEW" AT 7:30 HERE ON APT.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.