The Business Education Alliance of Alabama (BEA), with PARCA as its research partner, has released its 2026 report, HIGHER EXPECTATIONS SET AND MET: A Decade of Improving Public Education and Workforce for a Better Alabama.

The 2026 report highlights the major recommendations of each BEA report since its first one in 2014 plus the Commission on Teaching and Learning report chaired by BEA President Dr. Joe Morton as outlined in Governor Kay Ivey’s 2023 Executive Order.

Governor Kay Ivey remarked on all BEA reports, “My administration has utilized each BEA report to help us present to the Alabama Legislature my recommendations for improving student success, enhancing the teaching profession, increasing the high school graduation rate, including being college and career ready, and improving workforce development. I highly value the work of the BEA.”

The 2026 BEA report reviews 24 programs and/or initiatives with respect to Legislative funding and accountability results. Some examples from the BEA report include:

– Career Coaches in high school schools-2014, no program and no funding/2026, all high schools served at $16 million annually

– Reading Initiative – 2014, $48m/2026, $152 million

– Career Tech Initiative-2014, $3m/ 2026, $39 million

– Dual Enrollment-2014, $0/2026, $44 million

– After School-2014 $0/2026, $17 million.

Morton said, “The BEA expresses its thanks to its Partners who made each report possible and we additionally express our gratitude to Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature for reading the reports, asking serious questions and annually funding key programs and initiatives that improve student academic success and workforce development.”

Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Joe Morton, BEA President (morton.joe72@gmail.com); Jay Love, BEA Vice President (JayLoveconsulting@mail.com) or to Thomas Spencer, PARCA Senior Research Associate (thomas@parcalabama.org).

View the full report below or click here for the PDF version.