On Monday, the Legislature's special session on education came to a grinding halt after nearly two weeks of filibusters and unsuccessful bargaining efforts.
Tough choices are ahead for state leaders, judges and school systems.
That fund has existed for years, but legislators have been allowed to redirect the money for other purposes. The amendment died late Monday night when many legislators walked out as the House of Representatives was voting on the issue. Paul Hubbert, of the Alabama Education Association, lobbied against the amendment stating that the legislation would destroy the state's goal of raising teacher salaries to the national average. A bill that would give more flexibility to local school boards in allocation of funding died in conference committee Monday night. A similar bill is pending in the regular legislative session that provides flexibility in certain circumstances.