Alabama lawmakers approve historic education spending and tax rebates.

Alabama lawmakers have approved a historic $8.8 billion education budget and $2.8 billion supplemental allocation, which will be distributed during the current budget year. The education budget will send K-12 education $6 billion, a $363 million or 4.4% increase, while higher education will receive $2.3 billion, a $140 million or 1.7% increase. The budget will fund 2% pay increases for K-12 teachers, a minimum pay scale for school support staff, and a $1,000 bonus for special education teachers. Lawmakers put an additional $50 million into math and science initiatives and an additional $30 million into child care and after school resources.