Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter has formally appointed outgoing State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) to the Alabama Charter School Commission.
Ledbetter announced the appointment Friday, which will continue the public service of the longtime longtime education policymaker.
“I am proud to appoint Rep. Collins to serve on the Alabama Charter Commission at a time when conservative leadership is needed most,” Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said.
“Simply put, Rep. Collins’ understanding of education policy is second to none, and given the fact that she was the architect behind the law establishing the Alabama Charter School Commission, there is no one I have more confidence in to ensure that this entity is performing its duties to a standard Alabamians can be proud of.”
Collins, a Republican first elected in 2010, is concluding a 16-year tenure in the Alabama House that included serving as chair of the House Education Policy Committee. During that time, she played a central role in shaping education legislation and broader policy initiatives.
“I am grateful to Speaker Ledbetter for appointing me to serve in this important capacity,” Collins said.
“I take a great deal of pride in the fact that I helped establish Alabama’s Charter School Program and deliver real educational choices to parents across the state. There are many charters doing incredible things in Alabama, but there are also several that are struggling to meet quality learning standards. My goal as a member is to ensure that every charter school is held to the highest standards of accountability, so that we preserve the integrity of the program and deliver on the promise of quality education for every student,” Collins added.
The Alabama Charter School Commission is responsible for authorizing and overseeing charter schools statewide, including evaluating performance and ensuring compliance with state standards.
During her time in the Legislature, Collins sponsored several high-profile measures, including the Human Life Protection Act, the Alabama Literacy Act, the School Choice and Student Opportunity Act establishing charter schools, Erin’s Law addressing child sexual abuse education, and the Alabama College and Career Readiness Act.
