Bill would reward teachers for “American exceptionalism” training

Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, has pre-filed a bill that would provide a one-time $3,000 bonus for high school teachers who complete optional online civics training.  

Senate Bill 8 would establish a certification for completing coursework centered around promoting pride in the United States’ governing institutions and civic responsibilities.

SB8 would establish the American History and Civics Excellence Initiative within the Alabama Department of Education. The initiative would then develop an online course of study which American history and civics teachers may complete to receive the American History and Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement.

The bill reads that the course would include the study of, “The philosophical underpinnings of the American Republic and the root foundation of American exceptionalism.”

Other topics include, “The success of the United States and the success or failure of other nations’ governing philosophies to evaluate their past, present, and likely future effects,” as well as the merits of “civic pride” and regular participation in government.

The bill also says that coursework would detail citizens’ rights and responsibilities and “the process of advocating properly with government officials.”

SB8 states the Superintendent of Education will appoint a program director for the Civics Excellence Initiative, who will then be subject to approval by the Alabama Senate.

The bill is modeled after Florida legislation that, similarly, provides a one-time bonus and certification in exchange for competing civic pride-centered coursework.

The Florida curriculum was developed in partnership between the Florida Department of Education alongside scholars from conservative private university, Hillsdale College, and private Christian university, George Fox University, as well as the nonprofit Lou Frey Institute’s Florida Joint Center for Citizenship.

SB8 is not Allen’s only bill prefilled for 2025 focused on promoting patriotism in public education.

Allen has also sponsored Senate Bill 13, a bill proposing a constitutional amendment to require public schools to play the Star-Spangled Banner during school hours at least once a week.

Allen wrote how he hoped this legislation would promote civic pride, saying, “We are always only one generation away from losing our republic, and there is nothing more sacred or existential that we can do to perpetuate freedom at home and abroad than to instill a sense of duty in the next generation to take up and preserve the mantle of freedom.”

Allen sponsored bills similar to SB8 and SB13 during the 2024 legislative session, both of which died in committee.  

Allen was also the sponsor of the 2017 Memorial Preservation Act which sought to restrict removal of historical markers including Confederate monuments.

If passed, SB8 would go into effect starting Oct. 1, 2025.