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Earlier this week, the Alabama Legislature gave final approval to the Alabama Education Trust Fund budget. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Kay Ivey.

Gov. Ivey released the  following statement, following the Legislature’s action:

“Once again, we are making historic progress with Alabama’s education system. I am proud that this year’s 7.1 billion-dollar Education Trust Fund will be the largest investment in education in our state’s history. From expanding our First-Class Pre-K program to increasing access to high-speed internet, these funds are going to enable us to provide more learning opportunities for our youth. Additionally, I am very pleased that the Legislature supported my recommendation to give our teachers a much-deserved four percent pay raise for their hard work and dedication.

“Our students and educators deserve our best efforts, and the Alabama Legislature can be proud of the work they have done with this year’s budget. I applaud Rep. Bill Poole and Sen. Arthur Orr for their strong leadership as chairmen.

“By making this significant investment, we are proving to Alabamians we are serious about our commitment to our students’ educational development. Alabama will no longer be complacent, and this investment will help set us on the right track to revitalize our education system.”