My plan for improving Alabama’s educational standing

 When people talk about Alabama’s challenges, education always makes the list. It’s not a secret that we’ve lagged behind in national rankings for years. Parents know it. Teachers feel it.

Students live it. If Alabama wants to grow, compete, and thrive, we have to raise the bar for our schools. That’s not a side issue, it's the foundation for everything else. And as I look toward the 2026 Senate race in Alabama, education is where I plan to start.

Here’s the thing: our schools don’t struggle because we lack talent or potential. Alabama kids are just as bright as any others. The problem is that we’ve accepted a system that underfunds classrooms, overburdens teachers, and treats education like an afterthought instead of a priority. My plan is about flipping that script.

Start with teachers

If we don't treat our teachers well, nothing else succeeds. Alabama pays teachers less than other states, and many of the good ones leave for better-paying positions in other states. That is a serious issue. We do need good pay, certainly, but also respect. Respect is smaller class sizes, quality materials, and time for teachers to actually teach and not be consumed by testing. When teachers are treated well, children learn more.

Invest in early education

The evidence is unequivocal: children who are provided a sound start in Pre-K and early grades perform better throughout high school. Alabama has improved through voluntary Pre-K, but it remains not universally offered. Providing high-quality early learning to more kids is not a nice thing to do—it is something that must be done. If we are committed to improving national rankings, this is where we begin to build momentum.

Upgrade our lessons.

We are teaching children for the 21st century using outdated concepts from the previous century. This must change. Reading, writing, and math are beneficial, but so is programming, economic knowledge, and analytical thinking. We must equip students with the skills they need to succeed today, not merely enable them to pass a test. That requires us to modernize what we learn with practical skills and equip schools with the technology to facilitate them.

Close the differences between rural schools and city schools.

Alabama's biggest challenge is geography. There are resources in some city schools in Huntsville or Birmingham that schools in the Black Belt can only imagine. This disparity begets disparity and traps too many children in poverty. The solution is equitable funding that ensures all children, regardless of where they live, an equal opportunity. Access to the internet is also crucial because if a child can't access the web, they are already behind.

Make learning a community effort

Here's something we're apt to overlook: schools aren't in a vacuum. Children who are hungry can't learn. Working families can't always attend school sessions. States with few job opportunities are desperate, and it seeps into classrooms. Education in Alabama is improved by linking local community collaboration, job training, and healthcare. When families are secure, children succeed.

Why is it important for the Senate election? Because what Washington does has a direct impact on Alabama classrooms. Federal funding, increasing broadband, and teacher forgiveness programs—these are decisions made in Washington. 

And that's why the 2026 Alabama Senate race matters. For years, our citizens here have had to decide between two iterations on the same old thing. But Independent Senate candidates in Alabama can do better.

We can openly discuss what's not working and offer solutions that aren't caught up in party politics.

I am a candidate on the ballot today because I believe that education has no place being politicized. It needs to be about outcomes. Democrats and Republicans are going to claim they care about kids, but what matters is who is going to work for them on their behalf for policies that truly matter. 

My promise is straightforward: if I get the chance to represent Alabama, I will fight for schools as vigorously as I would fight for my own family.

The vision moving forward

Alabama's education won't be fixed overnight. It takes time to gain trust, elevate expectations, and invest in human capital. But we can make it happen. Imagine an Alabama where our schools are among the South's best. Imagine students graduating prepared for college, trade school, or wherever their career path is. 

Imagine teachers who want to teach here rather than depart to teach in Georgia or Tennessee. That vision is within our grasp; it can be achieved with focus, investment, and leadership. As we move toward 2026, education is my number one priority. 

Better schools make better communities. Better communities make a better Alabama. That is a vision we must work toward.

Originally published at : https://dakarailarriett.com/