New High School in Alabama Set to Boost Healthcare Workforce and Address Shortage of Professionals in Science and Technology

In a move to address the shortage of healthcare workers in Alabama, lawmakers have approved a new high school focused on preparation for careers in healthcare, science, and technology. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will be a tuition-free public high school located in Demopolis but open to students from across the state.

Governor Kay Ivey supported the bill and praised it as an asset for the state. Senator Larry Stutts, a doctor, was one of three Senators who voted against the bill but was outnumbered by those who supported it. The proposed education budget for the next fiscal year includes a $15 million appropriation for the school.

The new school will join three existing residential public high schools in Alabama that draw students from across the state: the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile, and the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville. Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton praised the new school as another asset for the state to be proud of.

Senator Stutts believed that smaller programs across Alabama would better serve students than creating a new residential high school. However, supporters argued that this new institution would provide an opportunity for students to focus on their career goals without worrying about financial burdens. Governor Ivey anticipates that this new institution will benefit students from all over the state and strengthen the healthcare workforce.