Alabama board backs $6.8 billion school budget, prioritizing reading …

The Alabama State Board of Education is asking lawmakers for nearly $247 million more in state funding next year, approving a $6.8 billion budget request Thursday that prioritizes literacy, school safety, career readiness and student transportation.

The proposed fiscal year 2028 Education Trust Fund budget is up from the approximately $6.6 billion budget approved for fiscal year 2027. State…