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When schools closed March 18, 2020 due to COVID-19, AEA did what we always do and went to work to protect Alabama educators. AEA has been front and center, as well as behind the scenes, working for you. While AEA may not report every behind the scenes action we take, members should have no doubt of AEA's consistent actions and advocacy for education employees and students.

Find articles about how AEA has been advocating for you.

Timeline of AEA Actions

March 2020- AEA meets with state leaders to ensure Alabama educators are paid during school closures. AEA fights to get school employees who test positive (or had family members who test positive or have to be quarantined) to recieve administrative leave.

April 2020 - AEA fights against the Public Health Order issued on April 3, 2020, requiring school employees to return to school buildings. Due to AEA's involvement, the order is amended to allow school employees to only report to schools if their physical presence was absolutely essetial to carrying out continuity plans or as part of a feeding program.

May 2020 - With assistance from AEA, the Alabama Legislature delivers an education budget with a slight increase for 2021. This means there will be no staff cuts or reductions in pay or benefits for educators due to lack of funding in the 2020-2021 school year.

June 2020 - AEA President Sherry Tucker and the AEA Board of Directors releases Alabama's first list of expectations for local school systems developing COVID-19 reopening plans.

July 2020 - AEA conducts Alabama's only statewide educator COVID-19 survey relaying the concerns of 41,000+ school employees. In an unprecedented move, AEA assigns two full-time staff attorneys to review and monitor school reopening plans. Attorneys raise red flags when they see or hear of violations and will purse litigation in districts endangering school employees.

August 2020 - AEA representatives continue to work with state and local leaders to ensure the health and safety of students and educators. The AEA Legal Team continues to contact local districts with member safety concerns.

November 2020 - AEA sent a letter to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners demanding they take action against doctors endangering the lives of Alabama’s students and school employees. The AEA informed the Board that failure to act would lead to swift legal action on behalf of the state’s school employees and possibly their family members if they are parents or custodial guardians.

January 2021 - AEA sent a letter to Montgomery’s Superintendent Dr. Ann Moore and the Montgomery Public School’s Board of Education regarding educator deaths. As a result, Montgomery Public Schools moved to remote teaching and learning until its employees are vaccinated.

AEA sent a letter to Dr. Harris directly concerning educator vaccinations and implored him to prioritize education employees. As a result, Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris moved education employees up the list and allowed them to receive a vaccine beginning February 8.