There is hereby created the Alabama Education Study Commission, herein called the commission, which shall constitute a permanent agency of the state and shall be composed of eight members, one from each congressional district, to be appointed by the Governor for terms of eight years. Of the members first appointed, two shall serve for two years, two shall serve for four years, two shall serve for six years and two shall serve for eight years. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term. The commission shall meet at times and places determined by it, and the members shall be entitled to receive $30.00 per diem and mileage on actual meeting days.

The commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The commission shall act only by a vote of a majority of its existing members.

The commission shall have the authority to employ an executive secretary and such other personnel as, in its discretion, is needed for the performance of its duties. The commission shall also have the power to contract for research, legal, consultant and other advisory and professional services and for the making of surveys, audits and any other studies it deems necessary. All regular employees of the commission, except the executive secretary, shall be subject to the Merit System. Persons rendering services pursuant to contract shall not be subject to laws relating to public employees of the state, but shall be compensated out of funds made available to the commission in such amounts as may be fixed by the commission.

The commission is authorized and directed to report to the Legislature at each regular session with respect to the following:

(1) An analysis and evaluation of current educational programs and policies and recommendations for changes and improvements therein;

(2) The financial needs for public education in the state, for each two-year period, subdivided and classified with such detail as may be found practicable. The report shall include estimates of revenue from existing sources and recommended increases or decreases, separately divided or classified as to each school district or unit and for each county, and for the state as a whole to the extent practicable, together with a summary of the basis for any changes recommended with reference to sources of revenue. The report shall include estimated requirements separately with respect to primary schools, secondary schools, institutions of higher learning and other educational facilities and institutions, whether existing or proposed;

(3) The commission's recommendations and findings as to the responsibility of the state to provide revenue and appropriations with respect to primary schools, secondary schools, institutions of higher learning and other educational facilities and institutions, properly classified as to each;

(4) The commission's recommendations concerning the responsibility of local support for primary and secondary schools within the separate counties, the effort currently being made at such local level, and the extent of local effort which should be provided in each such county or school system;

(5) Estimated requirements for capital outlay with respect to each classification of schools for buildings and other facilities; and

(6) Recommendations as to the methods of financing of capital and operating requirements as to each type of educational institution and the division of public funds for educational purposes between the various types of educational institutions.

The Legislature does hereby designate the Alabama Education Study Commission as a standards on excellence commission. The commission is currently responsible for examining the public elementary and secondary schools and making an annual report on the status of public education to the general public, the Legislature and the Governor of the State of Alabama. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Alabama Education Study Commission shall examine the required courses, testing programs for teacher candidates, promotion and retention standards, student assessment programs and the performance-based accreditation standards, as well as overall compliance under The Alabama Education Improvement Act of 1991 (Acts 1991, No. 91-323), and report its findings to the Governor, Legislature and the State Board of Education.

(a) The State Superintendent of Education and all local boards of education and boards of trustees of the institutions of higher learning shall, on request of the commission, furnish to the commission information relative to the funds or sources from which the schools or institutions subject to their supervision, management, control or operation are currently receiving or entitled to revenue. The State Superintendent of Education, the State Department of Revenue and all other departments and administrative divisions of the state; all counties, cities and other municipal corporations; all colleges, universities and other public educational institutions; all officers and employees thereof and all local school boards shall also, upon request therefor, furnish to the commission such studies, surveys, statistics and other information as they may have available.

(b) Any state, county or municipal agency or institution shall make offices, supplies and personnel available to the commission without charge to the extent consistent with the adequate performance of the functions of such agency.

(c) The commission shall have full power and authority to summon and examine all school and college officials and local and state officials and require the production of such books, papers, documents, records and memoranda as may be necessary to the discharge of its responsibilities hereunder.

(d) In the performance of its duties the commission is authorized to utilize the services, information, facilities and personnel of any department or agency in the state government to the extent consistent with the functions of such agency.

The commission is authorized to accept gifts, devises or bequests and expend the same to carry out the provisions of this chapter.