MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Jan. 9, 2018) – Tuesday evening, in the 2018 State of the State Address, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced a new state magnet school to be established in Huntsville.
The Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering (ASCE) will provide academically motivated and gifted Alabama students with educational opportunities and experiences in the rapidly growing fields of cyber and engineering.
Governor Ivey will request the legislature appropriate supplemental funding during this fiscal year to begin immediate planning and development for research, strategic planning and staffing. Additional funding is requested in the 2019 budget for facilities, equipment and operations with the goal to begin classes with an initial group of students in August 2020. Long term, the school will grow to serve more than 300 students from across Alabama in grades 7-12. Planners are still scouting potential locations for ASCE.
“We applaud Governor Ivey’s leadership to create the Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering. Governor Ivey knows first-hand how important education is in shaping young people’s lives and helping them to pursue careers that are rewarding,” said Mike Ward, Sr. Vice President of the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber.
Alabama currently has two State magnet schools – the School of Fine Arts in Birmingham and the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile. The Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering will compliment those schools by providing a focused curriculum to help meet the industry and government demand for highly skilled workers in the field of cyber and engineering.
“The community has worked closely with Senator Arthur Orr, and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon and Huntsville City leaders to develop and advance this idea,” said Pat Sullivan, Vice President, Cyber Huntsville. “We look forward to the establishment of the ASCE and have great confidence it will serve the State of Alabama in the advancement of educational opportunities and economic growth.”
About Cyber Huntsville
Cyber Huntsville is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization made up of Industry, Government and Academic institutions that are dedicated to making Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley region a Nationally and Internationally recognized Cyber leader. Learn more at http://cyberhuntsville.org
About the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
The Chamber is the catalyst for business growth, community engagement and action to drive economic vitality and advance our position as a global leader in technology and innovation. Our mission is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.