1. (1) ACADEMIC PERIOD. A portion of an academic year, such as a semester or quarter, during which a public postsecondary institution holds classes, excluding Summer.
2. (2) ACADEMIC YEAR. The 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on the following June 30.
3. (2) ACCS. The Alabama Community College System.
4. (3) ACHE or COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
5. (4) ALSDE or DEPARTMENT. The Alabama State Department of Education.
6. (5) BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The Board of Trustees of ACCS.
7. (6) CERTIFIED PARTICIPATION LIST. The official list submitted by an eligible institution to ACHE that identifies eligible students enrolled in the institution through the Move On When Ready Program that serves as the basis for authorizing payments from the appropriate fund on their behalf.
8. (7) COST. Tuition, materials, and fees directly related to the courses taken by the eligible student at the participating institution.
9. (8) COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS. The Council of Presidents is recognized as an advisory committee to ACHE, consisting of the president of each public four-year institution of higher education and Athens State University, the Chancellor of Postsecondary Education, and the presidents of three public two-year institutions of higher education to be selected by the chancellor.

10. (9) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION or INSTITUTION. Each of the following, provided that the institution chooses to participate in the program:

    1. (a) Any two-year public institution of higher education in Alabama, including postsecondary technical colleges, trade schools, community colleges, and junior colleges.
    2. (b) Any four-year public institution of higher education in Alabama.

11. (10) ELIGIBLE STUDENT. A student entering the 11th or l2th grade who spent the prior school year in attendance at a public high school in Alabama who meets the eligibility criteria adopted pursuant this chapter [see 300-4-16-.04(4)(a)-(d)].

    1. (a) A participating student maintains continued eligibility in the program at two levels:

       1. 1. Meeting the minimum requirements for earning the high school diploma, and
       2. 2. Meeting the minimum requirements for full-time status at the participating institution.
12. (11) FUND. The funds for Move on When Ready, created by Act 2025-412, to be set up in the State Treasury. The Executive Director of ACHE shall distribute the fund to eligible institutions on behalf of each participating eligible student.
13. (12) LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION. A city or county board of education, whether elected or appointed, for a school district in the state of Alabama.
14. (13) PARENT. A resident of this state who is the parent, guardian, custodian, or other individual with authority to act on behalf of an eligible student. The term does not include an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States.
15. (14) PARTICIPATING STUDENT. An eligible student pursuant to this chapter who is enrolled at and attending an eligible institution as a full-time student taking postsecondary courses that align with the required secondary credit.
16. (15) PROGRAM. Move on When Ready as authorized by Act 2025-412 whereby an eligible student takes all of his or her courses, as approved according to the Alabama State Board of Education, at an eligible institution and receives secondary credit from his or her high school with the goal of completing graduation and high school diploma requirements.
17. (16) SECONDARY CREDIT. High school credit for courses taken at an eligible institution under the Move On When Ready Program.
18. (17) STATE BOARD. The Alabama State Board of Education, which oversees ALSDE.

Author: Stephanie C. Dolan

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §16-5-1; Alabama Act 2025-412.

History: New Rule: Published March 31, 2026; effective May 15, 2026.