by Arrman Kyaw

A bill allowing for the creation of charter schools for military dependents passed unanimously in the Alabama Senate last week, Montgomery Advertiser reported.

The proposal – from Republican Sen. Will Barfoot – will make it so that a charter school can open within one mile of a base that focuses on military dependents.

Children of those assigned to the base will be eligible.

The bill comes as part of an effort to portray Alabama as military friendly. Approximately 13,000 jobs connected to the base, which also has a $2.6 billion annual economic impact.

Only dependents living on Maxwell Air Force Base or the Gunter Annex can attend the existing base K-8 school right now.