On Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the state’s school choice Education Savings Account (ESA) program for the 2026-2027 school year has been fully funded for parents who have taken advantage of the state program.
The program, signed into law in 2024, is called the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act, which established education savings accounts for students who pursue alternative schooling methods or attend a school outside their zone. Since then, it has seen increased funding and availability for Alabama families.
This year provided a record number of applications, with almost 49,000 students seeking to take advantage of the program. The application period closed with over 34,000 students receiving approval. The final number equals roughly $174 million in ESAs for Alabama families and students.
The funding for eligible students includes $7,000 for students enrolled in a participating school, or $2,000 per student enrolled in a home education program, with a maximum of $4,000 per family.
“The CHOOSE Act has changed the lives of thousands of Alabama families by enabling them to select schools that best align with their priorities and their child’s specific needs,” Ivey said. “The increase in applications for the upcoming school year shows that the people of Alabama want school choice, and I am proud that we are able to give it to them.”
Families approved for ESA funding will be notified via email around July 1 by ClassWallet, the Alabama Department of Revenue’s support partner, with instructions for accessing their funds and guidance on using them.
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