Governor Kay Ivey and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) are celebrating National School Choice Week (NSCW), highlighting the importance of choice and how far the state has come while pledging to do more.

Since 2011, National School Choice Week has shone a positive spotlight on opportunity in K–12 education through 235,000 independent events hosted by schools, nonprofits and parent leaders. In 2026, NSCW will take place January 25–31.

"For families in Alabama and across the country, school choice is becoming the new normal," said Andrew Campanella, CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, in a statement. "As options continue to expand in the Yellowhammer State, our goal is to make sure that parents have timely, accurate, and jargon-free information so that they understand the choices available to them and feel confident in navigating those choices."

"Our students are the foundation for a better future for Alabama," Ivey said in a statement. "Every child deserves access to a quality education that meets their unique needs and helps them reach their full potential. My goal is to continue to make Alabama the most school choice-friendly state in the nation."

Ivey celebrated the success and growth of the CHOOSE Act in her statement, highlighting that her State of the State included a proposed increase of $250 million to help more families access the education that best suits their child.

Perhaps the most innovative way that Alabama has chosen to increase school choice is through high-quality, state-funded public education pathways.

This includes the state's four state-funded specialty public high schools: the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) in Birmingham, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile, the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville and the new Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (opening in 2026) in Demopolis.

"These public schools draw students from all across Alabama and are funded by the state, expanding school choice by giving families tuition-free, statewide options beyond their traditional public-school options. They allow students to choose rigorous, specialized programs that are aligned with their talents and career goals, boosting access to high-quality public education, regardless of where you live," Ivey's office said in a statement.

Tuberville posted on X, "We have a national emergency in our education system, plain and simple. Too many of our kids can't read and write. We MUST have school choice—and make sure that PARENTS, not the federal government, are in charge."

Ivey's proclamation can be found here. For more school choice information, visit the National School Choice website here.

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