Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday that updated information and application portal dates for The CHOOSE Act (Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024) are now available on the program’s official website. The update helps Alabama families prepare for the state’s education savings account (ESA) program for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The website provides comprehensive details about the CHOOSE Act, including eligibility guidelines, online applications for both renewing and new families, FAQs, important deadlines, and guides for parents and education service providers (ESPs). According to the announcement, the renewing family application portal will open on December 15, 2025, while the new family application portal will open on January 2, 2026. Both portals will close on March 31, and award notifications are set to be issued on April 15, 2026.
Governor Ivey highlighted the program’s ongoing impact on Alabama families. “The CHOOSE Act is a great success for real Alabama families and our state’s continued educational growth,” she said. “I am excited for even more Alabama parents to have a greater voice in their children’s education, and I urge parents to apply and choose the education that best suits their children.”
In recent months, the governor has spotlighted families across the state—including the McDades and the Walkers of Montgomery, the Siemenses of Dothan, and the Carbonells of Birmingham—whose experiences reflect the benefits of expanded school choice.
The CHOOSE Act provides refundable income tax credits, known as ESAs, to help support eligible K5-12 students. ESA funds may be used for school tuition, tutoring, educational therapy and other approved educational expenses.
Funding levels include:
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$7,000 per participating student enrolled in a participating school
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$2,000 per participating home-education student, capped at $4,000 per family
For the 2026-2027 academic year, eligibility expands to new families with an adjusted gross income (AGI) at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Beginning in 2027-2028, the program will open to all families, regardless of income.
Priority for ESA awards will be given to students with special needs, current participating students and their siblings, and dependents of active-duty service members enrolled in or assigned to priority schools. Remaining ESAs will be distributed based on family AGI in relation to the federal poverty level.
More information is available at chooseact.alabama.gov.
