Montgomery, AL – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a reminder on Monday that the application period for the state’s new education savings account (ESA) initiative, the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act, will close at midnight on Monday, April 7.
Governor Ivey, who championed the CHOOSE Act before signing it into law in March 2024, emphasized the program’s goal of expanding school choice for Alabama families.
“Taxpaying Alabama families want school choice, and our ESA program, the CHOOSE Act, is providing that unique opportunity,” Governor Ivey said. “This program gives Alabama students greater flexibility to pursue educational options that meet their individual needs. I urge eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity and apply before the April 7 deadline.”
The CHOOSE Act allows eligible families to apply online for funding for the 2025-2026 school year, which can be used for school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, and other qualified expenses at approved education service providers (ESPs). The funding structure includes:
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$7,000 per student enrolled in a participating school.
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$2,000 per student enrolled in a home education program, with a maximum of $4,000 per family.
Administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue, the CHOOSE Act provides $100 million annually in ESA funding. Since the application process opened in January 2025, more than 27,000 students statewide have applied. Families approved for funding will receive notifications in May, with ESA funds available for use beginning in July.
In its first year, the program will prioritize funding for:
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The first 500 ESAs awarded to students with special needs.
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Students who are dependents of active-duty service members enrolled in or assigned to a priority school.
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The remaining awards distributed based on family income, with eligibility limited to those earning no more than 300% of the federal poverty level (e.g., a family of four making less than $93,600).
Families interested in applying must do so by April 7 through the CHOOSE Act program website, which also provides eligibility details, FAQs, and resources for parents and ESPs.
