Alabama's CHOOSE Act Expands School Choice to All Families

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama Legislature's 2024 CHOOSE Act, formally the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education Act (Act 2024-21), has fully expanded eligibility for education savings accounts (ESAs) to all K-12 students statewide as of the 2026-2027 academic year[1][3][4]. Signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on March 7, 2024, the program began with $100 million from the Alabama Education Trust Fund, prioritizing low-income families -- those at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, up to $93,600 for a family of four -- in its first two years[1][2]. By 2027, universal access kicks in, delivering refundable tax credits of $7,000 per student at participating private schools or $2,000 per homeschooled child, capped at $4,000 per household[1][2][4]. Administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue, the CHOOSE Act Fund supports expenses like tuition, textbooks, online programs, tutoring and special education services at approved education service providers[3][4]. The first 500 accounts targeted special-needs students, followed by priorities for siblings of participants, children of active-duty military from 'priority schools' under the Alabama Accountability Act, and income-based allocations[3][4]. Sponsors Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, hailed it as a 'pathway to universal school choice,' potentially serving over 14,000 students initially with room for growth[1]. Participating schools retain autonomy in admissions, curriculum and testing, barring discrimination by race, color or national origin, while allowing religious criteria[2][3]. Supporters, including ExcelinEd in Action, praise the flexibility for families in growing districts like those in Shelby County and Madison, where public enrollment strains resources[1]. Yet Alabama Arise and the Economic Policy Institute decry it as a drain on public schools, projecting hundreds of millions siphoned annually from the Education Trust Fund amid chronic underfunding[2]. Private schools need not match public standardized tests or hire certified teachers, raising concerns in urban areas like Birmingham, where public systems already lag[2]. As applications open for 2026-2027 via chooseact.alabama.gov, the program tests Alabama's balance between parental options and public education equity[4].