Montgomery, Ala. (WDNews) – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is highlighting the early success of the CHOOSE Act, a new education savings account (ESA) program that officially begins distributing funds on July 1. The program is designed to give families across Alabama more control over their child’s education by helping cover the cost of private school, homeschooling, or other educational services.
“Last year, Alabama became the 11th state in the nation to pass a universal school choice bill,” Ivey wrote. “We established the CHOOSE Act to give more Alabama families the ability to CHOOSE the education that best suits their own child, plain and simple.”
More than 23,000 students are expected to receive CHOOSE Act funds in the first year of the program. According to Governor Ivey, the early results show strong demand and a real impact for families in need.
“These results certainly prove we are accomplishing our goal of giving more Alabama families a choice when it comes to their child’s education,” she stated. “No matter how the media or special interest groups spin it, these are remarkable results, especially for the program’s first year.”
To qualify in the first year, families must have a household income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Ivey emphasized how the program is helping families who may not have had access to education alternatives in the past.
“We have families who have determined that their child’s specific needs are not being met at the public school they attend, and the CHOOSE Act provides these parents the financial resources to choose a school that they feel better meets those needs,” she explained.
She shared a wide range of examples, including:
Families already in private school who can now afford to stay through tax relief
A family that gained custody of children from an abusive situation and sought a safer school option
Grandparents who have become guardians and need financial help for tuition
Parents of children with special needs who can now access tailored therapies and technology
Adoptive families needing support for homeschool transitions
Military families who now benefit from greater education flexibility
“We’re helping families trying to do what they believe is best for their children,” Ivey wrote.
The governor said she believes the CHOOSE Act will become one of the most successful school choice programs in the country. “I am proud we established it, and I am proud to continue offering my strong support for it going forward, all while championing our public schools,” she said.
“Truly, from day one, I have made it a top priority to ensure every child in every zip code in Alabama can receive a quality education. No doubt, the CHOOSE Act is a big part of that mission.”
