74.8 F
Mobile
62.8 F
Huntsville
69.5 F
Birmingham
61.4 F
Montgomery

Alabama launches website to help families apply for up to $7,000 in school choice funding

The Alabama Department of Revenue has launched a new website to help families and education service providers navigate the state’s new education savings account program, thanks to the recently-enacted CHOOSE Act, passed by state lawmakers earlier this year.

The new website – chooseact.alabama.gov – provides the latest information about the program, including eligibility information, an online application, program FAQ, important deadlines, as well as parent and ESP guides. Interested ESPs can begin applying online now through the website, launched by the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR).

The family application process for the 2025-2026 school year will open on January 2, 2025, and close on April 7, 2025, with award notifications scheduled to be sent out on May 1, 2025.

The CHOOSE Act makes refundable income tax credits, called ESAs, available to support the success of eligible K-12 students across Alabama. An ESA can be used to pay for school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies and other qualified education expenses at approved ESPs across the state. Funding for eligible students includes:

  • $7,000 per participating student enrolled in a participating school
  • $2,000 per participating student who is participating in a home education program (this includes an individual or group program, homeschool, co-ops, etc., and is capped at $4,000 per family)

For the 2025-2026 school year, the program is open to families with an adjusted gross income (AGI) not exceeding 300 percent of the federal poverty level for the preceding tax year. The program will prioritize students with special needs, with a secondary focus on students who are dependents of active-duty service members enrolled in or assigned to a priority school.

RELATED: Alabama leads the nation in educational freedom in 2024 after Governor Ivey signs school choice bill into law

The remaining ESAs will be available to students based on the family’s AGI as a percentage of the federal poverty level.

“Every Alabama student should have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education that meets their individual needs,” Governor Kay Ivey said of the site’s launch. “The CHOOSE Act is School Choice for a Strong Alabama – a wonderful opportunity for eligible families to receive the assistance that will have a positive impact on their student’s academic future and the future of our great state.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

Don’t miss out!  Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.