On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Education Committee advanced Alabama’s landmark school choice legislation, the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students Education (CHOOSE) Act with a favorable report — sending it to a full vote of the House as soon as next week.
The proposal would create education savings accounts (ESAs). Governor Kay Ivey worked with State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) in crafting the bill which, by its third year, would give every parent in Alabama the option to send their child to a private or religious school.
“The purpose of this legislation is to provide opportunities that are not currently available to parents to use a portion of their tax dollars to choose a school that best meets the needs of their child,” Chairman Garrett said during a public hearing on the bill on Wednesday.
“Everything we do is constantly evolving – the way we shop, the way we communicate with others, the way business is conducted, the way we worship, the way we shop, the way we watch television, the way we listen to music. Today’s world is all about customization, flexibility, and choices in all aspects of our lives — yet there are those who want to maintain the education model we have had for over a 100 years as is the case in other areas of our lives one size does not fit all.”
Garrett introduced a substitute version of the bill this week that addressed many of the concerns of the education special interest community.
The substitute still allocates $100 million to the ESAs — but also requires that participating private and Christian schools must be accredited, have testing aligned with the state and share their test scores with parents, and further, that no discrimination may be made by race or national origin.
“This bill does not gut or adversely impact the education budget,” Garrett said.
“The expected growth in revenue coupled with the spending limitations already in effect will fund any future growth of the program. The program will only increase from the initial $100 million amount if the market demand and the pickup rate justify an increase; and only if the Legislature appropriates more money. There are numerous guardrails in the bill to protect the education trust fund as well as increase accountability and transparency.”
“I want to make it clear that the State Legislature and this committee will continue to support and invest in our public schools; and will continue to focus on areas of the greatest need,” Garrett said.
“This year we will pass another record education budget of almost nine and a half billion and we will allocate $6.4 billion to K-12 schools, which is an increase of $370 million from last year.”
RELATED: Alabama school choice bill receives first public hearing
The substitute addressed enough of the concerns that the education special interests moved their position from opposition to the bill to a position of neutrality. Some in the home school community were not pleased with the changes.
On Wednesday, a short public hearing followed Chairman Garrett’s opening comments.
“We are very concerned about protecting the education trust fund long term,” said Allison King of the Alabama Education Association. “Our team is still reviewing the sub.”
“Between 80 to 90% of the students taking advantage of vouchers were always in private school,” said King. King expressed concern that in the future that this program could grow to $400 to $500 million and could decrease the $7,000 per pupil support that the state provides legacy public schools.
“This program has the ability to change children’s lives,” said Adam Thompson – the director of the Alabama chapter of Americans for Prosperity. “This is an opportunity for parents to make the best decisions for their children.”
Dr. Roy Matson is an instructor in an online education program.
“School choice is the future for this country. That is what parents deserve,” Matson said. “Education is changing. People are getting their degrees online.”
“We need to do school choice and we need to do it right,” Dr. Matson said. “They shouldn’t get less money because they are not going to a brick-and-mortar school here.”
Dr. Debbie Brooks is the Principal of St. Michael’s Catholic School in Auburn.
“We all want what is best for the children of Alabama,” Dr. Brooks said. “This bill would provide an opportunity to decide what that looks like for their families – what education setting is best for their children.”
RELATED: Ivey debuts universal school choice bill backed by legislative leadership, budget chairmen
Chad Barwick is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Mobile.
“Parents seek Catholic education; because they understand the values we represent,” Barwick said. “I want to say thank you as we continue to serve whoever wants Catholic education. We are excited for the future of school choice in Alabama.”
Jennifer Wolverton is a homeschool mother of four and founder of the Log Cabin Schoolhouse.
“I love this bill – the bill before the substitute,” said Wolverton. “There are about 125,000 micro schools in America – agile, innovative. I can find five in Alabama. We are missing this entire market.”
“Microschools are typically registered as homeschoolers,” Wolverton said. “As written the Choose Act does not support micro schools that require facilities.”
After a favorable vote from the committee on Thursday, Governor Ivey shared her enthusiasm and appreciation for the plan to continue moving forward in the legislature.
The CHOOSE Act — our education savings account plan — has passed the House Committee and now goes to the floor. Thank you to @DannyGarrett44 for his leadership. We are one step closer to providing our families with more education freedom. #alpolitics
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) February 22, 2024
As the House version of Alabama’s landmark school choice legislation advances to a full vote of the lower chamber, the Senate version awaits a vote in its committee, and is expected to move full steam ahead to final passage from both chambers and receive a signature from Governor Ivey in the coming weeks.
Thursday was day 9 of the 2024 state legislative session.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email [email protected]
