Governor Kay Ivey highlighted an Alabama family this week using the state’s CHOOSE Act education savings account program, introducing 4th grader Charlie Perkins and his grandmother and guardian, Susan Stacy, as an example of how the initiative is expanding educational opportunities across the state.
“The CHOOSE Act is for all kinds of Alabama families,” Ivey said. “Susan and Charlie are exactly what this program is about – putting faith, family and a child’s future first. Every parent or guardian should have the opportunity to choose the education that best supports their child’s God-given potential.”
Perkins attends St. Dominic Catholic School in Mobile, where his grandmother said a structured, faith-based learning environment has been a priority for his education.
To other parents and guardians considering the program, Stacy encouraged them not to be discouraged by the application process. “At first mention, I can see where the application process might seem overwhelming, I know I did, but don’t let that stop you! I was blown away – it is readily available and easy to access, and it opened the door to choose the education that best fit Charlie and what he wanted,” she said.
Perkins, described as thoughtful and creative, enjoys science and spends his free time making comic books. Stacy said the CHOOSE Act made it possible to place him in a school that matched his interests and learning style.
“When Charlie mentioned that he wanted to go to a new school, I did not know how I was going to do it. With assistance from the CHOOSE Act, I was able to further invest in his education and give him that new environment that he desired,” Stacy said.
The governor’s office said Perkins and Stacy are among tens of thousands of Alabama families benefiting from the CHOOSE Act. Ivey has previously highlighted families across the state, including the McDades and the Walkers in Montgomery, the Siemenses in Dothan, the Carbonells in Birmingham and the Moseleys in Camden.
The CHOOSE Act provides refundable tax credits through education savings accounts to help eligible K-12 students pay for tuition, fees and other qualified education expenses. Applications for the 2026-27 school year are open through March 31, 2026, with award notifications scheduled for April 15 and funding beginning July 1.
Since applications opened in January 2025, 36,873 students statewide have applied. Eligible students may receive $7,000 per year for participating schools or $2,000 for home education programs, subject to program limits and income eligibility requirements.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
