Alabama now has an education savings account option, the CHOOSE Act. Midnight Tuesday, the application period closed with almost 37,000 students applying.
The governor issued the following comment:
“The CHOOSE Act, Alabama’s education savings account program, will allow more taxpaying Alabama families the opportunity to choose a school that meets their child’s individual needs. We are highly encouraged by the strong response in year one of the program. We have received applications from all of Alabama’s 67 counties and from a wide range of families. Clearly, taxpaying Alabama families want school choice!” – Governor Kay Ivey
A total of 22,167 applications have been received for a total of 36,873 students.
The applications are coming from a wide range of families: 58.6% White and 41.4% Minority.
Taxpaying Alabama families are applying from all school backgrounds: 10,287 students from Public School (Public and Charter); 15,436 students from Private School; 9,070 from Homeschool; 1,593 First Entering Kindergarten; and 487 others.
Thousands of students in every grade level (from entering Kindergarten to the 12th grade) have applied.
There is almost an even split in genders: 18,316 females and 18,550 males (with seven incomplete).
Students with special needs are hoping to participate: 4,910.
Families that are active-duty military living in a priority school district are looking to take part in the program: 124.
Once deemed eligible for award, families will be notified in May, and Alabama students can begin using their ESA funds for approved expenses starting in July.
