BY SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY – With the March 31 deadline approaching, Alabama families are being encouraged to apply for the CHOOSE Act program as application portals for the 2026-2027 academic year open in the coming weeks, Gov. Kay Iveyannounced.
Information on CHOOSE Act family applications is now available on the program’s updated website, which provides families with the latest details on eligibility, application steps, frequently asked questions, important deadlines, and guides for both parents and education service providers.
The renewing family application portal will open Dec. 15, while the new family application portal will open Jan. 2. Both portals will close March 31, with award notifications scheduled to be sent out April 15. State leaders are urging families to review the information and submit their applications as early as possible.
“The CHOOSE Act is a great success for real Alabama families and our state’s continued educational growth,” Ivey said. “I am excited for even more Alabama parents to have a greater voice in their children’s education, and I urge parents to apply and choose the education that best suits their children.”
The CHOOSE Act provides refundable income tax credits, known as Education Savings Accounts, to support eligible K-12 students statewide. Funds may be used to pay for school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, and other approved education-related expenses.
Eligible families may receive up to $7,000 per participating student enrolled in an approved school. Students participating in a home education program may receive up to $2,000 per student, with a $4,000 per-family cap.
For the 2026-2027 school year, the program is open to families with an adjusted gross income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. According to the Alabama Department of Revenue, future eligibility will expand to all families regardless of income beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
