CHOOSE Act Applications Skyrocket in Alabama!
Governor Kay Ivey just announced some HUGE news: Alabama's CHOOSE Act education savings account program is more popular than ever! Applications for the 2026-27 school year have hit record numbers, showing that Alabama families are hungry for school choice!
Record-Breaking Numbers
The deadline closed March 31st, and the results are in! A whopping 29,341 applications were submitted, representing a grand total of 48,927 students! That's almost 49,000 kiddos looking to find the best educational fit! Of those, 18,832 applications were brand spankin' new, covering 29,986 students, and 10,509 applications were renewals, representing 18,941 students. Talk about demand!
Gov. Ivey's Take
"The CHOOSE Act has changed the lives of thousands of Alabama families by enabling them to choose schools that best align with their priorities and their child’s specific needs," Governor Ivey stated. "The increase in applications for the upcoming school year shows that the people of Alabama want school choice, and I am proud that we are able to give it to them!"
Who's Applying?
The applicant pool reflects Alabama's diverse population, with the governor's office reporting similar demographics to statewide census figures. This year, 66.3% of applicants are White and 33.7% are Minority, pretty close to Alabama's overall population breakdown!
A Variety of Educational Paths
Families are exploring all sorts of educational options! Applications were submitted for public and charter schools (8,961 students), private schools (21,351 students), and even homeschooling (13,425 students). Homeschooling is particularly booming, with 8,264 new applications and 697 renewals!
All Grade Levels Represented
From kindergartners just starting their learning journey to high school seniors gearing up for college, students from all grade levels (K-12) are eager to participate in the program.
Gender Breakdown
The applicant pool is pretty evenly split between the sexes, with 24,305 female students and 24,611 male students applying. A near-perfect balance!
Special Needs and Military Families
The CHOOSE Act is also making a difference for students with special needs, with 5,115 participating (1,973 renewals and 3,142 new applicants). Plus, 1,121 applications came from active-duty military families in priority school districts (356 renewals and 765 new applications). Huge shoutout to our military families!
What's Next?
Families should expect to hear about funding approval in mid-April. Get ready, because approved students can start using their CHOOSE Act education savings accounts for eligible expenses beginning in July! Exciting times for Alabama education!