The Alabama CHOOSE Act: what it is, who qualifies, and how to apply.

The program most families don't know exists

If you're an Alabama family with a school-age child and you've ever quietly wondered whether a private or microschool option could be possible — and then dismissed the thought because of cost — there's something you should know. There is a state program, recently expanded, that provides up to $7,000 per student per year toward private school tuition. It's called the CHOOSE Act, and most families who qualify have never heard of it.

This article is an honest, plain-language explainer. What the program is, how it works, who qualifies, and how to apply. No politics. No spin. Just the facts a parent needs to make an informed decision about their child's education.

What the CHOOSE Act is

The CHOOSE Act — formally the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education Act — is an Alabama law that establishes Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for families who choose to send their child to a participating private school or use approved educational services outside the public school system. The program is administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue.

In practical terms, it works like this: a qualifying family applies for the program. If approved, the state deposits funds into an education savings account that can be used to pay tuition at a participating private school, plus certain other qualifying educational expenses.

• Up to $7,000 per student per year for students attending a participating private school.
• Up to $2,000 per student per year for students being homeschooled, used for qualifying educational expenses.
• Funds go directly from the state to the school or approved vendor — not as a check to the family.

The intent of the program is to give families more flexibility in choosing the educational environment that fits their child — without that flexibility being limited to families who can already afford private tuition out of pocket.

Who qualifies

Eligibility for the CHOOSE Act has been expanding in phases. Here's the current picture for the 2026–27 school year:

Priority access for these families:

• Families with household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (for a family of four, this is approximately $93,600 per year).
• Families of students with a disability or special needs.
• Families of active-duty military members.
• Families with a child currently enrolled in a public school designated as "failing" or low-performing.

Expanded access:

In subsequent program years, eligibility is scheduled to expand to families at higher income levels. The state has signaled an intent to move toward broader universal eligibility over time, though families should check the current year's specific guidelines.

Important: the income thresholds and eligibility categories are subject to change as the program matures. Always verify current eligibility on the official Alabama Department of Revenue site or with an enrollment counselor before assuming you do or do not qualify. Many families assume they make "too much" and never apply — when in fact they would have qualified.

How to apply

The CHOOSE Act application process happens through the Alabama Department of Revenue's CHOOSE Act portal. The general steps look like this:

Step 1: Gather documents.

You'll need proof of Alabama residency, your child's birth certificate, prior year tax documentation (for income verification), and — if applying under a special category — supporting documentation for that category (military orders, IEP, etc.).

Step 2: Submit the application.

Applications are submitted online during the open enrollment window. The window for the upcoming school year typically opens in late winter or early spring. Apply as early in the window as possible — the program has a funded cap and slots have filled.

Step 3: Receive eligibility determination.

The state will notify you whether your application has been approved and what the award amount is.

Step 4: Choose a participating school.

You select a participating private school (most established Alabama private schools and microschools, including EduPrep, are participating). The school confirms enrollment and the state arranges funds to be sent directly to the school.

Step 5: Renew annually.

The award isn't a one-time payment. As long as your child continues to enroll in a participating school and you continue to meet eligibility, the award renews each year.

What it means for an EduPrep family

EduPrep Academy is a participating school under the CHOOSE Act. That means a qualifying family can apply CHOOSE Act funds directly toward EduPrep tuition. For many families, the program covers a substantial portion of the cost — making EduPrep accessible to families who wouldn't have considered private school an option even three years ago.

I help families navigate the application process. I'm not the state and I don't determine eligibility, but I've walked families through the steps and can answer most of the questions that come up. If you're interested in EduPrep and unsure whether the CHOOSE Act would work for your situation, I'm happy to talk through it with you. There's no cost to having that conversation and no commitment.

A note on the bigger picture

School choice legislation is politically debated, and reasonable people disagree about the policy. This article isn't the place to relitigate that debate. What isn't really debatable is the practical reality for an individual family: the CHOOSE Act exists, it is available, and it has made educational options possible for Alabama families that weren't possible before.

If those options are right for your child, the program is worth knowing about. If they aren't, then it's not the right tool for your family — but you should still know it exists, so the decision you make is an informed one.

Too many families have quietly assumed certain doors were closed when, in fact, the door has been open for some time. I don't want any Montgomery family to make a decision about their child's education based on information that's out of date.

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