Education
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See recent postsGov. Ivey announces record CHOOSE Act applications for 2026–27 school year
The state's education savings account program closed its second-year application window on March 31 with nearly 49,000 students seeking funding.
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that Alabama’s education savings account program—the CHOOSE Act—drew a record number of applicants in its second year.
The application window closed at midnight March 31, with 48,927 students applying, according to the state.
Ivey said she has prioritized Alabama students throughout her tenure and will continue to champion their success.
The 2026-27 CHOOSE Act application deadline closed with 29,341 applications representing 48,927 students. That included 18,832 new applications for 29,986 students and 10,509 renewal applications for 18,941 students.
“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,” Ivey said. “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!”
Applications closely tracked Alabama’s 2024 census population numbers, with 68.2% of applicants identifying as White and 31.8% identifying as a minority. This year, 66.3% of new applicants identified as White and 33.7% identified as a minority.
Families from all school backgrounds applied. Public and charter school applicants totaled 8,961 students. Private school applicants totaled 21,351. Homeschool applicants totaled 13,425, including 8,264 new applications and 697 renewals.
Students across all grade levels, from kindergarten through 12th grade, applied.
Applications were nearly evenly split by gender for the second consecutive year. A total of 24,305 female students applied, including 9,480 renewals and 14,825 new applications. A total of 24,611 male students applied, including 9,458 renewals and 15,153 new applications.
Students with special needs accounted for 5,115 applications, including 1,973 renewals and 3,142 new applications.
Active-duty military families living in a priority school district submitted 1,121 applications, including 356 renewals and 765 new applications.
Families will be notified in mid-April whether they have received funding approval, and Alabama students can begin using their CHOOSE Act Alabama education savings accounts for approved expenses in July.
