Eligible Alabama families can apply for a new state program that provides state funds to help pay for private school tuition, homeschooling costs and other education expenses next school year.

The CHOOSE Act, or Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024, will provide eligible families with as much as $7,000 in state money through education savings accounts for private school tuition or costs at a participating school. Parents can also get up to $2,000 for home school expenses. Families can find more information about the program at chooseact.alabama.gov.

Alabama is among the few states that use vouchers, tax credits, or scholarships to parents to help families pay for private school or education costs outside of the public school setting. Alabama lawmakers approved the program in March, 2024. The funds will be available to families beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Income

This year, the program is open only to families with an adjusted gross income at or below $77,460 for a family of three. This income limit will disappear in 2027. Students with disabilities, military families and lower income families will get priority for the funds.

Pros

Republican lawmakers who championed the bill said it will provide an option to parents, particularly those zoned for low-performing schools.

Opposition

Opposed lawmakers said the program will take money away from public schools. They also questioned how much low-income families will benefit since private school tuition is often significantly more than $7,000.

Families have until April 7 to apply for the next school year.

We praise the work of the Alabama lawmakers and wish the best for homeschooling families. I know how far $7,000 could go the growing my homeschool educational experiences for each of my children.