The Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act of 2024

Students must be Alabama residents, ages 5–19, not yet graduated, and lawfully present in the U.S. Children up to age 21 with disabilities under IDEA or Section 504 also qualify. Parents must be Alabama residents and lawfully present. Students cannot receive CHOOSE funds while participating in the Alabama Accountability Act or Education Scholarship Program. In 2025–2026, eligibility is limited to families earning under 300% of the FPL ($93,600 for a family of four). Income limits disappear in 2027. Parents may receive up to $7,000 annually for private school expenses or $2,000 for non-school expenses ($4,000 family cap). Priority is given to students with special needs or with siblings in the program, children of active-duty service members, and children from low-income families. The legislature appropriated $100 million for accounts and $1 million for administration. Participation is limited by available funding.

Funding Mechanism: Appropriation

Universal Eligibility: ✅
Universal Usage: ✅
Universal Funding: ❌
Truly Universal: ❌

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Parents may use funds in one or more of the following categories: tuition and fees at participating schools, textbooks, after-school or summer programs provided by a participating school, private tutoring, curricula, instructional materials, tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning, educational software and applications, standardized and nationally norm-referenced tests, college admissions tests, Advanced Placement exams and related prep courses, education services and therapies for students with disabilities from a licensed or accredited practitioner or education service provider, and contracted services provided by a public school district including specific classroom instruction.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

View program requirements for parents, schools, and scholarship granting organizations by clicking on each hyperlink.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

AL Code §§ 16-6J-1 through 16-6J-9

(Last updated September 18, 2025)

This program has not been challenged in court.