Governor Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that education savings accounts (ESAs) under Alabama's CHOOSE Act program are now fully funded and accessible for the 2026-2027 academic year. Approved families can utilize these funds through the ClassWallet platform for school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, and other qualifying expenses at approved providers.
The program saw a record number of applications, with almost 49,000 students applying and over 34,000 ultimately receiving approval. This amounts to more than $174 million in ESAs supporting school choice. Eligible students receive $7,000 if enrolled in a participating school, or $2,000 for home education programs, with a maximum of $4,000 per home education family.
Governor Ivey emphasized the program's impact, saying, "The CHOOSE Act has changed the lives of thousands of Alabama families by enabling them to select schools that best align with their priorities and their child’s specific needs." She added, "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." Approved families will receive a welcome email from ClassWallet around July 1 with access instructions.
The application process for the 2027-2028 academic year is set to open in January 2027 and will be available to all Alabama families, irrespective of household income.