MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A Montgomery Circuit Court judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) policy that sought to sideline students receiving state school vouchers from sports participation in their first year at a new school. The ruling came after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter challenged the ban, arguing that the intent of the state’s new CHOOSE Act explicitly included athletic eligibility for participating students.
With more than 20,000 students enrolled through the CHOOSE Act in its inaugural year, many families were left uncertain about their children’s ability to join school teams this fall. The program allows up to $7,000 in state funds for private school tuition and $2,000 for homeschooling. But the AHSAA’s longstanding rules treat financial aid and vouchers as a trigger for ineligibility, requiring transferring students to sit out a year before playing school sports.
Supporters of the ban argue that these restrictions are necessary to prevent athletic recruiting, maintain fair competition, and deter transfers motivated by sports rather than academics. According to AHSAA, all transfer students who receive financial assistance—including CHOOSE Act vouchers—fall under the same rule, which has been in place for years. The association emphasized that this policy, crafted by its member schools, is designed to limit abuses and uphold competitive equity.
Opponents, including the governor and legislative leaders, counter that the CHOOSE Act was meant to ensure school choice and explicitly protects athletic eligibility. They call the ban unfair and say it denies opportunities to students who are seeking better educational outcomes. The lawsuit alleges that the AHSAA acted against legislative language ensuring voucher students would not be penalized for transferring.
The temporary restraining order will allow affected students to compete in athletics while the legal battle continues. The ultimate fate of the policy could have implications for thousands of Alabama families as the school year—and its sports seasons—move forward.