BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers have approved an additional $35 million for the CHOOSE Act, the state’s education savings account (ESA) program, after nearly 37,000 students applied for funding in its first year. The increase raises the program’s total funding to $135 million for the 2025-2026 school year, but it still falls short of covering all applicants.
The CHOOSE Act, signed into law in 2024, allows families to use public funds for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, and other educational costs. Each student can receive up to $7,000 for private school or $2,000 for homeschooling, capped at $4,000 per family. However, with funding sufficient to support only about 19,000 students at most, thousands of families will likely be left without assistance.
The overwhelming response to the program underscores Alabama’s ongoing struggle to provide adequate public education. Critics argue that the state’s embrace of school choice is a tacit admission of its failure to maintain a functioning public school system. Public schools in Alabama have long faced underfunding, with state investment failing to keep pace with inflation since 2009. Now, as ESA funds are drawn from the Education Trust Fund, concerns grow about further erosion of resources for public schools.
Proponents of the CHOOSE Act tout it as a victory for parental choice and flexibility in education. However, opponents warn that diverting public funds to private education deepens inequities and undermines public schools’ ability to serve all students effectively. With no cap on future ESA spending and demand expected to grow, the program could siphon even more money from public education in the years ahead.
For now, Alabama’s decision to expand CHOOSE Act funding reflects a stark reality: many families are seeking alternatives because they feel the state’s public schools cannot meet their children’s needs. Whether this shift will improve educational outcomes or exacerbate existing disparities remains to be seen.