This week, Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation that expands access to the CHOOSE Act and ensures students don’t have to choose between the right school and the chance to play sports..
Why it matters:
- More Alabama families are seeking options that fit their child’s individual needs.
- No family should have to choose between education freedom and their child’s ability to compete. The new athletics protection makes that clear in state law.
- These changes expand the CHOOSE Act to serve more students and safeguard their right to participate athletics.
What changed:
- More families will be able to access the CHOOSE Act as demand continues to grow.
- Nearly 49,000 students applied for the 2026–27 school year, a 32% increase, or more than 12,000 more students than this current school year.
- Students are protected from being denied athletic opportunities solely because they participate in the CHOOSE Act.
The context:
- The CHOOSE Act provides eligible families with up to $7,000 per child to direct toward private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses.
- The program is in its second year and capped at 300% of the federal poverty level for participants.
- Starting with the 2027–2028 school year, the program will be open to all Alabama families regardless of income.
- After the Alabama High School Athletic Association moved to limit participation for CHOOSE Act students, state leaders made clear that kind of discrimination will not stand.
- The new law creates a clear backstop: if a student is sidelined, punished, or retaliated against simply for participating in the program, families have the ability to take action.
- This is not about overregulating sports, it is about ensuring no student is benched for exercising their options.
What we’re saying:
“Alabama lawmakers and Governor Ivey heard from families across the state, and they responded. This investment means more Alabama kids will have access to an education tailored to their needs—and now, the law makes clear that choosing that education won’t cost them a spot on the field. That’s what education freedom looks like in action.”
—Lily Landry, legislative director, yes. every kid.
What was signed:
- HB 238 funds the state’s FY2027 Education Trust Fund budget and includes significant expansion of funding for the CHOOSE Act. The education budget increases CHOOSE Act funding by 38% over FY2026, positioning Alabama to serve an estimated 28,000 more students and meet the growing demand as the program moves toward universal eligibility in year three.
- The budget also includes $500,000 to fund startup grants for microschools and organizations that train microschool founders—a new initiative to support and expand innovative learning options for Alabama families.
- SB 342 protects the rights of students to participate in athletics regardless of the education path they choose. The new law will create a private right of action for CHOOSE Act participants, allowing families to seek relief if an athletic association denies eligibility solely based on the student’s CHOOSE Act status.
The bottom line:
More Alabama families will be able to choose the education that fits their child, with the confidence their child can still fully participate, in the classroom and on the field.
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