On Monday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation recognizing Jan. 26 through 31, 2026, as “School Choice Week” in Alabama. The dates coincide with National School Choice Week, an annual event organized by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, a Florida-based 501(c)(3) organization.
“Our students are the foundation for a better future for Alabama,” Ivey said in an official statement following the proclamation. “Every child deserves access to a quality education that meets their unique needs and helps them reach their full potential. My goal is to continue to make Alabama the most school choice friendly state in the nation.”
In a subsequent press release, Ivey’s office called the governor a “champion” for Alabama students, boasting the impacts of the CHOOSE Act–the education savings account program Ivey signed into law in 2024, which offers up to $7,000 per student for private school tuition and $2,000 for homeschooling expenses.
The CHOOSE Act has faced sharp criticism since its passage, with detractors arguing that the program diverts funding from Alabama’s public schools into the hands of private institutions. As APR reported last year, two-thirds of the program’s inaugural applicants were already attending private schools or being homeschooled before applying for CHOOSE Act funds. Only 27.9 percent of the initial application pool came from students in public schools.
Despite this criticism, Ivey continues to advocate for the CHOOSE Act’s expansion. In her final state of the state address, the governor called on Alabama’s state lawmakers to further increase CHOOSE Act funding to the tune of $250 million as the program enters its second year.
In the press release announcing Ivey’s School Choice Week proclamation, the governor’s office encouraged more Alabama families to apply for CHOOSE Act funds or renew their applications if they are already enrolled in the program.
“As the 2026-27 school year approaches, the CHOOSE Act applications are open and continue to boast success with thousands of existing CHOOSE Act students renewing their applications,” Ivey’s office stated. “It’s important that families be reminded that applications for both renewing families and for new families must be submitted by the March 31, 2026, application deadline. Award notifications will be sent to eligible students on April 15, 2026. Verification of participating school enrollment must be submitted by June 30, 2026, for funding beginning on July 1, 2026.”
In addition to the CHOOSE Act, the governor’s office also highlighted Ivey’s recent executive order confirming Alabama’s participation in the newly created Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program which further incentivizes private education funding.
Lastly, the governor’s office pointed to Alabama’s four state-funded specialty public high schools–the Alabama School of Fine Arts, ASFA, in Birmingham; the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile; the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville and the new Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (opening in 2026) in Demopolis–as further evidence of Ivey’s support for school choice.
“Governor Ivey remains committed to expanding education freedom and ensuring every Alabama student has the opportunity to succeed,” the governor’s office concluded.
