Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday continued highlighting School Choice Week by introducing Charlie Perkins and his grandmother Susan Stacy, an Alabama family utilizing the CHOOSE Act, the governor’s education savings account, ESA, program. Charlie Perkins is in the 4th grade at St. Dominic Catholic School in Mobile.
“The CHOOSE Act is for all kinds of Alabama families,” said Gov. Ivey. “Susan and Charlie are exactly what this program is about – putting faith, family and a child’s future first. Every parent or guardian should have the opportunity to choose the education that best supports their child’s God-given potential.”
For Susan, family comes first, and her daily decisions are shaped by her commitment to providing security, guidance and opportunities for her grandson Charlie. Susan values a detailed, structured and faith-based environment for learning, one that Charlie has also chosen for himself.
To other Alabama parents and guardians, Susan advised regarding the CHOOSE Act, “At first mention, I can see where the application process might seem overwhelming, I know I did, but don’t let that stop you! I was blown away – it is readily available and easy to access, and it opened the door to choose the education that best fit Charlie and what he wanted.”
Charlie is thoughtful, quick-witted and kind. He enjoys making comic books and is creative at heart. While he enjoys science at school, he keeps Susan busy with his big aspirations and passion for learning.
Susan added, “When Charlie mentioned that he wanted to go to a new school, I did not know how I was going to do it. With assistance from the CHOOSE Act, I was able to further invest in his education and give him that new environment that he desired.”
In recent months, the governor featured families from across the state, including the McDades and the Walkers from Montgomery, the Siemenses in Dothan, the Carbonells in Birmingham and the Moseleys in Camden, and Ivey said she will continue highlighting real Alabama families positively impacted by this school choice program.
The CHOOSE Act website provides Alabama families with the latest information about the CHOOSE Act, including eligibility information, an online application for both renewing and new families, program FAQ, important deadlines and parent and education service provider guides.
For applications and more information about CHOOSE Act Alabama, visit chooseact.alabama.gov.
