Alabama’s school voucher program has drawn more than 37,000 applications for the 2026–27 school year, outpacing last year’s mid-March total even as the number of first-time applicants trails last year’s pace.
Of the applications submitted through March 9, 20,665 are from new students and 16,459 are renewals. Slightly more than 19,000 students are using their ESAs for the current school year.
Deadline
Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday (March 23) urged families to apply before the March 31 deadline.
“The CHOOSE Act is giving families across our state the opportunity to choose the education that best fits their children’s needs,” Ivey said in a news release. “With the March 31 deadline fast approaching, I encourage every eligible family to take advantage and submit their application or renewal. Don’t miss this opportunity — get your application in before March 31!”
Families will receive award notices on April 15.
Just above 19,000 students are using ESAs for the current school year at a cost of approximately $100 million. The program is expected to expand further for the 2027-28 school year.
Ivey requested an additional $100 million for the CHOOSE Act as part of her FY27 education budget proposal, which the House kept in place when it approved its version of the budget on March 13.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Trisha Powell Crain and originally published by the Alabama Daily News.
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