MONTGOMERY, Ala. — More than half of the families who applied for Alabama’s new school voucher program send their kids to a private school or homeschool them. Supporters of school choice say the large number of applications shows that parents want this option.
Tuesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office released the number of applications for the CHOOSE Act, a new program that will help qualified families get state money to help pay for private school or homeschooling. There are a total of 36,873 kids because 22,167 families sent in applications.
Ivey said that the large number of applications shows that “pure Alabama families who pay taxes want school choice.”
“The CHOOSE Act, Alabama’s education savings account program, will give more Alabama families who pay taxes the chance to pick a school that fits their child’s needs.” “The large number of applications in the first year of the program gives us great hope,” Ivey said in a statement.
Because there are so many applications, it’s more likely that the state will use up all $100 million in funding for the first year of the program. Lawmakers will likely look for ways to give the program more money.
More than half of the applications are from children who are already going to a private school or are being taught at home. There are 36,873 kids in total. 10,287 go to public schools, 15,436 go to private schools, and 9,070 areschooled at home.
Ala. is one of the states that helps families pay for private school or other educational bills outside of public school by giving them vouchers, tax credits, or scholarships.
The Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024 (CHOOSE Act) in Alabama will give up to $7,000 in state money to families who qualify to pay for private school fees or costs at a participating school. This will be given to them through education savings accounts. Parents could also get up to $2,000 to help pay for school costs at home.
The first 500 spots are set aside for families of disabled kids. At first, only families making up to 300% of the government poverty level can apply. For a family of three, that means making about $77,460 a year. When the income cap ends in 2027, families with kids who have disabilities or who make less money will get more money.
Alabama’s politicians set aside $100 million for the program’s first year. A spokesman for Ivey named Gina Maiola said the state will give out as many awards as it can with the money it has.
Beginning May 1, families will be told if they have won an award.
“The number of applications was much higher than we thought it would be in the first year.” The question is how many of them are qualified. How many people make less than 300% of the poverty level?” Sen. Arthur Orr, who is in charge of writing the Senate’s education budget, said.
Orr (R-Decatur) said he is thinking about the idea of a conditional or supplemental appropriation in case the $100 million isn’t enough to cover all the people who are qualified.
Families that were not white made up 41.4% of applications, while white families made up 58.6%1. About 64.1% of the people in Alabama are white.
People who support the programs say that they give parents the freedom to choose how to teach their kids. Some people are against it because they say it takes money away from public schools to help families who may already have chosen to send their kids to a private school.
Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said, “I’m worried about the fact that we have about 150 failing schools, and those schools need more money.” failed schools are those that get low test scores.
“This will take money away from public schools as it grows,” Smitherman said.