In March 2024, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act into law — making Alabama the 14th state in the nation to adopt an Education Savings Account program. Starting with the 2025–2026 school year, eligible Alabama families can receive up to $7,000 per student per year to spend on approved educational expenses including tutoring, private school tuition, curriculum, and more.
Education Interventions is an approved Alabama CHOOSE Act vendor. Here's everything you need to know about using these funds for certified virtual literacy tutoring.
What Is Alabama's CHOOSE Act?
The CHOOSE Act (Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education) is Alabama's first Education Savings Account program. It provides refundable income tax credits — essentially ESA funds — to eligible families that can be used to pay for approved educational expenses at approved Education Service Providers (ESPs) across the state.
For the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 school years, the program is open to families whose household income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level (approximately $93,600 for a family of four). Starting with the 2027–2028 school year, the income cap is removed entirely — making the program open to all Alabama families regardless of income.
Who Qualifies for the CHOOSE Act?
For the 2026–2027 school year, your child must be an Alabama resident in grades K5–12, and your family's household income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level for the 2025 tax year. Additionally, students must be enrolled in a participating private school to receive the full $7,000 award.
Priority order for 2026–2027: The first 500 spots go to students with special needs, then siblings of current participants, then dependents of active military personnel enrolled in priority schools, then remaining applicants in order of family income level.
How Much Can You Receive?
The CHOOSE Act provides two funding levels:
$7,000 per student enrolled in a participating private school — this is the standard award for families using ESA funds for private school tuition and related expenses.
$2,000 per student for families participating in a home education program, capped at $4,000 per family regardless of how many children are homeschooled. This lower amount can still be used for tutoring services from approved vendors.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Visit the CHOOSE Act Website
Go to chooseact.alabama.gov for the official program information, eligibility details, and application portal links managed by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Gather Required Documents
You'll need your child's birth certificate, proof of Alabama residency, proof of income (tax returns or pay stubs), and for special needs students — documentation of your child's disability or IEP.
Submit Your Application
New family applications for 2026–2027 opened January 2, 2026 and close March 31, 2026. Applications are submitted through the FACTS Management portal. Award notifications go out starting April 15, 2026.
Set Up Your ClassWallet Account
Once approved, you'll receive a welcome email from ClassWallet with instructions to set up your account. Funds are available starting July 1 of the academic year. You pay vendors directly through the ClassWallet platform.
Select Education Interventions
Education Interventions is an approved Alabama CHOOSE Act vendor. Contact us and we'll walk you through the ClassWallet payment process. Virtual sessions can begin as soon as your vendor payment is confirmed.
Why Use CHOOSE Act Funds for Literacy Tutoring?
Tutoring is one of the most high-impact uses of your CHOOSE Act funds. Research consistently shows that one-on-one tutoring from a certified educator produces some of the largest learning gains of any educational investment — often doubling what students learn in a year compared to classroom instruction alone.
For students who are behind in reading, writing, or spelling, targeted literacy intervention can close gaps that have been building for years. With $7,000 in annual CHOOSE Act funds, Alabama families can access a full year of consistent expert tutoring support without any out-of-pocket cost.
✅ Certified teachers only — Every tutor holds a teaching certification. No college students or uncredentialed tutors.
✅ Orton-Gillingham inspired methods — Research-based structured literacy proven especially effective for dyslexia and reading differences.
✅ 100% virtual — Expert support from anywhere in Alabama — Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, or rural communities.
✅ Regular progress reports — Full transparency with every family we serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my family earns more than 300% of the federal poverty level?
For 2025–2026 and 2026–2027, the income cap is 300% FPL (~$93,600 for a family of four). Starting with the 2027–2028 school year, the income cap is removed entirely and the CHOOSE Act becomes open to all Alabama families regardless of income. If you don't qualify now, you may qualify in 2027.
My child has special needs. Do they get priority?
Yes — the first 500 ESAs awarded each year go to students with special needs, with no income requirement for this priority group. Students with a disability or IEP should apply as early as possible to take advantage of this priority access.
Can I use CHOOSE Act funds for tutoring if my child attends a public school?
No — the CHOOSE Act requires students to be enrolled in a participating private school or home education program. Students currently in public school would need to transition to a qualifying educational setting to participate in the program.
Do funds expire at the end of the year?
Yes — any unused CHOOSE Act funds at the end of the academic year are returned to the program fund. Unlike some other state ESA programs, funds do not roll over. Use your full allocation during the school year to maximize the benefit for your child.
Ready to Use Your Alabama CHOOSE Act Funds?
Education Interventions is an approved Alabama CHOOSE Act vendor. Contact us today and we'll walk you through exactly how to use your ClassWallet funds for expert virtual literacy tutoring — reading, writing, and spelling for K–12 students across Alabama.
Contact Us Today →Sources: Alabama Department of Revenue — CHOOSE Act (chooseact.alabama.gov); Governor Ivey Press Release — CHOOSE Act Applications Open (2026); CHOOSEActAL.com Parent Guide (2026); AISA — CHOOSE Act Information. Program details change annually — always verify current information at chooseact.alabama.gov.