Alabama CHOOSE Act Application: Deadlines, Documents, and How to Apply

When the Application Windows Open

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the renewal portal opened December 15, 2025, and new applicants could apply starting January 2, 2026. Both portals closed at midnight on March 31, 2026.

The reports describe possible mid-year funding for a student transitioning from public school to a cover school, contingent on a prior-year ESA award and available funds. They do not identify relocation as an application exception. The 2026–2027 parent guide says renewal details for 2027–2028 will be provided in early 2027, so do not assume this schedule repeats.

For 2026–2027, award notifications began April 15, 2026, and funds were deposited beginning July 1, 2026.

Documents You Need Before You Start

Gather everything before you open the portal. Incomplete applications get denied, and resubmitting eats into your window.

Income verification — accepted documents listed for the program include a federal or state tax return (Form 1040), W-2, 1099, SNAP or TANF statement, or Social Security statement. Your household AGI must be at or below 300% of the applicable Federal Poverty Level ($96,450 for a household of four under the 2025 guideline). For 2026–2027, ALDOR used 2025 tax-year AGI. The income cap sunsets for the 2027–2028 school year; awards remain subject to annual appropriations.

Proof of Alabama residency — a utility bill, Alabama driver's license, state ID, voter registration card, mortgage statement, or lease agreement. The address must be a physical Alabama address.

Student identification — an official birth certificate, adoption decree, or legal guardianship records for each child you're enrolling.

Special needs documentation (if applicable) — a current IEP, ISP, or Section 504 plan. This qualifies your child for Tier 1 priority, where the first 500 credits are reserved for students with documented disabilities.

Military orders (if applicable) — active-duty orders showing assignment to Alabama for more than 30 days, plus proof your residence falls in a Priority School attendance zone (a public school rated D or F on the state report card).

How to Apply Step by Step

The application runs through the online portal at chooseact.alabama.gov, which connects to FACTS and ClassWallet.

1. Create your account or log in if you're a returning family
2. Enter your child's information — name, date of birth, grade level, and educational setting (home education or participating private school)
3. Upload your income, residency, and student identification documents
4. Select your educational pathway — the home education track awards up to $2,000 per student ($4,000 family cap), while the private school track awards up to $7,000
5. For 2026–2027, submit by March 31, 2026; check the portal for deadlines for later cycles

For the 2026–2027 year, ALDOR used 2025 tax year AGI for income verification. Double-check which tax year applies when you're applying.

What Happens After You Submit

When requests exceed available appropriations, applications follow the priority order: Tier 1 special-needs set-aside (the first 500 credits), Tier 2 prior participants and siblings, Tier 3 qualifying active-duty military dependents, then Tier 4 applicants ranked by income from lowest to highest.

For 2025–2026, the state appropriation was $100 million. Of 21,953 approved student applications that year, 18,483 accounts were actively funded and used; applicants outside the funding threshold were waitlisted.

For 2026–2027, award notifications began electronically on April 15, 2026.

If Your Application Gets Denied

Common denial reasons: income above the 300% FPL threshold, incomplete or illegible documents, late submission, or simultaneous enrollment in the Alabama Accountability Act scholarship program (you can't participate in both).

You have the right to appeal. Under Alabama Code § 16-6J-7, file a written appeal with ALDOR within the specified timeframe, including corrected documentation or evidence of an administrative error. Don't assume a denial is final — document mix-ups happen, and the appeal process exists specifically for that.

The Full CHOOSE Act Application Timeline

The Alabama CHOOSE Act ESA Parent Guide walks through every step of the application process, including a document checklist you can print and a troubleshooting section for denied applications and appeals.

See more Alabama guides →