The Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024 (CHOOSE Act) is administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue. It makes available refundable income tax credits called education savings accounts (ESAs) to support the success of eligible K-12 students in Alabama. 

To use an ESA, the school you choose must be an approved service provider. Evangel Classical Christian School has been approved since the program’s inception. 

Universal eligibility begins with the 2027–2028 school year. This means that there will no longer be a household income cap, and all families are welcome to apply. 

At ECCS we have noticed that many families both within and outside our school still have questions about the CHOOSE Act, if they even know the program exists. We hope to share how it potentially can make a classical Christian education more accessible and affordable than in the past. 

These are common questions we receive and topics that often come up in conversation about the CHOOSE Act: 

Q: How much does a student receive through an ESA? 

A: A family can receive $7,000 per participating student who is enrolled in a participating private school. 

Q: What can ESA funds be used for? 

A: The funds may be used for a variety of educational expenses, such as tuition and select fees at participating schools, textbooks in approved subjects, fees for after-school or summer education programs provided by a participating school, curriculum and supplemental reading materials, certain instructional materials, private tutoring in approved subjects, computers and technological aids, and more. 

Q: Who is eligible for the CHOOSE Act? 

A: A student must be in grades K-12 and a resident of Alabama. There will no longer be an income requirement; however, the first 500 ESAs are reserved for students with special needs. Those who are dependents of active-duty service members are also given priority, along with students who have previously participated in the program and their siblings. 

Q: Can I apply for my child who will be starting kindergarten in the upcoming school year?  

A: Yes. According to the program rules, the student must be five years old by September 1 of the academic school year to be eligible. 

Q: If my student is approved, when is the funding available, and what if I still owe more for tuition after ESA funds are used? 

A: Funds through an ESA will be deposited directly into a digital wallet for each student beginning July 1 of the upcoming academic year. Any educational costs that go over and above the ESA balance must be paid by the participating family. 

Q: What does the application and fund-awarding process look like? 

A: This is the typical timeline based on previous years, although there could be slight changes for the 2027-2028 school year: 

• Mid-December 2026 – Renewal application portal opens for families already participating in the program. 
• Early January 2027 – New student application portal opens. 
• Late March 2027 – Application deadline arrives for both new and renewing families. 
• Mid-April 2027 – Families receive emails notifying them of their eligibility status. 
• June 30, 2027 – Enrollment verification deadline arrives. For families using the funding for a private school, proof of enrollment at an approved Education Service Provider must be submitted by this date. 
• July 1, 2027 – CHOOSE Act starts distributing funds to approved families through a digital wallet for each student. 

It is important to note that although the household income cap will be removed for the 2027-2028 school year, new applicants will still need to verify identity and residency with each student’s birth certificate and proof of Alabama residency (e.g., a utility bill, driver’s license, or mortgage statement matching the application address). 

If you have questions about the CHOOSE Act, please contact our Director of Admissions, Lisa Taylor, at ltaylor@evangelclassical.org.