BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Families can start applying Thursday for a new program that provides state funding to cover school costs.

The Choose Act will help Alabama families pay private school tuition, homeschooling costs and other education expenses next school year.

Parents can go to Select Act website to complete an application for the 2025-2026 school year.

Alabama lawmakers approved the program in March with support from Gov. Kay Ivey.

“Our plan will not only work for Alabama families, it will work for our state and will be effective and sustainable for generations to come,” Ivey said in March.

The program provides families up to $7,000. Parents can also receive up to $2,000 toward homeschooling costs.

Currently the program is only intended for family gatherings certain financial requirementsHowever, this income limit will no longer apply in 2027.

While this provides relief for families, school choice was a contentious issue in the last legislative session.

Some lawmakers worried it would take money away from public schools.

“If our public schools need more resources, what’s problematic is that if we defund them, it’s just going to make it that much harder for teachers to do their jobs, and then it’s really at the expense of the students who are are “We’re going to stay in these schools,” Rep. Philip Ensler (D-Ala.) Montgomery said in March.

While opponents had concerns that the state could use taxpayer money to fund private schools, supporters said it provided an option for families to be zoned for low-performing schools.

Parents have until April 7 to complete an application and potentially qualify for federal funding.

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