Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR), CHOOSE Act
CHOOSE Act ESA: participating school
Tuition money, not a grant: Alabama families can use a $7,000-a-year CHOOSE Act education savings account at participating schools. An accredited Alabama private school, or one in the accreditation process, applies to ALDOR to take part.
- Amount
- Families pay tuition and fees from their CHOOSE Act ESA: $7,000 per student a year at a participating school
- Can a for-profit school apply?
- Unclear: ask the funder
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Who this fits
- Private school · MicroschoolAccredited Alabama private K5-12 schools, or schools in the accreditation process, can become participating schools. A child enrolled in a private school that is not a participating school is not an eligible CHOOSE student, so an unaccredited private microschool can't use the provider route for its own enrolled students.Religious schools: not stated, ask the funder
- New schools
- Not stated for new schools
- Where
- Alabama only
- Last checked
- Oct 20, 2026on classwallet.com
Unconfirmed: check with the funder
We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.
- Exact 2027-28 family application dates (not posted by ALDOR yet)
- Whether a for-profit private school is treated differently
- How long a school may stay 'in the process' of accreditation (no deadline is published)
How to apply
- Step 1: Read ALDOR's CHOOSE Act page and the 2026-27 Education Service Provider Guide
- Step 2: Have your accreditation certificate, or an in-process letter from your accrediting agency
- Step 3: Gather financial statements, or price a surety bond equal to the CHOOSE funds you expect
- Step 4: Start the ESP application from ClassWallet's CHOOSE Act Alabama page (open year round)
- Step 5: After approval, follow ClassWallet's welcome email to set up payments
Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.
Who can apply
“An accredited public or private K5-12 Alabama school can become an ESP by meeting certain requirements to become a participating school.”
Tuition money, not a grant: the family's ESA pays the school through ClassWallet. Approval comes from ALDOR, which sends its decision within 14 days. A school in the accreditation process shows a letter on the accrediting agency's letterhead. The school also shows financial statements ALDOR accepts or files a surety bond equal to the CHOOSE funds it expects that year. Invoices may not mention the CHOOSE Act or ClassWallet. Tell ALDOR within 10 business days when a CHOOSE student graduates, withdraws or leaves. CHOOSE students take a standardized, norm-referenced or aptitude test at least once a year, with an exemption for special-needs students for whom testing isn't appropriate. Payments and refunds never go to a parent or student; refunds go back to the ESA. The participating-school list is on ALDOR's site.
- Accredited, or in the process (letter on the accrediting agency's letterhead, signed by its executive officer or an authorized signatory)
- Financial statements ALDOR accepts, or a surety bond equal to the CHOOSE funds expected that academic year
- Notify ALDOR within 10 business days when a CHOOSE student graduates, withdraws or is no longer enrolled
- A standardized, norm-referenced or aptitude test for CHOOSE students at least once a year (a special-needs student for whom testing isn't appropriate can be exempt, with the reason documented)
- Invoices may not mention the CHOOSE Act or ClassWallet; handwritten invoices are not approved
- No higher tuition or fees for CHOOSE students
- Never pay or refund program money to a parent or student; refunds go back to the ESA
Timing
Schools can apply to ALDOR any time of year. On the family side, the 2026-27 application portals closed March 31, 2026. ALDOR has not posted 2027-28 dates yet; the Governor's office said in July 2026 that the 2027-28 process will begin in January 2027, open to all Alabama families regardless of household income.