A new federal scholarship program created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is set to start in January, and Alabama is one of 34 states that opted in. The program has two parts, a scholarship and a tax credit. Anyone in the country can donate up to
,700 for an individual filer or $3,400 for a married couple, and that money goes into the scholarship fund. Families can apply, and scholarships are awarded based on those applications. They can cover tuition, tutoring, books, technology and more, at public, private, religious or homeschooling settings. To apply, families must earn 300 percent of the area median income or less. Cameran Clark said more information on where to apply will be available in the next few months.
Office of Governor Kay Ivey · Mon, Oct 19, 2026
Governor Kay Ivey announced that all four of Alabama's specialty public high schools have opened admissions for the 2027-28 academic year. The schools are state-funded and tuition-free, serve students from all 67 counties, and offer specialized academic programs along with residential options. The schools are the Alabama School of Fine Arts, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, and the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. Families are encouraged to visit school websites, plan campus visits and apply to the schools that interest them. Details on admissions pages and preview days are available on each school's website.
1819 News · Thu, Oct 8, 2026
Alabama's State Department of Education announced preliminary figures showing a roughly 12,000-student decline in K-12 enrollment statewide, more than double last year's drop of about 5,000. Superintendent Eric Mackey said the number could change once 800 reported errors are corrected, and he expects the state to lose about 800 teacher units next year. Meanwhile, the CHOOSE Act approved funding for 12,367 students, up 70% from last year, and the state reported 13,425 new homeschool applications. Mackey said those figures do not add up to the enrollment drop, and he noted that state law bars the department from collecting data on homeschooled students. Final numbers are still pending until those errors are corrected.
Alabama Daily News · Wed, Sep 30, 2026
Alabama's CHOOSE Act program grew substantially in its second year, with 48,927 applicants and 31,079 awards activated so far, according to new Alabama Department of Revenue data shared with Alabama Daily News. Most applicants still come from private schools or home education, and a higher share of awarded education savings accounts are now being used: 92.1%, up from 86.3% at the end of last year. This year, 179 students are using ESAs at participating public schools. Public school applicants declined about 13%, and 18,941 renewal applications were submitted. Remaining awards can be activated after families upload proof of enrollment.
ABC 33/40 · Thu, Sep 17, 2026
A new survey by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama found Alabama adults nearly evenly split on the CHOOSE Act education savings account program, with 48% supporting it and 50% opposed. Among those who backed the program, 42% said they would no longer support it if public school funding were reduced. Broad majorities want private schools that receive state money to meet accountability standards, such as publishing test results and undergoing financial audits. Income limits on the program are set to phase out for the 2027-28 school year, and 44% said the state should keep those limits if demand exceeds the money lawmakers set aside. The survey of 444 Alabama adults has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
Alabama Public Television (APT News) · Tue, Sep 15, 2026
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission unanimously approved a merger of Invictus Career Institute and Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, the first charter school merger the commission has approved. The new school, Alabama Career Institute, is expected to open in fall 2027 as a grades 6-12 school in Bessemer with about 300 students projected for 2027-28, offering aerospace and aviation and health sciences pathways. Families in grades 6-8 will explore both fields before choosing a pathway in high school. The commission also approved five-year renewals for Empower Community School and Acceleration Day and Evening Academy. Commissioners raised concerns about Empower's math results, which reached just under 7% proficiency on the 2025-26 ACAP test, and staff said those concerns will be built into the schools' new charter contracts.
1819 News · Wed, Sep 2, 2026
Jefferson County Schools in Alabama has announced a three-year, staggered rollout of six expanded STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) programs and an additional International Baccalaureate school. Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin said the effort is about better serving students and families, and that public education is "the premier choice." Irondale Community School, Irondale Middle School and Shades Valley High School will serve students on the eastern side of the county, while Brighton School, Minor Middle School and Minor High School will serve the western side. Pleasant Grove Elementary is a candidate for the IB Primary Years Programme and would serve elementary students countywide. The district is operating under a consent order tied to its long-running desegregation case, and a federal court approved the magnet programs on July 24, 2026.
Loading the full Alabama site… If it does not appear, everything on this page is readable above.