ALEC Policy Champions: Alabama Sen. Arthur Orr and Rep. Danny Garrett Lead on Education Freedom
We are proud to announce Alabama Senator Arthur Orr and Representative Danny Garrett as our latest ALEC Policy Champions. Senator Orr and Representative Garrett crafted and served as the primary sponsors of the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act, which was signed into law by Governor Ivey this month, making Alabama the 11th state with universal education freedom.
The new program will be available to families with a household income below 300% of the federal poverty level in 2025 and 2026. In 2027 and beyond, the program will open to all students in the state. Families will be able to access up to $7,000 for qualifying educational expenses like tuition, testing fees, therapies for students with special needs, textbooks, and more. Families that choose to homeschool can also receive up to $2,000 for qualifying educational expenses per student up to a maximum of $4,000 per year.
When it comes to school choice, Alabama is a national leader — the first state in 2024 to pass school choice!
Last week, I was proud to sign the CHOOSE Act into law. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/cy5SMBgY0R
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) March 15, 2024
The Education Freedom Alliance featured the Yellowhammer State as a top target for 2024. In ALEC’s 2023 Index of State Education Freedom, Alabama ranked 22nd among the states for its education freedom environment. With passage of HB 129, Alabama is poised to become one of the top 10 states for education freedom in the 2024 edition. The new law follows many of the policy recommendations contained in ALEC’s model Hope Scholarship Act.
All students and families deserve access to the learning environment that will best serve them. Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Orr and Rep. Garrett, their colleagues in the legislature, and Gov. Ivey, all Alabama families will soon be able to put every student in the best position to succeed.
Congratulations to Alabama Sen. Orr and Rep. Garrett on the success of the CHOOSE Act!