Add Alabama to the growing list of states that let parents take their state education dollars to the school of their choice. The list now includes Iowa, Arkansas, West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Arizona, Indiana, Utah, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. Governor Kay Ivey vowed that giving every family in Alabama an education scholarship account (ESA) was her “number one legislative priority” and last week she made good on that commitment.
Next year, Alabama families making up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line ($78,000 for a family of four) will qualify to receive $7,000 in state dollars to customize their children’s education. By the 2027–28 school year, the scholarships will be available to every family in the state. Homeschoolers can receive up to $2,000. The money can be used for private school tuition or other educational expenses.
Like Missouri, Alabama’s scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) have been poor for the last couple of decades. Like Missouri, Alabama has wide gaps in achievement between low-income and non-low-income students. Like Missouri, Alabama families whose children are struggling in their assigned public schools want (and need) an alternative. Alabama families now have that. What about Missouri families?
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