Application portals for the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act, providing families with financial support for educational expenses, are now open for Alabama schools.

The CHOOSE Act offers refundable income tax credits called education savings accounts (ESAs) to eligible students in Alabama. ESAs can be used toward school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies and other qualified educational expenses at approved education service providers in Alabama.

According to a Dec. 3 press release from Gov. Kay Ivey, funding includes $7,000 per participating student enrolled in a participating school and $2,000 per participating student in a home education program — capped at $4,000 per family.

To be eligible, families' adjusted gross incomes must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level for the preceding tax year.

The CHOOSE Act website, found at classwallet.com/alchoose, has applications for new and returning families and more information on how to apply.

Application portals close March 31 and award notifications are to be sent out April 15.

In Baldwin County, 12 schools are participating in the CHOOSE Act, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue website.

Tuition rates are some of the biggest expenses in the schools and vary by student age, religious affiliation and the number of children a family has enrolled. Additional fees are added for some curricula and applicable programs.

Bayside Academy in Daphne has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $11,743 to $18,031. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

Central Christian School in Robertsdale has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $4,500 to $8,000. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

Christ the King Catholic School in Daphne has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $5,900 to $9,220. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 8.

Orange Beach City Schools in Orange Beach qualified for the CHOOSE Act to cover transfer rates. The official school website recommends contacting the school for more information on transfer rates. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

Ordo Amoris Classical Academy in Fairhope does not have tuition rates listed on its website. This school teaches students from kindergarten to grade 12.

Renaissance School of the Eastern Shore in Daphne has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $7,875 to $8,312.50. This school teaches students from kindergarten to grade 12.

Saint Benedict Catholic School in Elberta has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $5,500 to $5,870. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 8.

Snook Christian Academy in Foley has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $5,548 to $5,810. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

South Baldwin Christian Academy in Gulf Shores has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $4,750 to $5,325. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

St. James Episcopal School in Fairhope has an estimated 30-month tuition rate at $9,600. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 2.

St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $10,860 to $13,040. This school teaches students from grade 9 to grade 12.

St. Patrick Catholic School in Robertsdale has an estimated tuition rate ranging from $3,800 to $6,165. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten to grade 8.

Some school tuition fees listed above are based on 2025-2026 rates and may vary in the 2026-2027 school year.