Governor Ivey Concludes School Choice Week, Introduces More CHOOSE Act Recipients: Meet the Davis Family -

January 31, 2026 - 00:36

Governor Kay Ivey highlighted the impact of Alabama's new school choice initiative by spotlighting a Montgomery family benefiting from the program as National School Choice Week concluded. The Davis family, Doug and Marinella, who homeschool their four adopted children, were introduced as recipients of the CHOOSE Act.

The program establishes Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), providing state-funded accounts for eligible families to use for approved educational expenses outside the public school system. This includes costs for private school tuition, tutoring, specialized services, and homeschooling curricula.

For the Davises, the ESA funds are instrumental in customizing their children's education. They emphasized the ability to tailor learning approaches to meet each child's unique needs, which is a central tenet of the school choice movement. Governor Ivey presented the family as a prime example of the program's intended purpose: empowering parents with direct control over their children's educational resources and environment.

The CHOOSE Act represents a significant shift in Alabama's education landscape, joining a growing number of states offering public funding for private educational alternatives. Proponents argue it expands opportunities for families, particularly those with children requiring specialized support or those seeking educational options aligned with specific values. The program's rollout and long-term effects on both participating families and the public school system will be closely watched in the coming years.