CHOOSE Act income-limit and ESA calculator
Enter your household, your income and how your children will learn, and see the CHOOSE Act total, whether the 2026-27 income test would have applied, and whether an Accountability Act scholarship is in range.
Amounts are the statutory $7,000 and $2,000 (home-education credits capped at $4,000 per family). Being eligible is not the same as being awarded: when money is short, ALDOR serves the priority groups first. A student can hold an ESA or an SGO scholarship, not both.
Last verified: October 2026
What was the CHOOSE Act income limit for 2026-27?
For 2026-27, a family's 2025 adjusted gross income could not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level: $79,950 for three people, $96,450 for four, $112,950 for five, adding $16,500 for each person beyond eight. There is no income limit for 2027-28.
What income line applies to Accountability Act scholarships?
250% of the federal poverty level, which the Diocese of Birmingham lists as $75,000 for a family of four, unless the student has an IEP or 504 plan.
| Household size | 300% of poverty (2025 tax year) | 250% of poverty (SGO table) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $46,950 | — |
| 2 | $63,450 | $49,300 |
| 3 | $79,950 | $62,150 |
| 4 | $96,450 | $75,000 |
| 5 | $112,950 | $87,850 |
| 6 | $129,450 | $100,700 |
| 7 | $145,950 | $113,550 |
| 8 | $162,450 | $126,400 |
What this calculator does and doesn't tell you
| It tells you | It doesn't tell you |
|---|---|
| The statutory ESA total for your mix of children | Whether ALDOR will fund your application |
| Whether you were under the 2026-27 income line | Your place in the priority order |
| Whether you are in SGO income range | The size of an SGO award at a given school |
See which Alabama programs fit your child
Five questions, about two minutes. Then a tuition counselor phones with the programs and dates for your child.