MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Wednesday morning, Education Freedom Day was celebrated on the front steps of the Alabama State House. This was meant to highlight the different school choice options that Alabamians have.
On top of speaking about the CHOOSE Act, Wednesday’s messages focused on the number of Alabama students that are using the different forms of school choice.
“Students being able to go where they’re comfortable and where they can learn best and when kids are in an environment that is comfortable for them. They’re always going to be better academically,” said President of the Alabama Policy Institute, Stephanie Smith.
Smith says that Alabama is tied for third in the country in student accessibility, due to universal school choice programs and that programs are not only limited to Alabama’s private schools, but public, charter, and homeschool efforts as well. For one Pike Road mother of four, she was at an education crossroads for her daughters.
“I think you have to do what’s best for your child, and each child looks different,” said Abby Ireland.
For Ireland, she mentioned that her family is a recipient of the CHOOSE Act, which allowed her to shift two of her daughters from Pike Road public schools to homeschool education while still limiting financial strain.
Through the switch, she’s now the teacher. Being able to focus on programs surrounding speech therapy and dyslexia.
“We re-evaluate every year but taking that step has been the best thing for our family, it really has been,” said Ireland.
Smith said that because of the education freedom options within Alabama, there is 60,000 students using some sort of school choice.
