Alabama Gov, Speaker Sue AHSAA Over CHOOSE Act Eligibility Rule

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter have filed a lawsuit against the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) challenging the organization's rule that requires student-athletes transferring schools using CHOOSE Act funds to sit out a year from athletics. The CHOOSE Act, enacted in 2024, provides education savings accounts (ESAs) to families for private schooling or homeschooling, aiming to give students more educational choices without impacting athletic eligibility. However, the AHSAA classifies CHOOSE Act funds as financial aid, applying a longstanding bylaw that mandates a one-year ineligibility for transferred students receiving such aid to promote competitive balance and prevent recruitment. Legislators argue this interpretation violates state law and legislative intent, emphasizing that the CHOOSE Act was designed to allow immediate athletic participation for these students. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth has criticized the AHSAA's stance as unlawful and proposed legislation to remove the association's authority over eligibility rules. The dispute remains ongoing, with state leaders pushing for changes to ensure CHOOSE Act participants have fair access to school sports while the AHSAA maintains its position to uphold its eligibility policies.