What's left after the $7,000? Six Birmingham examples
The CHOOSE Act number is fixed; tuition is not. Here is how the gap or the leftover plays out at different kinds of schools in the metro.
Last verified: October 2026
How much does a Birmingham family still owe after the $7,000 ESA?
It depends almost entirely on tuition, which ranges widely across Jefferson and Shelby counties and is not published in public records. The examples below use illustrative tuition figures against the fixed statutory ESA amounts, so you can see the shape of the gap.
What if tuition is less than $7,000?
The ESA pays the actual cost, and any balance can be spent on other approved categories during the same year. It does not carry into the next year.
| Scenario | ESA total | Cost (illustrative) | Result | What happens next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church-run K-5 academy in western Jefferson | $7,000 | $6,200 | $800 unspent | The ESA covers tuition; the $800 left can buy textbooks, supplies or tutoring before June 30, or it returns to the state. |
| Parish Catholic K-8 Over the Mountain | $7,000 | $8,400 | $1,400 to pay | A $1,400 gap that parish pricing or school aid often addresses; uniforms are on the family either way. |
| Montessori elementary on the 280 corridor | $7,000 | $12,500 | $5,500 to pay | A $5,500 gap; ask about the school's own aid, and price an SGO award if income is under 250% of poverty. |
| Independent college-prep high school | $7,000 | $24,000 | $17,000 to pay | The ESA covers under a third; school need-based aid is the main second layer. |
| Two children home-educated through a cover school | $4,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 unspent | The $4,000 family total covers $3,000 of curriculum and co-op tutoring, leaving $1,000 for tests or devices. |
| Three children home-educated | $4,000 | $5,000 | $1,000 to pay | The family cap holds the total at $4,000, so $1,000 of the plan is out of pocket. |
Tuition and cost figures are illustrative assumptions, not quotes from any school. Confirm actual tuition with each school.
Gap vs leftover
| If there's a gap | If money is left |
|---|---|
| School aid, parish or member pricing, the Edu Fund partner scholarship where offered | Approved categories (textbooks, tutoring, devices) before June 30 |
| An SGO scholarship instead of the ESA, if eligible and larger | Nothing carries over to next year |
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