Last verified: October 2026
How much CHOOSE Act money does a Birmingham homeschool family get?
Each home-educated student can receive $2,000 a year, with a $4,000 ceiling per family. The money sits in ClassWallet and is spent on approved curriculum, tutoring, online courses, therapies, tests and devices within the program's limits.
Does the cover school have to be on the participating list?
No, a home-educated student is defined by not being enrolled in a participating school, which is what puts the family in the $2,000 tier. If a church school is itself on ALDOR's participating list and the child enrolls there full time, the student is in the $7,000 tier instead, so ask the school how it reports enrollment.
Where can the $2,000 be spent locally?
On approved ESPs: ALDOR's list dated October 23, 2026 shows 86 tutoring or microschool providers and 22 therapy providers with Jefferson or Shelby County cities, plus local names such as the McWane Science Center and the University of Montevallo Community School of Music among online and course providers.
What are the purchase limits to know?
One computer under $1,200 every two academic years, $500 a year in other technology devices, and caps on items such as microscopes ($250). Bulk orders beyond what one student uses in a year are rejected, and if one item on an invoice is ineligible the whole invoice is rejected.
What the home-education ESA is not
| It is | It isn't |
|---|---|
| $2,000 per student, $4,000 per family | $2,000 for every child with no cap |
| Paid to approved providers in ClassWallet | Reimbursement for receipts |
| Available with a cover school or private tutor | Tied to one specific cover school |