CURRENT GRADE: D

The state is heading in the right direction by recently adopting Education Savings Accounts but it limits the number of students that can utilize the funding.

Homeschooling requires some creative maneuvering. Either must be sponsored by a church or designated as a private school or private tutor.

Compulsory education is for ages children between 6-17 years old.

Education Options

  • The Choose Act
    • Funding begins in 2025-26 Academic year.
    • Education Savings Account funded through refundable income tax credits.
    • $7,000 per participating student in participating school.
    • $2,000 per participating student in a home education program (capped at $4,000 per family).
    • First 500 awards are to students with special needs.
    • Second priority is for students of active-duty service members.
    • Remaining awards based on income.
    • Up to 14,000 students will be able to participate based on current funding predictions.
  • Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) of 2013
    • Refundable tax credits for families who child transfers from a failing public school to a non-failing public or private school.
  • Charter Schools
    • Public schools that operate independently from traditional public school districts.
    • A public charter school may only be established under the chartering authority of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission or the local school board in which the public charter school is located.

Homeschooling Laws

Here are state requirements on the topic of homeschooling:

  • Parents can homeschool their children through private or church school, or through the state’s private tutor law.
    • Church school: Parents simply provide one-time notice to local district and maintain attendance records. Must be sponsored by a church or connected to a church school.
    • Private school: Parents may crate their own private school but must provide notice, immunization records and other requirements of private schools.
    • Tutor: Parents may be the tutor. Requires one-time notice, teaching certificate and other reports but no assessments.

Religious Exemptions:

  • The state has no formal laws related to religious exemptions.

    The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.

    It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)

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