New education savings accounts can empower parents, but lawmakers must protect the independence that makes homeschooling thrive.
By Christal Banks, EdChoice’s Parent Corps
As a homeschooling parent in Alabama, I’ve watched with cautious optimism as the CHOOSE Act rolls out across our state. For years, families like mine have taken on the responsibility of creating personalized education plans for our children because we believe in tailored learning, family-led instruction, and the freedom to teach our kids using methods that work best for them.
The Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act signifies a major shift in Alabama’s approach to education. For the first time, funds once limited to public or private school tuition can now support families who educate their children at home. Families may receive between $2,000 and $7,000 for curriculum, tutoring, therapy, enrichment classes, and other approved expenses. This is more than a financial benefit. It is a statement. It tells homeschool families, “We see you. We value your work. And we are willing to invest in your success.”
But with this opportunity comes understandable concern. Many in the homeschool community are asking what accepting ESA funds might mean for our autonomy. Will there be new regulations? Curriculum restrictions? Standardized testing mandates? These are fair questions, and I share them. Educational freedom is the reason many of us chose this path. It allows us to meet our children’s needs in creative, flexible ways that are often impossible within traditional systems.
As the CHOOSE Act is implemented and expanded, particularly with the plan to make it universally available within the next two years, it is crucial to safeguard the independence that makes homeschooling effective. The state must avoid one-size-fits-all standards that could stifle innovation or diversity in educational approaches.
I believe it is both possible and necessary to strike a balance. Lawmakers should engage with the homeschooling community, listen to our input, and design policies that provide transparency and accountability without turning home educators into state-run classrooms.
As someone living this experience daily, I see great potential in what the CHOOSE Act represents. It opens new possibilities for children across Alabama, especially those who thrive outside traditional classrooms. With the right support, more families will be able to tailor education to their children’s interests, abilities, and values. This can lead to stronger outcomes academically, emotionally, and socially.
Empowering parents is one of the most effective ways to improve education. Alabama’s leaders should continue to recognize the value of home education and ensure this new chapter unfolds in a way that honors the diverse needs of families across the state.
Christal Banks is a home educator in Alabama and a member of EdChoice’s Parent Corps.
