Help · Alabama

Alabama schools: getting started

For Alabama microschools and private schools with CHOOSE Act students. ALDOR approves schools and ClassWallet moves the money; Homebook runs the school and keeps the CHOOSE to-dos in Compliance. Rules change, so check ALDOR before you rely on a date. This is general information, not legal advice.

1. 1. Before your first CHOOSE student

   Apply to the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) as an education service provider. ALDOR decides within 14 days; then you register with ClassWallet. Homebook doesn’t file anything with ALDOR or ClassWallet for you.

2. 2. Your time zone

   Alabama schools start on Central time. If your school is in Phenix City, Smiths Station, Lanett or Valley and keeps Eastern time, email sam@gethomebook.com and we’ll switch it after checking your posted hours.

3. 3. Invoices, one charge at a time

   Go to Money › Lunch & fees › Balances and press 🧾 Invoice next to the student. Pick one charge: Homebook prints one invoice for one student and one charge, and refuses to print the words “CHOOSE” or “ClassWallet”, so keep them out of your charge notes too. Only bill services from this school year (July 1 to June 30); unused CHOOSE money doesn’t roll over. Use the Invoice button for anything you send to ClassWallet. The lunch and activity pages in Reports are for families, not CHOOSE invoices.

4. 4. When a student withdraws or graduates

   Open the student and press Mark withdrawn (directors and admins). Homebook adds a to-do due in 10 business days to tell ALDOR. Mark it the same day the student leaves, because the count starts when you mark it. Skip the to-do if the student had no CHOOSE money. Graduates get the same 10-business-day notice; Homebook reminds you on June 1.

5. 5. Yearly testing and the under-20 rule

   Each CHOOSE student takes a standardized, nationally norm-referenced or aptitude test once each school year (for example Stanford, ITBS or TerraNova). A special-needs student can be exempt when testing isn’t appropriate: write down why. Give each family a copy of their child’s results. School-level results go to ALDOR with no student names, but skip that report if you have fewer than 20 CHOOSE students. ALDOR hasn’t set that date yet; it shows as “Date TBA” in Compliance.