Co-ops, Covers, and You.
What are you?
You are an intelligent, dedicated human being who wants the best for your student. To the State of Alabama, though, you are one of 3 things: a private school, a church school, or a tutor.
"School. Any person, group of people, institution, establishment, agency, or organization offering or administering a plan, course, or program of instruction whether in person, by mail, by correspondence, online, by distance learning, or by any other method except the teaching of private lessons of instruction on a singular subject, unless otherwise provided by law." 
​-ACT2014-245 S16-46-1-10.
This means that you and your student sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by library books count as a school. Now that that is settled, what type of school are you?
Private School
​"...such schools that are established, conducted, and supported by a nongovernmental entity or agency offering educational instruction in grades K-12, or any combination thereof, including preschool, through on-site or home program."
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Note: This is where coverless families fall. Families homeschooling without a cover are essentially creating their own exclusive private school and are subjected to private school requirements.
Church School
"Includes only schools that offer instruction in grades K-12, or any combination thereof, including preschool, through on-site or home programs, and are operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, and/or association of churches which do not receive and state or federal funding."
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Note: This is where your cover schools are. Cover schools have a church sponsor and can be completely neutral or fully immersed in the sponsoring church's beliefs.
Tutor
This is the most complex form of home-school. A home-school tutor must
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hold a teaching certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education;
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offer instruction in the branches of study required to be taught in public schools;
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teach at least 3 hours per day; 140 days each calendar year, between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm;
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use English in giving instruction;
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register and report to the local Superintendent​
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​- The Code of Alabama 1975, S16-28-5
​Essentially, your private tutor must be a classroom teacher with no other students. Since this is an expensive option with the most requirements, it is very rarely used.
What is a Co-op
A home-school co-operative is a group of families who gather together to trade teaching, childcare, and other duties to achieve a common goal. Co-ops can be hundreds of families or just two or three. Co-ops can charge fees to cover things like rental or maintenance fees, supplies, and employee pay or can be absolutely free. The important thing is that they are all working together for the benefit of everyone involved. Co-ops can include covers, but often do not.
What is a cover school?
Cover schools act as an intermediary between you and the government. When you join a cover school, you must record attendance and abide by their rules. Cover schools are sponsored by churches so that they fall under the "church school" portion of the law, but they do not necessarily have to follow the tenants of their sponsor. Although cover schools are no longer required by the State of Alabama to legally home-school your student, they can be a valuable resource in developing curriculum, helping set standards, planning field trips, or simply setting your mind at ease.
If you decide that you do not wish to use a cover, the Facebook group "Homeschool Without Cover Alabama" is an excellent resource for discussion and support.
What about K-12?
K12 has 3 distinct programs.
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tuition-free, online, PUBLIC school. It is not a cover school and is not a co-op. Coursework is completed at home through an online classroom. Although K12 is schooling at home, K12 public online does not fall under home-schooling law. It is administered by local public school districts and is subject to all the laws that pertain to brick-and-mortar public schools, including attendance and record-keeping. Teachers are state-certified and lessons are aligned with Alabama state standards. This can be a good alternative to the traditional school environment without taking the full leap in to the completely independent home-school experience.
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tuition-based, online PRIVATE school - These are fully accredited schools that operate nationwide and fall under private-school law
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individual courses for purchase - supplementary courses or curriculum that are not a total school in and of themselves
For more information about K12, visit their website, K12.com