Alabama is one of the friendliest states in the nation for homeschool families, offering a safe, largely regulation-free environment for the growing number of parents who opt to remove their children from public school. Doug and Marinella Davis are sharing their homeschool story as part of an ongoing series from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office, spotlighting those using the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education Act of 2024 (The CHOOSE Act).
The CHOOSE Act makes refundable income tax credits called education savings accounts (ESAs) available to support the success of eligible K5-12 students in specific expendatures.
“Every child deserves an education that fits their needs – and for the Davises, that best choice is homeschooling,” Ivey said of the family.
The Davises have four adopted children whom they homeschool. Both Rikardo “Riko” and Hanna are supported by the CHOOSE Act. The two younger children, Benedict and Bernadette, biological siblings, are studying at a second-grade level.
The legislation capped the number of eligible students per homeschooling family at two. A cap that supporters of the program believe the legislature needs to amend.
According to Ivey’s office, Doug and Marinella’s foundation centers around faith, family, and education. Homeschooling gives them flexibility while also allowing them to be immersed in the children’s education and faith, the profile by the governor’s office explained.
According to a 2025 Pew Research Center poll, "The most common reason given by parents of homeschooled children is concern about the school environment – such as safety, drugs or negative peer pressure (83% of parents of homeschooled children cite this as a reason). About seven-in-ten (72%) say dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools is a reason."
With increasingly politicized classrooms fueled by radical teachers' unions and school counseling programs promoting leftist ideology, many parents are rejecting the one-size-fits-all system that no longer fits their families or represents their values.
“We highly encourage other Alabama families to apply. We are very fortunate to be able to use CHOOSE Act funds, because it has been tremendous for our family,” the Davises said.
As a family, they all enjoy the outdoors, especially biking and walking together with their dog, Custer. Riko is curious, focused, and athletic, with a natural talent for math and a love of fixing things. Hanna is joyful and caring, enjoys reading, spelling, and history, and loves dancing, especially ballet. The two youngest, Benedict and Bernadette, bring their own creativity and curiosity to the family. Benedict is thoughtful and curious, enjoys reading and spending time with his friends, while Bernadette is passionate and crafty, with a strong sense of justice.
“Because our curriculum and technical needs are covered, we can use the money we once spent on those basics for field trips and other educational experiences that expose our children to new opportunities,” Marinella added.
The governor’s office notes that since receiving support from the CHOOSE Act, Doug and Marinella have noticed an improvement in their academic environment at home. The children have their own books, meaning they do not have to share materials. They now have a sense of ownership and pride in their schoolwork.
The Davis family is among the tens of thousands supported by the CHOOSE Act.
As the 2026-27 school year approaches, the CHOOSE Act applications are open and continue to boast success with thousands of existing CHOOSE Act students renewing their applications. Applications for both renewing families and for new families must be submitted by the March 31, 2026, application deadline. Award notifications will be sent to eligible students on April 15, 2026. Verification of participating school enrollment must be submitted by June 30, 2026, for funding beginning on July 1, 2026.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected]
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
