Your ESA funds just hit your account. You are excited, you are ready to shop, and the internet has twelve thousand opinions about what curriculum you should buy.

Let me cut through the noise and tell you exactly what to buy first.

Buy Your Core Curriculum First. Period.

Before anything else, you need a complete, structured curriculum that covers all core subjects. This is your foundation.

Without a core curriculum, you end up with a bunch of interesting supplements and nothing tying your school year together. I have watched this happen and it creates chaos by October.

The core subjects you must cover for every grade:

• Language Arts (reading, writing, grammar, spelling)
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies or History

At A to Z for Moms Like Me, our complete grade-level bundles cover all four of these areas in one purchase. That is your starting point.

Second: Any Specialized Needs

Once your core is covered, look at your specific children. Does your 3rd grader struggle with reading? Does your 6th grader need extra math support? Are you teaching a child with dyslexia who needs a specialized phonics approach?

This is where to spend your remaining ESA funds: on the specific supports your kids actually need. That might be:

• A specialized reading or phonics program
• A different approach to math that clicks better for your child
• Tutoring in a subject where you need help teaching
• Educational therapy if your child has a learning difference

Third: Supplemental Subjects You Actually Plan to Teach

I want to put the word “actually” in bold because it is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

It is easy to buy art curriculum, a Latin program, a map skills workbook, a music theory course, and a nature journaling guide, and then use none of them because you were too busy covering the basics.

Only buy supplemental curriculum if you genuinely have a plan to teach it. Be honest with yourself.

Good supplemental additions include things you will realistically use:

• A Bible or character curriculum if faith is part of your homeschool
• One foreign language program (not three)
• Art or music curriculum if you consistently make time for it

Fourth: Required Testing and Assessment

If your state requires annual standardized testing, budget for that. Test fees vary but plan for $50 to $150 per child. This is a must-do, not optional.

What NOT to Buy First

• Curriculum you heard about at co-op that sounds amazing but you know nothing about
• Twelve different math programs because you cannot decide
• A subscription to every educational platform you have ever seen advertised
• Curriculum for a subject you have not yet taught and are not sure you will

Start simple, start complete, then add as you learn what your family actually needs.

A Simple ESA Shopping Order

1. Complete grade-level core curriculum bundle (all core subjects)
2. Any specialized or remedial programs your child specifically needs
3. Required testing and assessment
4. Supplemental subjects you have a real plan to teach
5. Educational tools or supplies that support your curriculum

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy print or digital curriculum first?

Digital gets you started faster and is usually cheaper. If you are not sure what format works best for your family, start digital and add print later if you find you prefer it.

What if my core curriculum purchase uses most of my ESA budget?

That is actually fine. A great core curriculum is worth every penny. Better to have a complete, excellent school year than to spread thin money across ten programs and cover nothing well.

Can I return ESA purchases if the curriculum does not work for us?

Return policies vary by vendor. Our digital curriculum downloads are typically non-refundable, so research before you buy. Reading reviews and previewing curriculum before purchase is always smart.

Start With What Matters Most

You have the funds. Now use them to build a school year that actually works for your kids.

Start with our complete curriculum bundles to cover your core subjects, then visit our ESA page for details on using your funds with us. You can do this.