All You Need To Know About Resource Claims 

How home education funding works in Alberta

Please review the Standards for Home Education Reimbursement in Alberta 

Grades 1-12 funding = $901 per student 

Kindergarten funding = $450.50 per student

How to Receive Funding

Welcome to the Summit West School By Design home education program! Please follow the steps below carefully to ensure your claims for reimbursement are processed smoothly.

Read This Guide Thoroughly

Before submitting receipts or sending inquiries, read this document in its entirety. Many common questions are addressed here.

Create an Account

Log in or create an account on our By Design Digital Portal here.

Check Eligibility of Your Receipts

Refer to the following resources to determine if your receipt is eligible for reimbursement:

• SWIS By Design Items Approved / Not Approved (below)

• Standards for Reimbursement from Alberta Education

If you are uncertain about an item’s eligibility, email: claimsreimbursements@summitwestschool.ca and cc: Brandi James - payments@summitwestschool.ca, for assistance.

Ensure Receipts Meet Requirements

Please ensure that when submitting receipts to the By Design Portal:

• You have familiarized yourself with the lists below to prevent unapproved submissions. If unsure, check with claimsreimbursements@summitwestschool.ca and cc: Brandi James - payments@summitwestschool.ca, for assistance prior to submitting.

• Receipts contain itemized purchase information and complete vendor details, including name, date of purchase, contact information, and a signature for handwritten receipts.

• Receipts include proof of payment, such as a credit card statement or a paid stamp/status. A receipt showing an amount due does not qualify as proof of payment. (Example: Amazon Order Confirmations are not acceptable; please provide the “Amazon Invoice.”)

• Attach a note explaining how the receipt corresponds to your child’s program plan.

Additional guidelines:

• Resource receipts expire two years from the purchase date to the refund date. Lessons, classes, or admissions/field trips cannot be reimbursed outside of the year they were taken.

• Tax and shipping costs are refundable and should be included with your submission (shipping is part of the subtotal costs).

• Receipts not adhering to this policy will not be reimbursed. If you believe something should be claimable but was not accepted, you may appeal the decision in writing.

Eligible receipts must include:

• Date of purchase

• Proof of purchase

• Name and contact information of the vendor

• Shipping date (if applicable)

Upload Receipts

Upload receipts for purchases dated after May 15, 2025, for 2025-2026 resource claims. Ensure these items are listed on your program plan, updating it if necessary.

Understand Full Payment Requirements

You can receive the full annual funding amount once 75% of the allowed funding has been approved. For example, if $675.75 (75%) is approved, you can claim the full funding amount of $901.

Minimum Submission Amount

To start receiving funds, you must submit receipts totaling at least $100.

Submit Large Purchases First

We recommend submitting receipts for large purchases whenever possible to simplify and expedite the processing of your funds.

Internet Claims

Half of your annual internet is covered.  If you wish, you can claim for the full year.  Please provide an invoice with the amount for the monthly service.  Monthly internet $ x 12 divided by 2.

Provide Additional Information for Amazon Orders

For Amazon purchases, include the Amazon Invoice *not the shipping order forms (we recently made a change to this and will allow Amazon Order Summaries for the remainder of the year provided they include all required information).

Address Shared Expenses

Claims are made for each student as per Alberta Education’s policy. For receipts that apply to multiple students (e.g., internet, computer), please:

1. Upload the receipt to each student’s profile.

2. Indicate the amount to be allocated per student in the description box.

3. Note that expenses will be shared equally unless otherwise specified.

International Conversion

• For auditing purposes, we require the supporting bank statement to be uploaded to the portal.  Please treat it as a regular claim with the amount as "0" along with a note stating that this is a supporting bank statement.

Payment Schedule

• Funds will be electronically transferred to your designated bank account on or around the scheduled payment dates (*Bank times vary, funds will appear in your account 24-72 hours after processing). 

• *If you need to update your banking information, send the changes to  claimsreimbursements@summitwestschool.ca and cc: Brandi James - payments@summitwestschool.ca,  well in advance of the payment date.

Funding Policy & Receipt Submission Requirements 

Consistent with the Home Education Regulation and clearly reflected in your Home Education Program Plan, we will reimburse parents who provide us with original receipts dated between May 16 - May 15 of the current school year for learning resources related to the home education program (not the home education school).

*All items listed are subject to change based on The Standard for Home Education Reimbursement in Alberta

Transfer Unclaimed Funds:

• If you aren't planning to make a claim, or if your claim doesn't cover your full funding, please consider donating any unused funds back to our program, otherwise the funds automatically go back to Alberta Ed. We use the funds for program improvements and various website subscriptions. You can do this by filling out this Transfer of Parental Portion of Home Education Funding  and sending it to: claimsreimbursements@summitwestschool.ca and cc: Brandi James - payments@summitwestschool.ca,

• Your support is greatly appreciated!

Questions about the reimbursement process?  

Contact the school at: claimsreimbursements@summitwestschool.ca and cc: Brandi James - payments@summitwestschool.ca,

Alternatively, you may call the school during school hours at: 403-999-9089

*If you do not receive a response to an email within a week and two business days via phone call please contact us again as we may have missed your call or email.