Alternative LearningAre you a homeschooling mama? or maybe you unschool... or maybe you are interested in another alternative learning style? or maybe you don't have any idea what i am referring to?? this forum might just be for you! share your thoughts and ideas
Help me please.
I went to my daughter's kindergarten program tonight and the co president of the PTA shared some "interesting" information with the over 300 parents there.
There is a movement in the House of Reps here to get homeschoolers or parents of children in private school a tax credit of 2000$ per year.
The school was handing out little postcards with requests for signatures in order to defeat the bill and keep money in the public school. The co president informed everyone that they could sign the paper and drop it off at the office, they would take it to Columbia and file a petition to get this tax credit killed. I was furious! I couldn't believe that man was standing there telling these people to just sign that little card and drop it off. He told them that this would take MILLIONS of dollars away from their school/education system. If I were a parent in that room that wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying, I would have signed that little card and went on my merry way.
This tax credit is a reimbursement of sorts for homeschoolers or private schoolers. Everyone pays taxes to support public education but why should a homeschooler have to foot the bill for my child? Their child isn't reaping any benefits from the tax money they are paying so why should they get stuck with the bill? And how dare this man stand up and ask these unsuspecting parents to just sign that little postcard without encouraging them to educate themselves on what exactly that would entail?
Granted, if the tax credit goes through, the public school system will lose money. They might even lose students to parents who will them be able to afford to send their child to private school or even those who want to attempt to homeschool. Why can't the PTA simply try and find the money elsewhere? We have the SC State Education Lottery Fund here, suck some money out of that. Jack up the tax on alcohol and cigarette sales to make up the lost money.
Think of how the school might profit from smaller class sizes. His reasoning for keeping the tax credit from passing? Even though those homeschooled students aren't IN the school, it still costs money to heat and cool that building. I was floored. He's saying that the main reason they want to kill this bill is so they can afford to pay their electric bill?? How warped is that?
I need to take time to cool of and then write this *#*@& a letter. Can anyone please help me find a way to write this as professionally as possible? I'm just floored that he thinks since he went to an hour long meeting on what this tax credit will entail, he's justified in trying to screw homeschoolers or private schoolers out of money that is rightfully theirs!
Wow. As a homeschooling mama, I think that stinks. I have to pay federal taxes (in part to support schools) plus state taxes (in part to support schools) PLUS local SCHOOL tax. It's absolutely unfair!
I am missing how this means the schools lose money... their funding is based on how many students they have, correct? So wouldn't they get the same amount of money? Because my kids aren't students now, it's not like they get money for them now, kwim? I must be missing something really obvious. I don't get how they lose money?
*sigh* I'd better shut up before I start ranting...
But THANK YOU for the link. I'm off to research and start writing letters and making phone calls.
As a soon-to-be private schooler I'm going to be (I'm sure) alone in the opinion that that bill shouldn't pass. $2000 isn't even a drop in the bucket for private school tuition and I'd rather see it go to public schools.
__________________ ~bArb.
Sewin' mama to my little heathens Lydia Jo (11/01) and Thomas (07/07)
Married to a Microscopist
Disclaimer: If I appear to be crabby, it's because the Army is borrowing my husband
As a homeschooler, I think a tax benefit like that would be great. Our property taxes here in NJ are ridiculous and a huge portion of those taxes are to support schools. I know someone who pays almost $10,000 a year on property tax, and sends all 3 of her kids to private schools. Even a little break would be nice.
__________________ ~Karen
Mom to Evan so happy to be 8
and a new little one due at the end of Jan 2009
As a homeschooler, part of me wants to say "Yippee, give me that tax break!"
The other part of me feels that keeping homeschooling/private schooling and the government as far apart as possible is the way to go. How do you have to prove you're homeschooling? What if the "evaluations" a bunch of states accept is not good enough and you need to submit standardized test scores? Some states don't even require that much, but will those families be forced to submit something in order to claim the credit? Once a few people "abuse" the tax credit, who knows what documentation you will need to provide?
In response to the OP though, I don't see how denying or approving the tax credit will affect the public schools much at all...if they are granted $5000 per student per year (and I"m just making up a number, I have no idea what the granted amounts are!), how would that change? The homeschoolers are not going to start saying "Gee, I don't get a tax break, lemme send my kid to school because of it," ya know? Unless they are afraid that more parents will choose to homeschool with that financial incentive? I guess that could be it, though honestly, I don't think they have anything to be afraid of......
Mihcelle
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~Michelle
Christian homeschooling mama
to a Jumpin Bean (1/01)
and a Pumpkin Head (4/03)
Originally posted by fw221 Wow. I'd heard that religious schools were less expensive than secular, but good grief. We're looking at $12,500 for pre-K for our one.
OM! WOW That's ALOT!
I know pre-k is more here, and I know our area is reasonable for private schools, but geez!
As soon as the deed for our property goes through we will have to pay nearly $1,000 a year in a school tax. We already have to pay for all of our children's education expenses ourselves. I don't think it's right or fair. My children are not and will not be in public schools. Why should I have to pay school taxes when the parents of kids actually attending the schools can avoid the tax by renting and not owning property? As if I don't pay enough in federal and state taxes already. I am TOTALLY in favor of a tax credit. I already have to submit insane amounts of testing and paperwork (we're in PA) so I don't really care what they want for "proof" LOL I'm sure I already have it together here somewhere. But I can see where that would be a concern for parents in less regulated states. I dunno. I just don't think it's right for parents who pay for their children's education to also have to pay for the public schools. Just my two cents. Even if it isn't a drop in the bucket compared to what some pay, at least it's something.
if this is the bill i think it is it is a $2000 tax credit-- not individual tax payers get the money. dh says that would mean about $40 less in taxes for us. those at the top of the pay scale would enjoy the biggest benefit. those at the bottom or even in the middle would really not see a difference more then the cost of a pizza or 2...........but those making over $100,000 a year would save much more...........it's really another bill to help out the rich.....so they don't ahev to pay more taxes...........not so helpful for the rest of us.
now....as a family of public school teachers who have 2 kids in private schools there are several issues here......first all homeowners pay taxes and some of the money goes to public schools.......and i'm okay with it...just like i'm okay with welfare and disablity payments and the like.........those things are what make this a great country....even if it is not always run well and there are thsoe that abuse the system..........overall we are supposed to be a nation that takes care of her people.
also most public schools get the majority of their moneys from STATE funds not federal...so even if it were a $2000 voucher from federal funds it really would not effect the funding that public schools get. PLUS there are only a few families who would really see the $2000 as the difference between public and private....some public school teachers see vouchers and tax credits to those not in public schools as a slap in the face to public school teachers............i see it as a personal choice.
and i really don't want homeschoolers to have to 'prove' anymore then they already do-----and less would be great-------because those are other things that make this country great........a few more freedoms.
This is very similar to the voucher movement. Voucher proponents want the government to give vouchers to parents, who can then 'spend' that voucher wherever they want. Public school, parochial school, private school, homeschool.
Public schools are against vouchers, in large part because many parents would take the voucher money and apply it toward private/parochial school tuition, and in some cases, homeschooling expenses. In our city, most parents would apply it toward parochial school tuition. Then the public school 'loses' money. Right now, because there is no voucher system, the public schools are given funds based on how many school-aged children reside in their district. In Philadelphia, that is a lot more children than actually attend the Philadelphia public schools--subsequently, the schools have more money for fewer children. If vouchers come into play, they will lose some of that money and only be paid based on how many children actual attend their schools.
It's also similar in this way to charter schools. In our district, charter schools (including cyber charters used by a lot of homeschoolers) take away money from regular public schools. Because a charter school is public, they receive funds--but they receive funds directly from the school district based on the children who attend their school. In other words, if I enrolled Sam in a cyber charter school, the Philadelphia district would have to pay the cyber charter their cost of his enrollment. And since Sam doesn't attend public school right now (even though I am paying taxes like he is), the public school would see that as a loss of money. Clear as mud?
Originally posted by fw221 Wow. I'd heard that religious schools were less expensive than secular, but good grief. We're looking at $12,500 for pre-K for our one.
We pay $4,000 for 2 in Catholic school here in IL (which is pretty reasonable in our area. We do already have some kind of a tax credit (I can't remember how it works at the moment)
The most expensive Catholic high school here is around $14,500 per student per year
__________________
Karen
married to DH Jim since 9/87
mom to Jeremy (12/88), Noah (4/91), Adam (4/95), Kathryn (10/01) and Clara (11/05)
I've always said that I wouldn't take homeschooling voucher money. I don't want the strings that will come along with it. They may not ask for anything at first, but eventually they will want to control how I use the money.
I"m not sure about a federal tax credit. They federal government doesn't regulate my homeschooling but I guess they could require some type of "proof" that I"m homeschooling. I'd have to think about if we'd take the credit or not.
Here in Texas we have LOTS of homeschooling freedom. The state doesn't even know that my kids should be in school. No registering them, evaluations, or anything. Very nice!
I also think that it is fine for my taxes to go to educating the rest of the kids. Everyone deserves a chance to educate themselves.
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Lisa, wife to Simon and mom to 6 wonderful kids! McKrae 11, Westley 9, Grant 7, Leah 5, Elise 3, & Ella 1!
As a homeschooling mama, I think that stinks. I have to pay federal taxes (in part to support schools) plus state taxes (in part to support schools) PLUS local SCHOOL tax. It's absolutely unfair!
I don't get how they lose money? 
so happy to be 8
I'd heard that religious schools were less expensive than secular, but good grief. We're looking at $12,500 for pre-K for our one.
As if I don't pay enough in federal and state taxes already. I am TOTALLY in favor of a tax credit. I already have to submit insane amounts of testing and paperwork (we're in PA) so I don't really care what they want for "proof" LOL I'm sure I already have it together here somewhere. 
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