U.S. Senator David Vitter is to be commended for taking a bold step in support of the nation's home school families. Yesterday, he introduced the HOMES Act, a bill designed to provide tax relief for home school educational expenses. (see press release below) CHEF of LA, along with HSLDA, will monitor the bill closely as it makes its way through the legislative process to see to it that it does not result in any increased regulation of home schoolers in any state.

Currently we are awaiting the official posting of the bill so that we can review the original language and suggest amendments if required. We will send out progress reports.
 

Thank you!

Beryl Amedee
Legislative Liaison
CHEF of LA
legislative@chefofla.org

 

 

 

For Immediate Release Contact: Joel DiGrado

June 3, 2008 (202) 224-4623

Vitter Introduces Home Schooling Tax Relief Bill

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today introduced a bill to provide education-related tax relief to families who home school their children. The Home School Opportunities Make Education Sound Act would allow home school families to take advantage of tax deductions to help alleviate education-related expenses.

“Like those who choose to send their children to private schools, home school families pay an inequitable share of education-related expenses,” said Vitter. “Even as they pay for expenditures related to home school activities, they fund public schools through their tax dollars. We need to provide them with the same relief offered to private school families, and this bill is intended to do just that, by minimizing the financial burden of these families.”

Vitter’s bill provides for a deduction of $500 per child with an annual limit of $2,000 for expenses related to K-12 homeschooling activities. For families that do not itemize their taxes, the bill would allow for a standardized deduction of $500 per child, not to exceed $2,000 in one year. Families with children who attend private schools are already eligible for education-related tax benefits.

“All families should be provided with a full spectrum of choices when it comes to the education of their children,” Vitter said. “We need to take the necessary steps to remove the undue financial burdens that are currently placed on home school families. As individuals empower themselves to take responsibility for the proper education of their children, we should in turn provide them with the appropriate tools to do so. To that end, this legislation is a positive step in that process.”

 

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