Posted on 07/14/2013 11:35:52 AM PDT by Deadeye Division
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A state lawmaker wants to give a tax break to property owners who home-school their children.
State Sen. Kris Jordan introduced a bill that would reduce property taxes for parents who home-school their children that is equal to the amount they pay for school levies in their local districts.
Jordan said the legislation -- Senate Bill 127 -- will help those who “sacrifice so much” to home-school a child. One group argues that the measure could lead to more tax breaks at the expense of public education.
“People who home-school pay twice for the education of their kids,” the Central Ohio Republican said. “They pay their taxes. Then they pay for supplies, transportation and everything else out of their own pockets.”
If passed, SB 127 would save home-schooling property owners in the Cleveland school district about $1,500 each year per $100,000 of home value. Shaker Heights homeschoolers would reap the greatest benefit -- about $2,800 per $100,000 of home value.
“That extra thousand or two will help them buy books, or help them take their kids to museums and give mom and dad a little extra money to educate their kids,” Jordan said.
The money saved by property owners would be money lost by local school districts.
Across the state, more than 10,000 children are educated at home, according to the Ohio Department of Education. The numbers do not indicate if the students are taught in owner-occupied residences and would therefore qualify the homeowners for Jordan’s proposed tax break.
The number of home-schooled children varies widely by district. More than 150 children are home-schooled in the Cleveland School District, and fewer than 10 are home-schooled in Shaker Heights.
Jordan said the impact on local school districts would be minimal.
“I don’t think it will have a dramatic impact on any school district,” Jordan said. “It’s just a tool to help moms and dads better educate their children. If moms and dads want to home-school their kids, we want to help them however we can.
“What I hear people complaining about from the right and the left is that we need more parental involvement with children and education, and nothing gives better involvement than home-schooling.”
The Ohio School Boards Association staunchly opposes the legislation.
“It takes away from something we think every sector of the economy should pay for, their fair share of public education,” said Jay Smith, a lobbyist for OSBA, adding that SB 127 could lead to a slippery slope of tax breaks for others who keep their kids out of public schools.
“What about those who don’t have children? Shouldn’t they be granted the same?” Smith asked. “What about those who choose to send their child to private school? It could just escalate.”
Smith’s fears are not off the mark.
Jordan said he would eventually like to see an end to public school reliance on taxes from property owners who don’t have kids in public schools. He also said home-schooling is an issue close to his heart.
“I was a public school child, but because my mom was a teacher, I kind of feel like I was home-schooled,” Jordan said. “My mom spent many, many hours reading and working with me, so I wasn’t behind like many children are who are enrolled in public education.”
Well, I do agree with you, 100%
Homeschooling isn’t only about education. It’s more of a “i can do it by myself “ worldview.
You obviously DON'T KNOW homeschooling then. MOST homeschoolers are very involved with other homeschoolers. They form little groups or co-ops. They set up field trips together, share resources, tutor each others kids. If there is a parent who excels at a certain subject, oft times that parent will tutor other kids not within their family. And if there are no parents with a certain skill, such as music, the "co-op" hires a music teacher to teach the group and the families share the expense of paying that teacher.
MOST homeschool families understand the importance of social interaction for young people, so they make sure that there kids are involved with extra curricular activities. Be they sporting programs, church activities, scouting or even family businesses.
I have found that my kids who were home schooled, were the most consistant in coming out. Their parents were the most engaged in what was going on. And probably because of the co-op mindset, the most eager to offer assistance.
Homeschoolers do have a tendency to have a very self determined and self sufficient attitude, but it is not a self oriented or a self only mind set. Quite the opposite. Homeschoolers realize that they don't have the same "resources" as public or private schoolers, so they are more engaged with others, to make sure that their kids are up to speed, not just educationally, but socially and emotionally.
From my experience, homeschool parents are MORE AWARE of what's going on in their child's life than most public school parents. They're not assuming their child is learning this or that. They're not assuming all is good and normal, because they'd get a call if it wasn't. There is nobody to call them, because the parent is the one involved and responsible, not a teacher (of 30 kids at a time).
Of course, being connected to your community is an important part of pulling your own weight. That is something that most homeschoolers understand.
I see you have bought into the assertion that confiscatory taxation to be used by elites and bureaucrats to pay off constituencies is considered “Christian Charity”.
No.
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