Pending Tax Breaks for Homeschoolers

Author: Sarah Riordan

Despite the opening scene of Mean Girls  in which homeschoolers are viewed as gun-toting, spelling bee-winning, backwards members of society, many are pretty normal and dedicated to education. 

Perhaps Senator David Vitter has seen the positive side of homeschooling, and that’s why he is out to give homeschooling families a little financial break. 

The word “little” above does in fact, as it usually does, mean little.  Basically, Vitter’s S.100 gives homeschooling families 500 dollars per child tax deduction for eligible homeschooling expenses maxing out at 2,000 dollars.  So if you have over four children, you have to get rid of the rest.  Or perhaps just let them learn to read on their own.

On a more serious note, Vitter is actually trying to be fair to families who do not choose to send their children to taxpayer-funded public schools.  Vitter probably sees that plenty of families out there are paying for everyone else’s education, but no one is aiding them in paying for their children to learn. 

As far as expenses go, families who choose to home school or send their children to public schools, are forking out quite a bit in taxes to support public education.  Private schools charge thousands of dollars a year and homeschoolers are hit because they have to pay for their own textbooks.  If any of you out there are in, or have children in college, you know how expensive textbooks are.  Vitter is trying to give homeschoolers a rare break in the world of government tax policies.

So, Vitter’s reasoning is quite…reasonable.  However, the whole issue does raise the question, “Should people who choose a different path for their children’s education be eligible for tax breaks?” Personally, I am not opposed to homeschooling and would fully support any family who chooses to do so.  However, the point is that no where are American citizens guaranteed a tax break for making a choice.  As a society, we opted to use tax dollars for a publicly funded school system.  As a result, part of being an American citizen means that some of your money will go to providing the greater population with an education.  If you choose another way that’s your choice but people shouldn’t expect special concessions.