There has been a lot of information floating around about HB 134-some of it untrue, some of it true, and some of it based on fear. I want to give you my thoughts on the matter and then would love to hear your thoughts. First off, I tell my children all the time not to believe something just because they read it-whether it be online, a newspaper, a book, etc. So, I am posting the link to the actual bill so that you can read it for yourself. Please take a moment to go over it instead of just taking my word for it.
http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/HB0134.html
So, here is the long and short of it. This would be a tax credit for homeschooling families. The Utah Constitution states that 100% of Utah income tax must go to public education-think your local schools and higher ed like public universities. Families would choose whether or not to take the credit. The argument for it is that homeschooling families pay to educate other children through state income tax and then also pay to educate their homeschooled children. They are required to pay for their neighbor's child's education before their own child. This bill was written by a homeschooling father and sponsored by my representative, David Lifferth.
This bill would allow homeschooling families to claim a tax credit of $500 of their Utah income tax responsibility. It is a credit, meaning that if you pay no income tax, you don't get $500, you get $0. Families who paid $200 would get $200 back, so up to a $500 rebate. And homeschooling families would still be contributing to public education through their property and federal taxes.
In the interest of full disclosure, let me tell you about my family dynamic. I have one child in a charter school, 2 in my local public schools, and one that I homeschool. I think this bill is important and I support it.
So, let's talk about some of the reasons people do not like the bill-
#1. It will create a government database of homeschoolers. Um, this already exists. I am required by law to file an affidavit with my local school district that states that I am homeschooling my child-and so is every other homeschooling parent in Utah.
#2. It will rob children in public schools of needed resources. I actually save the state a ton of money by homeschooling. It costs over $6,000 a year to educate a Utah public school child, so I am saving the state that much each year for every child that I homeschool. I do not agree with how the district or USOE or legislators spend my tax dollars in the name of public education. My district recently spent $75,000 for a 100-year celebration which included the minting of commemorative coins. I see that as a complete waste of money. The idea of providing every child a tablet has also been a common idea with hundreds of millions of dollars being thrown around as the cost. At the same time, I keep hearing from the same people that these tablets would be out of date in 4 years. Not exactly a long-term solution.
According to the Utah State Office of Education, there were 8,260 children in Utah who were homeschooled in 2012. If every child took that $500 credit, it would equal $4,130,000. Holy cow! But let's put that in perspective-the public school system (not including higher ed) was appropriated $3.8 billion for the fiscal year 2014. That $4.1 million would be 0.1% of that budget. Not exactly a huge change. But the belief is that the actual number of families who would use the credit and be eligible would be closer to $2 million.
#3. This bill is anti-public education. I love public education. My husband and I are both the product of public school education. I have volunteered as a room mom and chaperone. I have traded out books in the Take Home Reading Library and worked at the book fair. I have worked as a substitute teacher. But there are some kids that don't do well in public education. They fare better in different learning environments. This bill does not trash public education, it simply recognizes that there are families who are supporting public education with their tax dollars while also purchasing curriculum and paying for field trips and learning kits. This bill simply makes the playing field a little more even.
#4. This tax credit will "encourage" families to homeschool for money. Homeschooling is hard. There are days when I want to throw in the towel. But it is what my child needs, so I am willing to make that sacrifice. I highly doubt that there is going to be a mad rush from the public schools for an annual rebate of $500. I don't think the federal child credit led to an increase in the birth rate.
#5. $500 is too much/too little. I am pretty frugal, but homeschooling costs money. Even when you go through "free" websites for worksheets and activities, there are paper and printing costs. At our current rate, I will have gone through a case of printer paper for one child. And I cannot even begin to guestimate our printer ink refills-but it is a lot! Throw into that books, entrance fees for activities, and PE, and I am well above the $500 range. Throw in a computer programming course at a local business or a couple classes at a co-op on chemistry or math, and I am closer to $1,000. The homeschooling dad who wrote this bill talked to many homeschool families and $500 is a good middle ground.
This bill would not apply to children who are dual-enrolled (part-time homeschooled and part-time at a local public school or charter school). This bill would also not apply to those who are using companies like My Tech High and Harmony since those are technically a type of charter.
I think there is room in the educational world for all kinds of educational experiences for our children and I think making educating our children less of a tax burden for families who support public education while also paying for homeschooling is the right thing to do.
What are your thoughts?
