Action Requested:
No action is requested at this time. HSLDA will continue to monitor this bill and will send out an action e-lert if the bill comes up for a hearing.

Introduced: 5/21/2009: Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsor: Rep. Pete Hoekstra (MI-2)

Co-sponsors: Rep Doug Lamborn (CO-5)

Bill Summary and Status H.R. 2605

HSLDA’s Position:
Support.

Talking points:
HSLDA supports this bill because it would give homeschool parents a sizeable education tax deduction on their federal income taxes. Under H.R. 2605, a homeschool or private school family with four children would be able to deduct 100% of the average cost for per-pupil spending in public schools in their state. If their state’s average per-pupil spending was $10,000, a family with four children between kindergarten through 12th grade would be able to deduct $40,000 from their gross income.

A family with four children in the public schools would be able to deduct 25% of the average cost for per-pupil spending in public schools in their state. If they lived in the same state as the homeschooling family above, this family would be able to deduct $10,000 from their gross federal taxable income.

HSLDA supports tax breaks for homeschool families because they already pay taxes to support their local public schools, but do not have any children in the public schools. It is essential, however, that any tax break legislation protect homeschool freedom and not include any regulation of home education. H.R. 2605 protects homeschool freedom by stating simply that “the term ‘school’ means any school (including a homeschool) if attendance at such school satisfies the compulsory attendance requirements of State law.” This will ensure that the federal government will not be able to regulate or define a homeschool program, yet will allow home educators to receive sizable federal income tax deductions.