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Hochstatter Proposes Tax Relief
    Senator Harold Hochstatter (R-13) has introduced Senate Bill 5774 which would grant tax relief to persons making contributions to private schools and persons incurring expenses in home schooling their children. Under this legislative proposal, the amount of a taxpayer’s property tax designated for public education would be reduced by the amount of any contributions to one or more private schools located within the county of the taxpayer’s residence and expenses incurred by the taxpayer in the education of his children in a home school. The taxpayer would have to file a Freedom of Conscience statement with the county treasurer, along with written proof of the private school contribution or home school expenditure. While it is unlikely this bill will be enacted, Senator Hochstatter is to be commended for this innovative approach to tax relief for families whose children are being privately educated.

Parent-Taught Driver’s Ed
    House Bill 1450, introduced by Representative John Koster (R-39-02), would change Washington law to include a parent providing home-based instruction in the definition of a “qualified teacher of traffic safety education.” This legislation would expand opportunities for home school students who have had difficulty getting into traffic safety courses at the public school or who desire to receive the driver’s education apart from any involvement in the public school. State law currently requires that any under-18 applicant for a driver’s license must have satisfactorily completed a traffic safety education course.
    Under current state law, students receiving home-based instruction may not be required to meet the “student learning goals,” master the “essential academic learning requirements,” take assessments, or obtain a certificate of mastery in connection with a state program of performance based education. H.B. 1906, also introduced by Representative Koster, is an effort to expand that protection by prohibiting the Washington State Board of Education from establishing any graduation requirements that compel students receiving private or home-based instruction to meet the essential academic learning requirements or the certificate of mastery. Further, this bill would prohibit the state board from establishing any college admission requirements that require students who have graduated from a private secondary school or completed a home-based instruction program to meet the learning requirements or certificate of mastery. Home School Legal Defense Association favors such legislation which would protect home school students from unwarranted discrimination.