Many public schools offer open enrollment, allowing kids to attend charter, magnet, and schools outside their local district.
But what about homeschools? Can School Choice help homeschoolers get financial relief? Today, Ginny and Mary Ellen discuss state funding options on their podcast.
Show Notes:
Today, we are talking about School Choice and what it means for homeschoolers.
Remember - these options vary from state to state. Check your state’s status before you make any presumptions.
Private and homeschool options:
Vouchers are state-funded scholarships to pay tuition at private or homeschools.
- They may be targeted at students from low-income families.
- Or with special needs
- Or are currently attending a failing public school.
Vouchers are available in at least 10 states and the District of Columbia.
Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs)
ESA programs create personal accounts that store a child’s state Education Dollars, making a child’s education truly customizable.
Education dollars pay for:
- School tuition, textbooks, and fees
- Tutoring and special therapies
- Other approved expenses
ESAs are available in at least 18 states.
Scholarship Tax Credit Programs
Corporations and individuals make private donations to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships to eligible children. In return, the corporations and individuals receive a state income tax credit.
There are at least 21 scholarship tax credit programs operating across the country,
Individual tuition tax credits
Individual tuition tax credits give parents a state income tax credit for their child’s approved educational expenses.
They are available in about half a dozen states.
Drawbacks
Many homeschoolers oppose ANY government contributions to their homeschool. Their concern is that "with government shekels come government shackles". A valid concern—let’s address it.
Remember, Shackles can be imposed even without subsidies. States with education choice policies tend to respect homeschooling autonomy more than those without, but homeschoolers still have to stay awake and aware. We Catholics need to partner with Christian homeschoolers and let our state reps know we are watching them.
States without school choice policies— including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island—are among the worst for burdensome regulations on homeschool families. They tend to be ruled by teachers’ unions.
States with school choice policies—including Iowa, Indiana, and Oklahoma — have few homeschool regulations and liberal education-choice policies. Note: In 2023, Ohio lawmakers passed both universal school choice and a reduction in homeschool regulations.
There is no school choice policy that requires a family or a private school to participate. All are free to reject the government goodies, but many families could really use the help. All families and schools can evaluate the costs versus the benefits and then decide.
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