[Tofu Bacon]

What do you think?

Homeschooling | | Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee

[LucyWho]

I agree with it. The quality of public schools just aren't what they used to be. $5,000 will certainly not replace the parent's income, but it will help. I also definitely agree that homeschooled children be recognized as high school graduates once they finish.

[K.A.T]

I could support this IF there are check and balances in place. Such as proving that you really are homeschooling your child and doing so properly. Not just saying yeah I home school now give me 5K. I can foresee many parents just claiming they're homeschooling just for the rebate.

[BittyBugsMama]

I'm all for supporting home schooling but I'd need some pretty concrete studies showing that homeschooling is equivalent to a traditional schooling atmosphere.

[Poncho06]

Sounds like an okay idea in theory but where does this funding come from? Should there then be equal breaks for those who place their children in private schools systems? What about households who do not utilize the school system?

Pulling from the current school budgets would then place an unfair burden onto the remainder of the community. Home schooling for the most part (baring any developmental issues that hamper main stream schooling) is equal to private schooling and both are a choice that the ability to financially provide for the choice is needed.

[Frackel]

I'm all for it(I think that might be obvious to some). However I do think there also needs to be checks and balances in place as well, including accountability. There needs to be a lot more information on the how, why, when, where-especially when it comes to exactly where the money is coming from. I think it's vitally important people understand that part and it's on them to provide that info. I certainly don't have all of those answers.
But I do believe, overall, it's a very good idea. It's certainly not a new one, but it is nice to see someone actually putting it out there this way. I would support it, with all the checks and balances in place as needed.

The best way to prove whether or not a student actually learned all he or she needs to know, to graduate(be it home, public, charter, or private school) is to test them. That's more important that the atmosphere or the environment in which the child received their lessons, far more. So I don't think there needs to be any sort of evidence for, or even against, whether or not the homeschool atmosphere is on par with any other school. It wouldn't really be all that easy to accomplish even if you wanted to. A lot of schools don't even match as far as the atmosphere, or environment is concerned. I can't imagine trying to make a homeschool(your home) match it. A lot of charter schools, and private schools have an atmosphere completely different from many public schools. Even public schools vary. My hometown, for instance, only has two schools. An elementary(k-5, used to be k-6) and a high school (6-12, used to be 7-12). They consider the 6-8(used to be 7-8) kids "junior high", but they're in the same building, same halls, etc.. as all the other high school kids. That school is NOTHING like most high schools I've seen. Nothing. The atmosphere is completely and utterly different. Even the way many teachers teach, is different(despite them all teaching the same basic material).

A huge benefit for many, when they choose to homeschool is the atmosphere/environment. We don't have to mimic that of any other school, to teach our children. The fact that so many schools try to, and yet so many kids still fall through the cracks should be enough evidence that trying to mimic every other atmosphere isn't going to work for all kids, or schools.

Unless you meant something entirely different by atmosphere and I missed the mark completely. Which is always possible, lol.

[WineKeepsMeSane]

Originally Posted by Poncho06

Sounds like an okay idea in theory but where does this funding come from? Should there then be equal breaks for those who place their children in private schools systems? What about households who do not utilize the school system?

Pulling from the current school budgets would then place an unfair burden onto the remainder of the community. Home schooling for the most part (baring any developmental issues that hamper main stream schooling) is equal to private schooling and both are a choice that the ability to financially provide for the choice is needed.

ITA.

[Miguels mommy]

I feel it's fine if the child is in a public out reach program. The home schoolers get Educational Optional field trips, weekly optional co-op, ability to and knowledge of after school programs and sports, materials library, option to buy secular home-school curriculum from the school, a support teacher, graduation, transcript and a diploma but no money given to parents. Maybe the school gets 1/2 funding to improve the schools, (the other 1/2 goes to the outreach program), proceeds from selling home school materials, test scores, retain "at risk" kids and other things.

[Tofu Bacon]

I'm not sure I like the idea. That funding would benefit more students if it were to be put toward improving public schools.

[WineKeepsMeSane]

I could see a tax break equal to the amount the mandatory materials the parents need to get, mandatory testing, etc. and a tax break on a percentage of other materials. Would that really equal $5k though? Maybe, but I would guess that it wouldn't.

No

[GSLynn]

Unsure on this one. I think on one hand IF homeschooling PREVENTS the parent from working (but they don't want to do public school due to really bad school district), then maybe.

If the parent has the option of allowing their child to attend a good public school, then that's different. Parents can choose a charter, private or to home school, but all of those would cost them. You don't usually get reimbursement for paying for private school (that I have seen, maybe it falls under another tax code) or charter school. That's usually funded by the parent because they dont' want the free education from the public school system (and that's ok).

It's kind of difficult to decide what's best in these situations. I think the government should be concentrating on helping where funds are already low, not introducing new stuff they don't have the money for

[Frackel]

Originally Posted by WineKeepsMeSane

I could see a tax break equal to the amount the mandatory materials the parents need to get, mandatory testing, etc. and a tax break on a percentage of other materials. Would that really equal $5k though? Maybe, but I would guess that it wouldn't.

It would depend on where you live for this and what your state requires. But it very well may come close to equal that, for some families.
Some states will accept a portfolio instead of yearly state testing(mine is one that says they do, but they make it beyond difficult for most people to turn in portfolios, so most choose state testing. They're not very accepting of homeschool families in this state). For a lot of people they have to go somewhere, nowhere near their home(some can't even make just a day trip of it because of how far they might have to travel), to have the state testing done. I know some areas they allow homeschool children to come in with the local school kids to test, but that's not available in all areas.(it's not available here at all). We're lucky and get our state testing through a virtual academy and meet once a year with quite a few other homeschool families to do the state testing(it's a 5 day long process, with different grades going at different times and different days, having a minimum of 2 hours and maximum of 2.5 hours to complete their tests) The place we go, a local hotel, is less than an hour from here, but getting transportation is really difficult for us. It would be easier to just turn in a portfolio. There are some people that travel upwards of 5-6 hours to get here though. That's a pretty long trip if you have to be here all 5 days. This year we will have to be there all 5 days but the amount of time will vary. Not real sure what we're going to do, can't just stay there for a week(though I'd like to, lol).
The curriculum many choose could be less expensive, so I definitely don't see a need to have all of that reimbursed, but up to and including a certain %, that makes sense. I can see a lot of benefit to a credit like this. But again they'd need to have a lot of checks and balances in place to ensure it's being used correctly-and simply to explain it.

[HappyHippy]

I like the idea. But I don't think it should be a set amount like 5K, but more of an amount that homeschoolers spend on their kids. For me the amount would be very little (if you don't include gas to the co-op) because my son is only 4 years old and a lot of the materials I can get free online, and his workbooks are cheap. However, when he's 12 and I have more than 1 child homeschooling the cost will be up by a lot. One of the ladies in the homeschooling co-op has 6 kids and she homeschools them all, so her costs are probably pretty high, and may be over 5K.

I do think kids should be tested at the end of the schooling year to show that they are on track (or ahead in some cases). I can't remember if testing is mandatory here, but I know it's highly encouraged by our co-op to do it starting Kindegarten. And I'll be doing it at the end of next school year (ds1 is only pre-school age and they don't do testing for that).

[Hey... Where's Perry?]

Originally Posted by LucyWho

I agree with it. The quality of public schools just aren't what they used to be.

Really? Public schools around here are awesome. So awesome that Maryland public schools are ranked #1 in the nation for the third year in a row (THREE IN A ROW FOR MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS).

Originally Posted by BittyBugsMama

I'm all for supporting home schooling but I'd need some pretty concrete studies showing that homeschooling is equivalent to a traditional schooling atmosphere.

I agree. I also meant to quote K.A.T. and agree that homeschooled families need to prove that they are home schooling and submit lesson plans, etc.


I may even go out on a limb and say that families also need to submit a good reason as to why they are homeschooling.

[Repti.Mom]

Originally Posted by Poncho06

Sounds like an okay idea in theory but where does this funding come from? Should there then be equal breaks for those who place their children in private schools systems? What about households who do not utilize the school system?

Pulling from the current school budgets would then place an unfair burden onto the remainder of the community. Home schooling for the most part (baring any developmental issues that hamper main stream schooling) is equal to private schooling and both are a choice that the ability to financially provide for the choice is needed.

I'd also like to know where funding comes from. They already ARE making huge cuts in traditional schooling, so hopefully that's not where they would take from.

I think that home schooled children should be considered high school graduates as well, but maybe have them pass some sort of testing equivalent of what they learn in traditional school or something. I realize most home schooling parents are teaching their kids writing and math etc etc.. but I still picture some parents keeping their kids at home and just letting them play outside all day, and bake cookies, no actual learning...

[frgsonmysox]

Originally Posted by Hey... Where's Perry?

Really? Public schools around here are awesome. So awesome that Maryland public schools are ranked #1 in the nation for the third year in a row (THREE IN A ROW FOR MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS).



I agree. I also meant to quote K.A.T. and agree that homeschooled families need to prove that they are home schooling and submit lesson plans, etc.


I may even go out on a limb and say that families also need to submit a good reason as to why they are homeschooling.

Any reason a parent chooses to homeschool is a good reason.

[Hey... Where's Perry?]

Originally Posted by frgsonmysox

Any reason a parent chooses to homeschool is a good reason.

Even if some of them do it just for the tax credit?

[plan4fate]

I could see a tax break (like allowing them to claim it as a specialized expense on their taxes), but not giving them 5k. If they do that (give them money), then anyone who doesn't choose public school should be entitled to that 5k to offset the cost.


side note.. didn't realized it cost that much to homeschool....

[Poncho06]

Should we extend the same credits to private schooling families to help offset the tuition, uniforms, fees etc?