Homeschool News
04/14/2008
Parkinson Introduces Legislation to help Homeschoolers
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – State Representative Mark Parkinson introduced legislation to help the families of Missouri who homeschool their children keep more of their money. Parkinson introduced HB 2580, which would allow parents to deduct cost associated with homeschooling from their taxes every year.
Category: General
Posted by: kozykitten
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – State Representative Mark Parkinson introduced legislation to help the families of Missouri who homeschool their children keep more of their money. Parkinson introduced HB 2580, which allows parents to deduct cost associated with homeschooling from their taxes every year.
“Parents who decide to take on the task of educating their children should have the same benefits as those who send their children to a public or private school. Our public education system doesn’t charge families for books and supplies, and there is no reason why a homeschooling family should have to take on additional burdens to make sure their children receive a quality education,” said Parkinson.
HB 2580 will allow families who homeschool to take any books or supplies and deduct them from not only future tax returns, but this year’s tax returns as well. Parkinson had the idea while watching a televised national spelling bee, and noticing that a significant majority of the children had been homeschooled.
“In my meetings with children or adults who were homeschooled, they always seem to be, as a group, more mature and better educated than some of their peers. Homeschooling parents already have to pay property taxes to pay for our public education, yet voluntarily opt out and also lose additional income to make sure their children are educated in the way they best see fit. Giving them this tax break is the least we can do,” said Parkinson.
Joining him in introducing this bill were 15 other legislators, including House Speaker Rod Jetton, Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, Majority Leader Steven Tilley, and St. Louis metro legislators Bob Onder, Jane Cunningham, Cynthia Davis, Sally Faith, Doug Funderburk, and Scott Muschany.
“Parents who decide to take on the task of educating their children should have the same benefits as those who send their children to a public or private school. Our public education system doesn’t charge families for books and supplies, and there is no reason why a homeschooling family should have to take on additional burdens to make sure their children receive a quality education,” said Parkinson.
HB 2580 will allow families who homeschool to take any books or supplies and deduct them from not only future tax returns, but this year’s tax returns as well. Parkinson had the idea while watching a televised national spelling bee, and noticing that a significant majority of the children had been homeschooled.
“In my meetings with children or adults who were homeschooled, they always seem to be, as a group, more mature and better educated than some of their peers. Homeschooling parents already have to pay property taxes to pay for our public education, yet voluntarily opt out and also lose additional income to make sure their children are educated in the way they best see fit. Giving them this tax break is the least we can do,” said Parkinson.
Joining him in introducing this bill were 15 other legislators, including House Speaker Rod Jetton, Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, Majority Leader Steven Tilley, and St. Louis metro legislators Bob Onder, Jane Cunningham, Cynthia Davis, Sally Faith, Doug Funderburk, and Scott Muschany.
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