This week is National School Choice Week, a time when advocates of parental rights in education celebrate the freedom that we have as parents to choose the best education for our children. As a homeschool graduate, homeschool dad, and full time homeschool advocate at HSLDA Action, I’m pleased to celebrate with you what I believe to be the best type of education: homeschooling!
We are excited to see our friends in Congress recognizing the incredible growth of homeschooling and the incredible success of homeschool students, graduates, and parents.
First, H. Res. H. Res. 974, a resolution sponsored by Representative John Moolenaar (MI) and cosponsored by 50 Members of Congress, expresses the support of Congress for families who “actively choose the best education for their children,” and specifically calls out home school parents. You can read the resolution here.
Second, we are pleased that Congress is also putting action to words. Senators Mike Lee (UT) and Tim Scott (SC) introduced the Achieving Choice in Education Act (ACE Act), S. 3520. The bill would allow homeschoolers the option to save their money in tax-advantaged 529 accounts and use that money for k-12 homeschool educational expenses.
Currently, 529 accounts can only be used for higher education or k-12 private school tuition expenses, so S. 3520 would be a huge benefit to homeschoolers specifically. You can read the bill here, and we urge you to contact both of your U.S. Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 3520. You can find their contact info here.
Third, we are closely watching an unfolding bipartisan tax deal which would significantly expand the child tax credit. This would help all families, not just homeschoolers, and we are excited to see this proposal moving forward.
There was a recent bipartisan vote to expand the child tax credit, which you can read about here. As Executive Director of HSLDA Action, I recently signed a coalition letter in support of this expansion which was sent to Congressional leadership. You can read the letter here.
As our nation celebrates National School Choice Week, we are pleased to see homeschooling discussed favorably in our nation’s capital. Our team is on Capitol Hill working to protect, defend, and advance homeschool freedom.