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Trump, in a video posted on social media, promised homeschooling
parents tax relief on their education costs, up to $10,000 per
year per child.
“I will do everything I can to support parents who make the
courageous choice of homeschool,” said Trump. “I will also work
to ensure that every homeschool family is entitled to full
access to the benefits available to non-homeschool students …
including participating in athletic programs, clubs,
after-school activities, educational trips and more.”
Illinois Family Institute Executive Director David Smith said
rumblings of regulation coming out of the Illinois capitol might
deter homeschooling parents from applying for the credit.
"Right now, Illinois is one of the most free states in the
nation, liberally allowing us to homeschool as we wish,” said
Smith. “As far as the tax credit, there are some really
conservative homeschoolers who don’t even want to take that
because they claim it will put them on the radar for the
government. ‘If I take the tax credits, then they’ll know I am
homeschooling. In case they do pass regulation, I don’t want to
submit to that.’”
In 39 states and Washington, D.C., homeschooling parents are
required to inform a government entity they are homeschooling.
Illinois is not one of those states.
Illinois state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, chairs the
Adoption and Child Welfare Committee in the Illinois House. She
has called for action following an investigation that revealed
some parents isolated and mistreated their children.
Smith said many Illinois homeschooling parents are treading
carefully after Costa Howard called for the state to strengthen
its laws to protect homeschooled children facing inadequate
education, abuse and neglect.
"She’s made some waves about regulating homeschooling parents,
and that was in response to a ProPublica article highlighting
children involved in a horrible abusive situation,” said Smith.
“Well, that’s not the norm of homeschooling parents.”
Smith called on the legislature to address the abuses that go on
in public school before regulating homeschooling parents.
"Look at the abuse in the Chicago Public School system itself,”
said Smith. “Sexual abuse going on by administrators with our
students. Are you kidding me? Get your own house in order before
you start saying homeschoolers need to be regulated. So there is
a threat there hanging over our heads.” |
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