Homeschool parents speak against Iowa tax credit bill

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) - Some parents who could receive thousands in tax dollars per year spoke out against a proposal to do that during an Iowa House subcommittee hearing Wednesday.

The plan would give parents who homeschool their children a $4,000 annual tax credit.

But some of the parents who could be eligible say they don’t want the help.

“Bringing these public funds into the private sector inhibits my ability to be an independent educator. I think that ultimately freedom is more important to fairness,” said Karen Hebron, a homeschool parent from Indianola.

Opponents also say House File 2078 would take more funding away from public schools at a time where enrollment is down and state funding increases are less than inflation.

Religious organization Inspired Life supports the bill and says it will improve parents’ freedom of their children’s education. The bill’s sponsor Republican Representative Samantha Fett works for the organization.

“It is $4,000. Far less than what the state would spend per pupil in the public system as we’ve heard. And when a student is not enrolled in public school the state does not spend the full per pupil amount on that child,” said Amber Williams of Inspired Life.

Legislators added an amendment to alter the proposal so that only families using Competent Private Instruction could receive the tax credit.

That is homeschooling with specific state requirements like 148 days of instruction and licensed instructors.

The proposal advances to a House committee for further consideration.