Lawmaker, public school employee says “the bill just makes sense”
by Alison Despathy
Many bills introduced into the Legislature have yet to see the light of day in the form of a public hearing, often because they stem from the “other party” or because committees are swamped with well funded, special interest campaigns that crowd out home-grown Vermont legislation.
A prime example is H.354, sponsored by Representatives Chris Taylor (R- Chittenden-Franklin) and Michael Morgan (R- Grand Isle-Chittenden). As Representative Taylor explained to the House Ways and Means Committee, “This bill would allow families that home study their children the ability to take an annual income tax deduction of up to $1000 per enrolled dependent to help offset qualified expenses.”
Vermont students deserve and need alternatives to public school education, H.354 helps make this a reality, its sponsors say. Parents are concerned with the trajectory of public schools: controversial curriculum and subject matter, declining academic performance, bullying, and the heavily disputed covid response. Some students struggle in public schools and H.354 would allow families to realistically consider a homeschool path and choose the best educational opportunity for their child.
Representative Chris Taylor shared the following statements regarding my inquiry into H.354. All offer an important perspective for the future of education in Vermont.
Why have you sponsored H.354? “I think the bill just makes sense. Families that homeschool are funding the public school system, through their property tax, and not utilizing the resources that they provide. The schools then use the collected taxes to educate other children and the home school family is forced to spend additional money to educate their own child. Allowing them to take a tax deduction for a portion of those expenses creates some equity.”
What prompted the need for this bill in your experience? “For years Vermont has been trying to educate students in a “cookie cutter” fashion expecting all children to learn effectively utilizing the same curriculum and the same environment. My years of experience as a behavior interventionist, working in a public school setting, has highlighted that this is not best approach for some students and in fact can be detrimental to their learning. Building a more inclusive education system that takes the individualized nature of learning into account and accepts home study as a viable option will help Vermont reach its education goals. In order to do this we need to reduce the barriers, including financial, that unnecessarily restricts options for Vermont families.”
What is your hope for this bill and what it could offer? “My hope for the bill is for it to be passed and create base legislation that can be built on in the future. In passing this bill I also hope to initiate a move towards an education system in Vermont that accepts and supports the need for alternatives such as home study.”
As Vermont home study leader Retta Dunlap explained in her recent Vermont Daily Chronicle article, homeschooling had a win this session. Thanks to Dunlap’s long time dedication and hard work with the Agency of Education and several legislators, more trust and less ‘busy work’ is now offered to homeschoolers.
This is a great step forward. Public schools work for some families and are a nightmare for others. Its supporters say homeschooling can mean the difference between success and struggle, happiness and pain and finding joy in learning versus shutting down. H.354 could set the stage for Education Savings Accounts (ESA), now in effect in 13 states. With an ESA, families have access to funds for a variety of educational expenses. If Vermont is actually concerned with the success and happiness of the children, H.354 and a Vermont-based ESA would offer options versus attempting to monopolize education with a one size fits all approach.
The influential and powerful Education Alliance—consisting of the National Education Agency, and the Vermont Principals, Superintendent and School Boards Associations–would likely fight tooth and nail against H.354 and ESAs, even though it directly serves Vermont children.
Using the claim of preventing discrimination, the Alliance attempted to severely restrict public funding for any school other than public schools. In response, many families and independent schools pushed back hard and stepped up for education alternatives. As a result, this bill has mellowed from its original form but Campaign for Vermont spokesman Ben Kinsley thoroughly discussed the concerning issues related to H.483 in his article posted at VDC. H.483 now sits in Senate Education awaiting judgement.
Rep. Taylor offered in his testimony for H.354:
“If Vermont truly believes in equitable education, which I believe we all do, then we should be embracing and fostering much needed alternatives and helping families and children navigate the barriers in order to reach their education goals. This bill is a step in the right direction.”
Full disclosure – the author, a Danville resident and Clinical Nutionist, has homeschooled her children for 20 years. “I have experienced firsthand what homeschooling can offer children and families as well as the costs involved. The adventures, working together through the highs and lows of life, the bonding, and supporting children as individuals with varied interests and learning styles are all benefits to the homeschool path. H.354 would help provide homeschooled children with curriculum options, a much desired book or lesson, a tool, a field trip. All would make a tremendous difference in a child’s education and life experiences.”