The cost of homeschooling varies widely depending on where you live. The state in which your children are enrolled and whether or not they participate in extracurricular activities must be accounted for when budgeting for home-based learning.
In Texas, the average cost of homeschooling ranges between $700 and $1800. The amount will vary depending on the number of students learning from home and the curriculum used for academic purposes.
Suppose you’ve decided to take on the responsibility of educating your kids yourself instead of sending them off to government-run institutions. In that case, the next question may arise concerning how much money you’ll need to do so. We’ve compiled some resources regarding the costs of homeschooling in Texas.
Note: There’s no guarantee that these numbers will remain constant due to fluctuating prices in gas, food, housing, and other necessities. Also, remember that these figures represent what you’d spend IF you decide to homeschool. Some people use tax credits or deductions instead of spending their funds.
What Is The State Of Home Education In Texas?
No accurate statistics are available for why many people choose to homeschool. It could simply be because of personal choice, economic reasons, or perhaps even a strong desire to avoid potential problems caused by peer socialization. Whatever the reason, the number of Texas households choosing to homeschool outnumbers all other states combined by large margins.
According to recent polls, up to 90% of American adults believe parental involvement in child rearing can make a difference in a child’s future success. Another study showed that 72 percent of Americans think quality early childhood education should be free from governmental interference.
These results indicate that most Americans agree with homeschoolers regarding teaching their children at home. However, some legislators don’t share this opinion. They feel that having their children educated by teachers paid directly by the taxpayers makes sense for both the parent and the child.
Let’s look at the facts. Most studies show that home educators perform better than public school teachers. One particular study by the National Center for Educational Statistics found that 75 percent of homeschooled high school seniors taking standardized tests scored above 50 percent on average, while only 26 percent of public high school graduates scored above 50 percent. Additionally, nearly 30 percent of first-year college students tested illiterate compared to just 6 percent of homeschooled teens.
The Costs For Private School Enrollment And Homeschool Instruction
Before starting, you must determine whether you qualify under the new Texas statute allowing individuals to receive reduced tuition rates for special needs students. Currently, three types of special needs students are eligible for these reductions; physically disabled, emotionally handicapped, and developmentally delayed. Please consult with your local county offices regarding eligibility requirements.
A quick search reveals several websites offering professional courses specifically designed for homeschooling, including certification programs provided by organizations such as the International Society for Children & Families Online and Project Seal Academic Services Inc.
Homeschooling – A Growing Trend
Currently, roughly 3,000 registered home educators are working throughout Texas. According to estimates, around 35% of the population fits this description. That translates to almost 900,000 Texans who educate their children at home.
It seems safe to say that the demand for services rendered by home educators steadily increases yearly.
One interesting statistic is that 70% of surveyed home educators reported feeling “very satisfied” with their jobs compared to only 45% of public school teachers.
On top of lower salaries, home educators often deal with added stressors relating to childcare responsibilities. But regardless of income, the simple truth remains that home educators generally provide a superior form of education, especially for young children.
State Funding Formula
Since 1999, the Department of Child Development (DCSB) has been responsible for providing grants to help low-income families afford necessary materials for their children’s education. From January 2000 until April 28th, 2009, the DCSB distributed over $8 million in aid to Texas residents.
For the fiscal year 2010, the legislature allocated $1.4 billion toward K-12 education. Half of this amount was set aside for reimbursement of general operating expenses. On top of this, the legislature also gave districts $600 million to cover increased health insurance premiums.
Contact your local county office or visit your nearest district headquarters for assistance. Keep in mind that financial support varies greatly depending on location and circumstances.
Other Resources
You can learn more about this subject by consulting with Project SEAL, the International Society for Children & Family Online, or the National Association of Christian Home Educators. All three of these groups specialize in providing various forms of instructional materials to aspiring home educators.
Additionally, you can check out several other valuable sites that include detailed explanations of the laws surrounding homeschooling in Texas.
Tax Credits/Refundable Tax Deductions (Eligibility Requirements)
Qualifying for a federal EITC depends entirely on whether or not your household earns too little money to file taxes jointly. Therefore, you can’t claim credit simply because you’re self-employed. Instead, you must request a copy of Form 1040 Schedule C to obtain a refundable tax deduction. Once submitted, you can submit proof of homeschooling expenses for verification.
Education Credit
Under section 2433(a), certain expenses incurred while homeschooling your children may qualify for a tax credit against your taxable income. Eligible expenses include transportation and related fuel costs, utilities, meals prepared by the teacher, and supplies purchased for homeschooling purposes.
However, this allowance does come with limitations. First, the IRS stipulates that the student cannot contribute towards paying these expenses. Second, the student must attend class sessions once a week for a minimum of 180 minutes. Third, the instructor can’t charge students extra fees for their time. Finally, the student must be able to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress without the benefit of classroom instruction.
The maximum credit allowed under Section 2433(a) is 100%, meaning the entire expense is deducted from gross wages. Unfortunately, this credit expires after three consecutive years unless Congress renews it via a joint resolution passed by both houses of Congress.
Home education is a growing trend among families across America. While previous generations felt comfortable relying solely on public schools for their children’s education, today’s youth seem unwilling to trust anyone else for guidance.
With advancements made in technology, distance learning options continue to grow exponentially. Nowadays, you can watch videos of lectures given by world-renowned professors while sitting comfortably at home!
