I will soon be introducing legislation to provide a personal income tax deduction of up to $5,000 per eligible child for qualified educational expenses incurred by parents or legal guardians who home school their children in accordance with Pennsylvania law.
 
Under current law, families who choose to educate their children at home assume full financial responsibility for curriculum, instructional materials, standardized testing, tutoring services, educational technology, and other necessary learning resources, while they continue to contribute to public education funding through state and local taxes. This legislation seeks to provide targeted tax relief that recognizes those expenses and supports parental educational choice.
 
This legislation would:
 

• Establish a state personal income tax deduction of up to $5,000 per home schooled child per taxable year.
• Make this deduction available to families complying with Pennsylvania’s home school requirements.
• Covers qualified educational expenses for home school education.
• Requires documentation of eligible expenses for audit purposes.
• Ensures the deduction applies only to children not enrolled in a public or publicly funded charter school for the taxable year.

 
Pennsylvania families who home school provide an alternative educational pathway that reduces enrollment pressure and associated costs within public school systems. These families shoulder substantial out-of-pocket costs in delivering a legally compliant and academically rigorous education. Offering a limited, capped deduction provides modest financial relief while preserving accountability and fiscal responsibility.
 
This proposal:
 

• Supports educational freedom and parental choice.
• Recognizes the financial contribution homeschooling families make.
• Encourages academic investment and innovation.
• Maintains responsible fiscal parameters through a defined cap and documentation requirements.

 
At a time when families are navigating rising educational and household costs, this measure offers practical, targeted support to Pennsylvania’s 44,000 home school students without creating a new entitlement program.
 
I respectfully ask you to join me as a co-sponsor of this important legislation to support Pennsylvania families committed to educating their children at home.
 
Please contact my office if you have questions.