I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5963 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 19, 2012 Mr. Cole introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend for 1 year the deduction for expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers and to allow such deduction with respect to home school expenses.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Home School Equity Act for Tax Relief of 2012.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Over 1.5 million children, or about 3 percent of school-aged children, are home schooled in the United States each year according to U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2)The number of home schooled children is increasing every year. (3)Many home schooling families spend thousands of dollars on books, supplies, and other teaching materials. (4)The median amount of money spent annually on educational materials is about $400 to $599 per home-educated student. (5)Home schooled students have almost identical achievement statistics as students who are products of the public school system. (6)Home schooled students perform at continually higher levels on nationalized tests like the ACT and SAT. (7)Home schooling families are typically larger than the average United States family with 3 or more children. (8)In many communities, home schooling is the only alternative to failing public schools. (9)Home schooled students perform at exceptionally high levels regardless of level of regulation, family income, and style of home schooling. (10)Home schoolers are allowed a tax deduction for school supply expenses in the States where home schools are treated as private schools, but are not allowed this deduction in States where home schools are given a different designation.

3.

Modification of deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers

(a)

Extension

Subparagraph (D) of section 62(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking or 2011 and inserting 2011, or 2012. (b)

Home schools included

Subparagraph (B) of section 62(d)(1) of such Code is amended— (1)by striking The term and inserting the following: For purposes of this paragraph—(i)

In general

The term , and (2)by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii)

Home schools

The term school includes any home school which provides elementary or secondary education if such school is treated as a home school or private school under State law. . (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.