[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 54 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TEXAS HOME SCHOOL APPRECIATION WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2000

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, as this is Texas Home School Appreciation 
week, I am pleased to take this opportunity to salute those Texas 
parents who have chosen to educate their children at home. While 
serving in Congress, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of 
the home schooling parents in my district. I am very impressed by the 
job these parents are doing in providing their children with a quality 
education. I have also found that home schooling parents are among the 
most committed activists in the cause of advancing individual liberty, 
constitutional government, and traditional values. I am sure my 
colleagues on the Education Committee would agree that the support of 
home schoolers was crucial in defeating the scheme to implement a 
national student test.
  Home schooling is becoming a popular option for parents across the 
country. In Texas alone, there are approximately seventy five thousand 
home schooling families educating an average of three children per 
household. Home schooling is producing some outstanding results. For 
example, according to a 1997 study the average home schooled student 
scores near the ninetieth percentile on standardized academic 
achievement tests in reading, mathematics, social studies, and science! 
Further proof of the success of home schooling is the fact that in 
recent years, self-identified home schoolers have scored well above the 
national average on both the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the 
American College Test (ACT). These high scores are achieved by home 
schooling children, regardless of race, income-level, or gender.
  Contrary to media-generated stereotypes portraying home schooled 
children as isolated from their peers, home schooled children 
participate in a wide variety of social, athletic, and extra-curricular 
activities. Home schooling parents have formed numerous organizations 
designed to provide their children ample opportunity to interact with 
other children. In fact, recent data indicates that almost 50% of home 
schooled children engage in extra-curricular activities such as group 
sports and music classes, while a third of home schooled children 
perform volunteer work in their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, to be a home schooling parent takes a unique dedication 
to family and education. In many cases, home school families must forgo 
the second income of one parent, as well as incurring the costs of 
paying for textbooks, computers, and other school supplies. Home 
schooling parents must pay these expenses while, like all American 
families, struggling to pay state, local, and federal taxes.
  In order to help home schoolers, and all parents, devote more of 
their resources to their children's education, I have introduced the 
Family Education Freedom Act (H.R. 935). This bill provides all parents 
a $3,000 per child tax credit for K-12 education expenses. This bill 
would help home school parents to provide their children a first-class 
education in a loving home environment.
  The Family Education Freedom Act will also benefit those parents who 
choose to send their children to public or private schools. Parents who 
choose to send their children to private school may use their tax 
credit to help cover the cost of tuition. Parents who choose to send 
their children to public schools may use their tax credit to help 
finance the purchase of educational tools such as computers or 
extracurricular activities like music programs. Parents may also use 
the credit to pay for tutoring and other special services for their 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, the best way to improve education is to return control 
over education resources to the people who best know their children's 
unique needs: those children's parents. Congress should empower all 
parents, whether they choose to home school or send their child to a 
public or private school, with the means to control their child's 
education. That is why I believe the most important education bill 
introduced in this Congress is the Family Education Freedom Act.
  In conclusion, I wish to once again commend the accomplishments of 
those parents who have chosen to educate their children at home. I also 
urge my colleagues to help home schoolers, and all parents, ensure 
their children get a quality education by cosponsoring the Family 
Education Freedom Act.

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