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"There are thousands of homeschoolers in Oregon whose taxes currently go into the public school system, but they must buy their own textbooks and school supplies without getting so much as a tax deduction for it, let alone a tax credit. From my experience, a $1,000 per child tax credit would more than cover all of a family's expenses."
—Clackamas County Student "As a tutor, I see families who have a need for outside support. The public schools did not meet their need, but the families struggle to pay for outside help. This could open the way for children who have not been helped."
—Portland Resident Omarcus, age 13, from Portland would benefit from the tax credit.
"I homeschool my children. ORED would improve my children’s education. We could afford the best curriculum for our children and would have more options if we decide to send them to a public or private school."
—Polk County Parent "I am a parent with two children currently enrolled in a private school. I also have one child in college. Previously, I homeschooled all six of my children. A tax credit would help defray the extra cost I have by homeschooling and having my children in private schools."
—Clackamas County Parent Noah, age 7 months, from McMinnville would benefit from the tax credit.
"I am a single mother of four very bright children. Public schools just don't have the resources to keep them challenged. Private school is a much better match for their learning styles…Unfortunately the cost is prohibitive. This is America, why is it that it is so difficult to get the most important thing for a successful life, namely a good, solid education here?"
—Marion County Parent "My children deserve to be educated just as well as other children do. I believe that, we as parents should have a choice, a voice in deciding where we would like to send our children to be educated. This credit will help so many low-income families with proper education and will help promote family success in all areas. Thank you."
—Multnomah County Parent Matthew, age 16 and Katie, age 20, from Sherwood would benefit from the tax credit.
"I have six children, three of which are home-schooled and three of which are too young…Curriculum has been a big expense for us and a tax credit would help substantially with the cost of a high quality education for our family."
—Douglas County Parent "We home-school all four of our children ages 8 through 15 and have for five years. Previously they attended a private school. This would be a huge benefit to get additional curriculum and materials to enhance their education, especially in science, math, and foreign languages."
—Benton County Parent "If the public had paid for the education of my six homeschooled children, taxpayers would have paid approximately $576,000 (assuming $8000 per child per year). Instead, our family has borne all the costs of their education. If society considers it a value to have educated
children and wants to bear the costs of that education, it makes sense for society to ease the burden on those who send their children to private school or home school."
—Columbia County Parent Hope, age 4, from Portland would benefit from the tax credit.
"I am a single mom putting my child through a private school...My income isn't large, so this education tax credit would go a long way towards helping me support my family and my goal to get the best education possible for my child."
—Washington County Parent "My children are grown but I am concerned about the education of the children who are coming along behind them. I like the idea of being able to get a tax credit for giving a scholarship to a child in need."
—Portland Resident "I want to be able to have choices in the education of my children and money shouldn't be the deciding factor."
—Portland Parent "My child will start kindergarten at a private school, fall of '08. It would benefit my family and I to receive a tax credit on the Oregon State Income deduction that I contribute to, every time I am paid. I understand not every dollar goes to the public school system, but currently the public school my child could attend receives… $7,120 per student. If my child is not in attendance this money is assumed to not be received by this district. Where is it going and why can’t my family and I benefit from those tax dollars already slated for these expenses?"
—Klamath County Parent "I have two children attending private school and this would definitely help our family at tax time and provide some relief."
—Washington County Parent "As the Treasurer of a low-cost private school, I know first-hand the struggles that parents go through in trying to finance a good education for their children. This tax credit would provide a break to parents who already are paying for other people's children to go to school via property taxes but aren't receiving any benefits."
—Clackamas County Resident "I am a single disabled mom, I do get limited payments. This truly would help with supplies I need for my child for school. We are truly struggling and this would be a great break."
—Douglas County Parent "I pay a lot of money a year for my child to attend a private school because the school in our area is not a safe school. I would love to receive help in the way of a credit to help offset the cost of tuition. I should be able to send my child to private school without worrying if I will be able to afford it another year."
—Portland Parent "I am a single, retired school employee, who has observed numerous children from naturally poor families, through no fault of their own, are often in need of well-justified economic assistance to have help getting quality education for their children. Often a student with potential skills that, with skilled education, could be of real benefit to our national well being."
—Marion County Parent "As principal of a private school, I see firsthand the difficult position parents are in when choosing to place their children in private schools. They are supporting public schools through their income tax and property tax contributions. Yet, they are willing to take on additional burdens to provide their children with a program of study, an environment and a direction they believe is better suited for them. The credit would amount to less than 13% of the cost of tuition, fees and books at our school. This measure will benefit families in the low and middle income brackets. Many of our families are sacrificing deeply to send their children to private schools as the financial assistance available is most often significantly less than the total costs owed."
—Oregon Educator Maria would benefit from the tax credit.
"I have four kids in a private educational institution. The tax break would be great!!"
—Baker County Parent "We have two children in a private school. Contrary to public perception, many families sending their children to private schools have smaller incomes and sacrifice greatly to enable their children to attend a school that is safe, nurturing and academically sound. We are in effect, through current taxes, paying for both a public and a private education for our children. A tax credit would help my family tremendously."
—Yamhill County Parent "I am the grandmother of eighteen and I see how difficult it can be for families. Some of my grandchildren go to private school and their parents give up much to be able to do this. I believe any way we can support them to educate their children will be of benefit to all of us."
—Marion County Grandparent "I have a child who turns five on September third, and in our school district…the cutoff for kindergarten entry is September first. This poses a bit of a problem for my daughter who is…ready for kindergarten…We are not in a position financially to send her to any school we would like to right now, unfortunately, and we would really benefit if this proposal was accepted and available to the public."
—Yamhill County Parent "I am a new graduate in the field of special education and I want to see parents supported in providing what their children need to be best educated."
—Marion County Educator Anya, age 7, from Portland would benefit from the tax credit.
"I homeschool my three children. I have to be creative with my budget when planning out the curriculum. A proposal such as this would really help my children. I wouldn't feel as limited with the choices and even using several different approaches to get across the lesson in a fun and engaging way."
—Columbia County Parent "I have two boys that have gone to private school and we are paying our tax dollars towards the public schools in our area also. But, we struggle to afford the tuition. There has to be something that would help families that want to send their children to a private school."
—Clackamas County Parent "We have two children in public school, and two children in private school. We find ourselves paying for tutoring for both sets of children. This tax credit would help make that more affordable, and consistent. It is very expensive to raise a child, and parents should be given every tax break possible."
—Benton County Parent "We have a daughter with dyslexia and another with speech/language issues. It has been very difficult to afford the tutoring that they both need. We currently can only barely afford to have our oldest tutored to get her reading up to her grade level. This proposal would help relieve some of the huge financial burden we have regarding our children's education needs."
—Marion County Parent "I am the mother of 14 year-old twins who were home schooled until middle school…they are among a tiny percentage at their school who have maintained a 4.0 for more than 2 years. I myself am now disabled but have waited 3 years for a disability hearing. The twins and I stack newspapers for The Oregonian part-time in an attempt to support ourselves. A quality education with a sound moral backing is the most important thing my girls need to survive in a continually deteriorating and ever more confusing societal surrounding."
—Washington County Parent "We have three children in a private school. Because the school is small (only 75 students) my children receive a lot of one-on-one instruction. My 7 year-old, who will be in Second Grade, is doing Third Grade work. This would help us keep them in a small school setting."
—Marion County Parent "We pay a high cost for private school and don't make too much money. Any assistance would be more than beneficial."
—Multnomah County Parent "It will benefit my daughter and my grandson who she has just placed in a private school. My daughter is a single mom living on close to welfare wages but feels as many do, that education is the greatest ‘gift’ a parent can give their children. Education is something no one can take away from you and families of lower income should have the opportunity to provide a quality education for their kids. I am a teacher and both my kids went to private schools."
—Deschutes County Grandparent "I have two boys and am a full time student. The tax credit would help me provide the best for my boys and improve their educational experience. I believe education is everything and anything to enhance and improve it helps all kids!"
—Portland Parent "We homeschool our two daughters. The tax credit would help offset the huge amount of taxes we are paying to support the local public schools that our children do not even attend."
—Washington County Parent "Our child has always been in private schools because he has special needs. We know many who have not been able to afford the extra help their child needs to learn. This tax credit is a step in the right direction."
—Clackamas County Parent "We have three sons and we have sacrificed to send them to private school for the last 13 years, but still have three more years to go. This credit would have been really helpful then, but would be greatly appreciated now."
—Portland Parent "As a homeschooling mother of six, I save my fellow taxpayers over $60,000 per year. With just one-tenth the financial resources that the State of Oregon spends per child, my children's education at home would be greatly enriched. We could finally afford some of the "luxuries" of education—art classes, music lessons, and speech therapy for my daughter with Down's Syndrome would be possible."
—Marion County Parent "We have five children who have been in private school for the past three years. This year we had to pull three of our kids out of the school they know and love. We lost our home and our family business trying to keep all of the kids in the school where they all thrive."
—Yamhill County Parent "My wife and I have two children (in another year it will be three) that are currently attending a Christian school and the tuition is killing us financially. This legislation is a good start."
—Lane County Parent "I have three kids in private school. It would help the school in such a wonderful way."
—Washington County Parent "I homeschool my Second Grader and have two more coming up in the next few years. The cost of curriculum, memberships, field trips, and materials can add up quickly. I support the public school system with my tax dollars and get very little assistance in return. This would definitely help my family as it is difficult having to put your child's education on a "budget"."
—Columbia County Parent "We have three children under seven and would like the freedom to send our children to the best schools available to them. I have a five year-old that missed the school kindergarten entry by three days and if we had the money we would've sent her to a private school with a later cutoff date, rather than another year of pre-kindergarten. She is ready mentally, physically, and academically to be a kindergartener, but instead she is a preschooler, again. Fortunately, she is taking it all in stride and we are making the best out of our situation."
—Yamhill County Parents "Our son does much better in a private school setting. We can see his confidence growing every day in this environment. It is a challenge on our budget and this would definitely help us to be able to afford to keep him in an educational environment that he can grow in."
—Washington County Parents "We are struggling to keep our two children at their urban faith-based school, which gives financial aid to 75% of their students. Thirty four percent of the families live below the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and the tax credit will significantly help not only the families, but the school as well. The school would be able to solicit many more donors who would be more willing to give with a tax credit."
—Portland Parents "My child goes to Catholic School, and I wish I was able to get some education assistance for this."
—Clackamas County Parent "We enrolled our son in private school this year for Second Grade after much thought and discussion. Private school is expensive and we are by no means wealthy people. We decided, however, that our children's education is of utmost priority and we would just have to find a way to work it out. There is absolutely no question that our other two sons will bypass public school and go to private school. I still don't know how we will manage this, but I know that the private school experience is exactly what we need and were looking for."
—Marion County Parents "My son goes to a private school, so that he could receive the attention he needs to be successful. He has ADHD. The private school offered aids in the classroom and a learning specialist on site. My husband and I and his physician know that he is succeeding at the private school and want to continue this path. However, the costs increase every year. This tax break would help us continue the path of success that we want for him."
—Portland Parents "As a small business owner, I am being hit hard. I will always put my children’s education first, but doing so can often be financially hard. This would help not only my family and children, but my business as well."
—Clackamas County Parent "I have a daughter that I am taking to a Catholic school. I really can't afford it, but for the education it’s worth the extra hours I put in. I also have a new baby that goes to daycare for $200 a week. All in all, I can’t claim all of what I will be paying for her because of the tax credit limit. We could all just use a little help these days."
—Washington County Parent "My husband and I work really hard to be able to send our kids to private schools. We firmly believe in education as the most important thing for our future. If this proposal was to be approved, we would be able to spend more quality time with our kids rather than working too much just to make ends meet."
—Marion County Parents "My daughter, age 8, attends a private school. I moved her to this school after I saw her falling behind because she was bored in public school. She needed more challenging work and a more disciplined atmosphere. Since moving her, she is doing great. I am a single mom. This legislation would ensure that I can continue to give her the type of education she desperately needs."
—Washington County Parents "I work in the public school system, but I send my three children to Catholic schools. I am upset that my kids do not get to participate in the public school activities because they are not registered, but they use my tax dollars. It would only financially be fair."
—Clackamas County Parents "I have two kids in private school and one more to start next year, so I believe it will be of great benefit to our family."
—Portland Parent "We have two children in a private school in Salem. Our private school exceeds all expectations and the future community will benefit greatly from our efforts paying for private school. Our children are being taught personal responsibility, as well as their responsibilities within our community, nation and world."
—Marion County Parents "My wife and I are full supporters of Parochial Education. Our son has gone through 10 years of private school, and our daughter is now in her 8th year. It is never easy to come up with the tuition payments each year, but it is so important for a fine education. A tax credit would really help us out!"
—Clatsop County Parents "Both of my children have attended a catholic school. What a help it would have been to have this tax credit available while we paid tuition in addition to paying taxes in Oregon."
—Washington County Parent Cities: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Oregon Education Tax Credit List of Supporters Albany Aloha Ashland Aumsville Aurora Baker City Banks Beavercreek Beaverton Brookings Canby Clackamas Cornelius Corvallis Cottage Grove Creswell Dallas Dundee Eugene Fairview Forest Grove Gresham Happy Valley Hermiston Hillsboro Hubbard Independence Keizer Klamath Falls Lake Oswego Mcminnville Medford Milwaukie Mt. Angel Mulino Newberg Oregon City Portland Rainier Roseburg Salem Sandy Scappoose Sheridan Sherwood Silverton Sisters St. Helens Stayton Tigard Tualatin Warren Warrenton West Linn Williams Wilsonville Woodburn Yamhill
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