logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Tax credit proposals for private and home schooled students slow legislative session to a crawl
News
May 11, 2023
Tax credit proposals for private and home schooled students slow legislative session to a crawl
By JOE DORMAN, OICA CEO

For the Children Tax credit proposals for private and home schooled students slow legislative session to a crawl

OKLAHOMA CITY – The business with most policy work at the Oklahoma State Capitol slowed over negotiations about education tax credits for families with children in private schools, along with discussions over teacher pay raises and other public school funding.

Public schools are having trouble finding teachers, so solutions for that have been tied with how much of a tax credit would be given to families for children in private schools or who are homeschooled.

Most of the sometimes-heated negotiations among the House of Representatives, Senate and governor are over a voucher-style tax credit for families with children in private schools or for homeschooling. Public school funding also is on the table, with conversations revolving around spending per zip code and differential between rural versus urban districts.

The original House of Representatives plan would have created the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, which would allow a $5,000 annual tax credit for parents of eligible students attending private schools and a $2,500 credit for homeschooled students.

The most recent proposal would establish a tiered system of tax credits for parents or guardians who send their children to accredited private schools. For tax year 2024, credits for private school expenses are capped at $150 million, and increase by $50 million per year until it reaches $250 million per year in total cost to the state treasury.

The tax credit tiers are based on households’ total adjusted gross income during the second preceding tax year. The credits are distributed per student, per year. If the tuition and fees are less than the maximum tax credit amount, the credit shall be limited to the cost of tuition and fees. The tax credit tiers range from $7,500 for private school families with income less than $75,000 to $5,000 for families earning more than a quarter million dollars a year.

It is important to note this is not a tax deduction from taxable income; it is a direct credit against the total tax bill that would go to only those families with children in private schools. Any family with a child in private school would be eligible to apply for the credit.

Additionally, the measure would establish a $1,000 per student income tax credit for qualified expenses related to home schooling. A taxpayer claiming this credit would have to submit receipts for qualified expenses to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. When it becomes active, the total tax credits for homeschooling expenses would be capped at $5 million per year.

From data provided by the Education Data Initiative, Oklahoma has the ninth most affordable private schools in the country. The state’s private tuition costs less than half of the national average, with an annual average tuition of $6,611 among all K-12 private schools in Oklahoma.

Data provided by Private School Review indicates there are 220 private school sites serving 38,552 students in Oklahoma this school year. To compare, there are 1,791 public school sites, serving 694,253 students. Based on these numbers, only 5 percent of Oklahoma K-12 students are educated in private schools. Families with children in public schools would not be eligible for either credit.

It is inevitable that passage of this plan would lead to an increase in private school options across the state. As public school funding is determined by per pupil spending as allocated by the Legislature, additional conversations will likely happen regarding factors such as school feeding programs, extra-curricular activities/competitions, and special needs student supports remaining in public schools.

It is not too late to contact your lawmakers or the governor with your thoughts on this issue.

Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
A: Main, News...
Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
The City of Checotah showed off its bold stripes, bright stars and brave hearts this Fourth of July after working countless hours so residents could celebrate their freedom with lots of family fun and...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Sexual Assault Awareness Honor Walk
July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11 at 12 p.m. Posey Park, Eufaula Show your support for survivors Take a stand against violence! Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Annual Memorial Service planned at Honey Springs Battlefield
July 10, 2025
CHECOTAH — Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The service ...
this is a test
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
A: Main, News...
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
Last Thursday family and friends said goodbye to former city councilwoman Jerri Reaves who had passed away on June 26 at the age of 82. Jerri graduated from Checotah High School in 1962. In 1980, she ...
this is a test
News
Trump administration freezes over $70 million state’s education funds
By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE 
July 10, 2025
States won’t receive funds from six federal programs, including after-school care and English learner support, until further notice. OKLAHOMA CITY — The Trump administration is indefinitely withholdin...
this is a test
News
Jeff Starling launches campaign for attorney general
July 10, 2025
TULSA ––Jeff Starling, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy and Environment, has officially announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Oklahoma. Starling is a conservative, attorney, businessman, and d...
this is a test
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Plumb Theatre News
News
Plumb Theatre News
By MATTIE AND PAUL MALOY PLUMB THEATRE 
July 10, 2025
Never too early to start singing and the HALLELUJAH HONEYS are representative of that. Kate Andrews will be singing and playing with two other Honeys, Aubree,13, and Charlee, 10. They are some cuties ...
this is a test
Freedom Fest
News
Freedom Fest
July 10, 2025
Checotah residents celebrated their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks on July 4th weekend at Freedom Fest.
this is a test
Police training
News
Police training
July 10, 2025
Recently local law enforcement trained for two days on different scenarios that might arise during traffic stops, hostage situations, domestic disturbances, and more.
this is a test
News
Two from area on UCO Honor Rolls
July 10, 2025
EDMOND - Two from this area have made he University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls; a distinction given to those who achieve the highest acad...
this is a test
Warriors of God, ready yourselves
commentary
Warriors of God, ready yourselves
July 10, 2025
Of my 56 years of being in this world, 50 of those years I have been filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I was only six years old when I attended my first Tiger Mount...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

MCINTOSH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
300-A S. Broadway
Checotah, OK
74426

(918) 473-2313

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Mcintosh Democrat

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy