SB 18-083: Education Income Tax Credits For Nonpublic School 

The bill establishes a private school tuition income tax credit commencing on or after January 1, 2019, that allows any taxpayer to claim a credit when the taxpayer enrolls a qualified child in a private school or the taxpayer provides a scholarship to a qualified child for enrollment in a private school. The private school issues the taxpayer a credit certificate and the amount of the credit is: For full-time attendance, an amount equal to either the tuition paid or the scholarship provided to a qualified child, as applicable, or 50% of the previous year's state average per pupil revenues, whichever is less; and For half-time attendance, an amount equal to either the tuition paid or the scholarship provided to a qualified child, as applicable, or 25% of the previous year's state average per pupil revenues, whichever is less. The bill also establishes an income tax credit commencing on or after January 1, 2019, that allows any taxpayer who uses home-based education for a qualified child to claim an income tax credit in an amount equal to: $1,000 for a taxpayer who uses home-based education for a qualified child who was enrolled on a full-time basis in a public school in the state prior to being taught at home; and $500 for a taxpayer who uses home-based education for a qualified child who was enrolled on a half-time basis in a public school in the state prior to being taught at home. Both credits may be carried forward for 3 years but may not be refunded. In addition, the credits may be transferred, subject to certain limitations. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)  

CEA opposes this bill because we are fundamentally opposed to public tax dollars going to private schools, which are exempt from the laws and regulations legislators has deemed important to a quality education -- such as accountability and prohibiting school policies that discriminate against students' sexual orientation. Encouraging the exit of students from our public education system as a means of saving state money is entirely contrary to the fundamental purpose of providing a quality education to any and all students of our state.