Rep: Give Parents A Tax Break
Rep. Bob Turner came to St. Margaret School in Middle Village last Friday, Mar. 2, to announced the introduction of the Tax and Education Assistance for Children (TEACH) Act of 2012, a bill to provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 for families who send their children to non-public schools.
Turner charged that parents who choose to send their children to private schools are subject to what is in essence a form of double taxation.
“The TEACH Act will provide parents who send their children to non-public elementary and secondary schools a tax credit of up to $5,000 per year and effectively eliminate or minimize the effects of this ‘double taxation,'” Turner said.
Msgr. Steven J. Aguggia, the pastor of St. Margaret Church, added, “This is a great opportunity to offer much needed help to struggling families who very much want to offer the best possible education to their children.”
Parents like Kelly Redmond and her husband, who have a son in the first grade, stated that they believe this bill will help them provide their children with the faith based education they received.
“Catholic education is very important to us, and Saint Margaret is a long family tradition,” Redmond said. “This bill would be a tremendous help to the many parents like us who wish to send their children to a faith based school.”
The TEACH act also received praise from school administrators who see the bill as a win-win, by helping non-public schools increase their enrollment through more affordable tuition, while reducing class sizes and costs for public schools.
“Tax relief for those who choose to send their children to religious schools, and or any private school, is extremely helpful to families in these difficult economic times. Such a law would benefit both private schools and overburdened public schools. Most importantly, it will significantly increase a parent’s right to educate their child as they choose,” said Dr. Philip Franco, principal of St. Margaret School.
Rabbi Yaakov Lonner, Executive Director of Yeshiva of Central Queens added, “Non-public school parents should not be subject to ‘double taxation’. By paying tuition to private schools, they are, in effect, saving the government millions of dollars. It is a tremendous burden for them to carry. No doubt, a tax break such as the congressman proposes is sorely needed.”
Administrators see the TEACH Act as a bill that will help non-public schools increase their enrollment by making tuition more affordable, while reducing class sizes and costs for public schools.
“The Diocese of Brooklyn is grateful for the legislation that Congressman Turner is supporting,” said Stefanie Gutierrez, a spokesperson for the diocese. “We hope that our other representatives in Congress will also choose to support the TEACH Act and the many thousands of families that it will undoubtedly assist.”
There are more than 75 schools within the Ninth Congressional District that would qualify as elementary or secondary schools under the bill.
