Parents fight back against rising education costs and taxes

During a recent government meeting, a concerned parent voiced strong objections to rising property taxes and their impact on homeschooling families. The parent highlighted the financial burden of educating children outside the public school system, noting that families are required to pay out of pocket for essential educational expenses such as books, school supplies, and standardized testing.

The speaker emphasized the disparity between the funds allocated for public education and the limited resources available to homeschooling families. They pointed out that despite paying property taxes—most of which support public schools—homeschoolers receive little to no financial assistance, effectively forcing them to shoulder the costs of their children's education alone.

Citing a significant tax increase of 30% in Catoosa County approved for the fall of 2023, the parent expressed frustration over how such hikes directly diminish their ability to provide educational opportunities for their children. The speaker shared a personal anecdote about having to withdraw their children from a long-standing homeschool co-op due to prohibitive costs, illustrating the real-life consequences of these financial pressures.

In a poignant moment, the parent brought their sixth-grade son to the meeting, framing it as a hands-on civics lesson. They also shared impressive academic achievements of their children, noting that their son scored at an eighth-grade level in most subjects and even at a tenth-grade level in math and science on standardized tests, underscoring the effectiveness of their homeschooling approach despite the financial challenges they face.