The following is a copy of an undated "Open Letter" issued in May of 2002.

Protecting the Home School Option

An Open letter to Tennessee Home School Families from Congressman Ed Bryant

Dear Tennessee Home Schoolers,

Home schooling has gained prominence in recent years for one simple fact: home schooling works. Home schooled students have proven the quality of their education in local, state, and national academic contests, and once they reach college, they succeed. This is in stark contrast to the public school system in so many places that has left parents and students disappointed.

As we consider how to improve the education system in our country, the debate has centered around the issue of school choice. In Congress, I've worked to protect the home school option as we've reformed education because it is a legitimate and successful option. The federal government should not be making education decisions for families, but rather it should ensure that parents and students have the largest range of options so that they can choose the path, which is right for them and the greatest amount of resources so they can succeed. And as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I've supported the rights of parents to raise their children according to their beliefs.

In the current Congress, we've passed President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, which removes a lot of federal strings from education funding and returns authority to the state level. And we've passed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act, which increased the limit on tax-deductible contributions to Education Saving Accounts (which we created in 1997) to $2000 annually and expanded qualified withdrawals to include elementary and secondary education expenses. Originally, the bill specifically included home schooling in that definition – as it should – but, regrettably, it was taken out in the final version of the bill. I would like to see this shortcoming corrected as soon as possible.

Importantly for home schoolers and all families, President Bush's tax bill expanded the per child family tax credit from $500 (the level we created in 1997) to $1000. That's an additional $500 per child of your money that you get to keep and spend as you see best. And that goes a long way to offsetting the education expenses of home schooling.

Most recently, I voted to make this tax benefit permanent (instead of ending after 10 years), but Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle has pledged to kill this needed tax relief. In the Senate, I will work as hard as I have in the House of Representatives for permanent family tax relief and for the rights of home schoolers as we continue to reform federal education laws.

Yours for Educational Freedom,

Ed Bryant, MC