Kennedy introduces bill to give tax relief to teachers and home school families

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced the Support Our Educators Act of 2024 to reduce the income tax burden on teachers and eligible home educators.

Kennedy's bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to increase income tax deductions for certain expenses that elementary and secondary school teachers can claim. The bill would also create an identical expense deduction for eligible home educators.

"Louisiana's educators often spend their own money on supplies to help our kids learn. The Support Our Educators Act would make sure that classroom teachers and homeschool families pay less in taxes when they take on more expenses to teach the next generation," said Kennedy.

Purchases that qualify for educator expense deductions include classroom supplies and resources, such as books, computers and software. The Support Our Educators Act would:

• Increase the educator expense deduction from $300 to $600 for an individual and from $600 to $1,200 for married couples who are filing jointly when each spouse is eligible as an educator or as a home educator.

• Create a home educator expense deduction of $600 for an individual and $1,200 for married couples who are filing jointly when each spouse is eligible as an educator or as a home educator.

Kennedy's bill would also ensure that educators both in the traditional classroom and at home receive the tax breaks they deserve.

Full text of the bill is available here.