And a tax break/credit for private school would be no different than what is allowable for college tuition. The break/credit wouldn’t hurt anyone – a small credit for tuition (esp when tuition is usually upwards of $10k/year) isn’t the same as all thing being equal with a parent whose kids are at public school.

My beef is more of a policy argument. In PA, I don’t have to send my child to school until age 8. I chose to send my child to school at age 4. The government is willing to give me “credit” for having a babysitter watch my children, but not for private school. What kind of priority is that?

Similarly, if I move to a more expensive home in another school district, I can get a tax credit for the money that I would spend on the new home. Why is it ok to subsidize my move but not education? When folks talk about private school tuition tax breaks causing mass flight, they’re misguided. It’s already happening and it’s subsidized by the government: it’s call the home mortgage interest deduction.

As for vouchers, I’m not a big fan. Most of the programs that are in place would essentially “equalize” all schools in terms of costs which sounds really lovely (other countries do it) but our economy is so disparate from rural to urban and other demographics that most of the voucher proposals would only benefit a handful.

I realize that I am lucky to be able to send my child to private school – and it has not been easy (we have made other cuts in order to afford it). And I’m not looking for a handout. But from a tax policy stand point, I don’t understand subsidizing mortgages, babysitting and under Romney’s proposal, homeschooling, while overlooking private school.