[libertarianben]

Why not have tuition tax credits that allow parents to pay for private school tuition with the money that they would otherwise pay in taxes? That would an effective way to create a competitive education marketplace.

The U.S. Constitution does not give Congress authority to collect taxes for, fund, or operate schools. According to the Tenth Amendment, education should be entirely a state and local matter. Nonetheless, the federal government has steadily eroded state and local autonomy in this area over the past 50 years, so that it now takes an active role in almost every issue related to education. Federal guidelines regulate, among other things, student discipline, the content of sex education courses, and the gender of textbook authors. Most of the U.S. Department of Education's programs are not the legitimate affair of the federal government-no matter how brilliant or experienced they may be, politicians and bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. cannot solve problems and improve learning in classrooms thousands of miles away.

[Amelia]

Why not have tuition tax credits that allow parents to pay for private school tuition with the money that they would otherwise pay in taxes?

I'm not sure I understand what you want here...would this be a set amount per student no matter how much taxes a parent paid, or would parents get a rebate of property or income taxes up to a certain amount per minor child?

The U.S. Constitution does not give Congress authority to collect taxes for, fund, or operate schools.

The U.S. Constitution does not give Congress authority to do many things they do, IMO, including Medicare and Social Security, which are much more expensive programs.

Nonetheless, the federal government has steadily eroded state and local autonomy in this area over the past 50 years, so that it now takes an active role in almost every issue related to education.

As I say, most of the federal government's role is in response to perceived failures in the local systems.

[Scenic Sounds]

Why not have tuition tax credits that allow parents to pay for private school tuition with the money that they would otherwise pay in taxes? . . .

The U.S. Constitution does not give Congress authority to collect taxes for, fund, or operate schools. According to the Tenth Amendment, education should be entirely a state and local matter.

Wouldn't Federal "tuition tax credits" just be another way for the Congress to finance schools?