I don't know if they are capable of not comparing to public schools? Thats their comfort zone. It's always going to be the lens they view through. Maybe if we keep pushing, we can get to that one day? I don't know. I would love to see the view of parents being responsible for educational choices become more mainstream! I'll likely be leaving the state next year and won't benefit from this any longer, but I'm thankful for it while we are here. Especially for my UA kid who is finally in therapy at age 12. I just keep reminding my kids all these opportunities will go away when we move.

I like Brenda's comment about limiting money spent on equipment in statute. Let's say XX percent can be used on equiptment(if equipment is actually different than supplies) ? That hasn't really been clarified that I remember ?

Agreed, we don't want horses or cars. . . I can see how some of the expenses are frivoulous. I don't agree we should be spending thousands on LEGO. I really wish they would give more examples of the actual expenses being paid for that they are concerned about. I actually think some of the approved expenses are a bit much. If our kids were in public school, we would have to pay to rent instruments? So why we insist that we should be allowed to purchase them? I understand that a paddle board can be useful for sports lessons, but once again public school children aren't handed out paddle boards. I do think they should be better about covering physical movement activities like one time ice skating or trampoline parks and the like... lets get kids moving... I wish homeschool children could find a better middle ground so we don't lose EVERYTHING. However, every public school kid has access to printers and computers and these are considered standard in modern day education, but they aren't allowed. There is no consistancy. I understand that we aren't trying to replicate public school at home. And if the money ends up rolling into a college plan anyways, then why does it matter so much to them? Optics. When you ahve a child in a struggling school that can't access these "extra" expenses or possibly even a quality core education, it's not looking great when little suzi homeschooler just got a 400 dollar mixer to make cupcakes. I definitely see both sides and I wish they had rushed it though with minimal approved expenses and then backed off because the entitlement coming out of the homeschool community wouldnt be quite so obvious to them. Thank you for representing parents. Thank you for presenting resonable needs for our kids. Thank you for your sacrifice of time and much more to keep pushing for parent directed education.

This is why we lean toward FB chat too. They will at least answer you and you can get back to it later.

YES!!! sometimes I hit submit only to realize I forgot to add one of the documents needed but I have to delete and start over.

The ones with the line item still in review have not been paid out. So still something going on differently with those.

For the record, I was paid for the one listed as in review but approved under details.

***NEW GLITCH *** We are beginning to hear back from multiple people that Step Up is investigating a New Glitch that is causeing issues with in review line items. I had step up FB chat check in on a reimbursement for me and they said the line item has now been approved(it was for a book). But it still shows as "in review" even though the main page says complete. I also have three music lesson reimbursments that were in review and have now been approved. They say in review on the main page but if you click in details, they say approved(and I got approval emails for those)

What does it look like when a military member who isn't a state voter reaches out to a representative. Will they look me up and sayd "Bah... you dont vote here?" How does that work since my legal residence is still in Tennessee.