BTFE and Homeschooling?

[sandygirl]

Tricky Question, and I can't find an answer.

Per the BTFE website "The Box Tops for Education program is available to any accredited public, private or parochial school, for grades K-8, in the United States that is organized and primarily operated for educational purposes; U.S. military schools, K-8, worldwide; and accredited home school associations, K-8, in the United Sates that are organized and operated primarily for educational purposes and have 15 or more students."

We live in TX, where per state law Home Schools are Private Schools. We do not belong to an association, etc.

Do you think I could sign up our home school with just one student for BTFE? It seems to me like since the state law in TX is home school = private, that the 15 or more students home school rule would not apply.

Money is very tight, and I'm trying to figure out ways of covering the school expenses for next year. I've got lots of BTFE, and would love to be able to get a check to cover school costs.

[Tracy_in_Missouri]

Im almost positive that only the association as a *group* can participate - not the individual homeschools.

[momabrown3]

Schools only get 2 checks per year Dec & April of each year from BTFE.Not like the Tyson A+ labels they send a check 2 weeks after you submit your labels.

[Homeschoolmomof3]

When I looked into it years ago, you had to have some copy of a tax form. Can't remember what it was called. I have found that you can make more money than the box tops are even worth selling them on e-bay. LIke over $10.00 for 100 of them. It's crazy, check it out. just type Box tops in on e-bay.

[sandygirl]

Im almost positive that only the association as a *group* can participate - not the individual homeschools.

Wouldn't that be discrimination though?

[zansammommy]

I am not sure as a homeschooling family you can do it, please let me know what you find out but I do believe if you belong to a support group or co-op, you can do it that way. I run a support group and we are looking in to it.

[Tracy_in_Missouri]

Ive been homeschooling for nearly 10 years and honestly, its not worth my time to fight for something like BTFE *discriminating* now, admission into a university I'd be willing to fight for LOL. My understanding of the program was that the association could use it as a fundraiser. Now, I suppose said association could do the bookkeeping and fwd the funds to each family according to their contribution.

[PirateQueen]

I'm a support group leader and have had my homeschool group (we are not incorporated or an official non-profit) signed up for BTFE for over 4 years. Until this year we haven't actually had any to turn in, but all the money will go towards group events like holiday parties, or to subsidize field trips or anything else that the group decides on.

[motherofmolly]

Wouldn't that be discrimination though?

no because the company is setting the rules for what "qualifies" for their promotion....it would be discimination if they said "well they are an x family and we wont let them in" or made a qualifier that said "if you are of x religion, then you can not participate".

the best way is to trade your btfe...and then shop the after school sales and garage sales ...also get with other homeschoolers in your area and see if you can "share" supplies or borrow things to use if they arent using them that year....i have a friend that has been giving me nice items for homeschooling...she is on her last child, and i get the leftovers!!

[TheWoman]

Tricky Question, and I can't find an answer.

Per the BTFE website "The Box Tops for Education program is available to any accredited public, private or parochial school, for grades K-8, in the United States that is organized and primarily operated for educational purposes; U.S. military schools, K-8, worldwide; and accredited home school associations, K-8, in the United Sates that are organized and operated primarily for educational purposes and have 15 or more students."

We live in TX, where per state law Home Schools are Private Schools. We do not belong to an association, etc.

Do you think I could sign up our home school with just one student for BTFE? It seems to me like since the state law in TX is home school = private, that the 15 or more students home school rule would not apply.

Money is very tight, and I'm trying to figure out ways of covering the school expenses for next year. I've got lots of BTFE, and would love to be able to get a check to cover school costs.

You can do what I do--sell them on ebay. They tend to go for face value or a little above (last time I got about face value even after ebay and paypal fees--I don't know why they sell for so much but I won't complain). You get get the money AND a school somewhere will get the money. Win-win.