Peoria Standard

Jim Rule, chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans, said that Illinois parents have united in a significant protest to defend their right to homeschool freely. He urged lawmakers to respect their freedoms and support family-driven learning. Rule made his statement to the Peoria Standard on March 12.

"With a powerful demonstration at the Capitol, Illinois parents sent a clear message that they will not accept unnecessary oversight in homeschooling," said Rule. "Their unity and determination reflect a deep commitment to their children's education and future. The size and energy of the protest showed that families are willing to fight for their rights. This moment offers lawmakers the chance to champion educational freedom rather than restrict it."

According to Capitol News Illinois, hundreds of families protested on March 6 in Springfield against the Homeschool Act, a bill requiring families to notify school districts if they homeschool. Illinois currently has some of the nation’s least restrictive homeschool laws, with no registration, curriculum, or testing requirements. The new legislation would introduce statewide data collection and mandatory regulation on homeschoolers. Supporters of homeschooling argue that school choice offers solutions to public school challenges, as Illinois public school enrollment has declined by 127,000 since 2020.

The proposed HB2827, known as the Homeschool Act, would create a "Homeschool Declaration Form" for homeschool administrators to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program. The act states that a student enrolled in such a program without notifying the public school or district with this form would be considered truant, with penalties applying. It also sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements.

The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) reported that homeschooled students score 15–25 percentile points higher on standardized tests than public school students. Additionally, 78% of studies favor homeschoolers over traditional schoolers academically. According to NHERI, homeschooled students’ success is not notably related to parental education level or home income. These students also perform above average on the SAT and ACT exams, leading to increased college recruitment.

Rule was first elected as Chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans in 2018. According to the organization’s website, he is focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating its positions on issues important to Tazewell County voters.