Peoria Standard

Last week, the Homeschool Act (House Bill 2827) was passed by Democrats through the House Education Policy Committee. The decision came despite nearly 50,000 witness slips filed in opposition and a significant rally at the Capitol against the measure. The bill's sponsor argues that its purpose is to protect children from abuse, although there is no evidence linking homeschooling with abuse or neglect.

The proposed legislation requires non-public elementary and secondary schools to register annually with the Illinois State Board of Education. Additionally, it mandates that homeschools complete a Homeschool Declaration Form or face truancy charges, which could result in fines or imprisonment. The bill also demands that administrators provide personal information about themselves and their students to state and local authorities.

“This legislation infringes on the rights of parents who choose to homeschool their children and opens the door to more intrusive mandates down the road,” said Spain. “Children should be able to learn in the environment that best suits their educational needs. Thank you to all the advocates who came to the Capitol, filed witness slips, and contacted legislators to protect homeschool freedom in Illinois.”