Peoria Standard

Jim Rule, chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans, expressed concern over the advancement of the Homeschool Act to the House floor, describing it as a "dangerous and urgent threat to parental rights that demands immediate, unified opposition." Rule made his statement to Peoria Standard on March 31.

"The Homeschool Act's advancement to the House floor is a dire signal that Illinois is moving toward government overreach," said Rule. "Parents should be alarmed by this blatant attempt to strip them of their rights to direct their children's education. The bill casts suspicion on families who choose homeschooling, demanding they prove their innocence. Citizens must act now, otherwise the state will decide what's best for children instead of their own parents."

According to Capitol News Illinois, on March 19, the Illinois House Education Policy Committee voted 8-4 to advance the Homeschool Act. The bill proposes several requirements for homeschool families, including notifying school districts, mandating parents have a high school diploma or equivalent, and allowing education officials to request proof of instruction from parents. Critics argue that these measures constitute government overreach. More than 40,000 witness slips were submitted in opposition to the bill. Opponents claim it places undue burdens on low-income families and infringes on private and religious school privacy.

The proposed legislation would require a "Homeschool Declaration Form" for homeschool administrators to indicate enrollment in a homeschool program. If this form is not submitted, students would be considered truant with applicable penalties. The act also outlines specific requirements for homeschool administrators and programs.

The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) reports that homeschooled students tend to score higher on standardized tests compared to their public school counterparts. NHERI notes that homeschooled students' academic success is not significantly related to parental education level or home income. These students also perform above average on college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT.

Rule was first elected as Chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans in 2018. According to the organization’s website, he focuses on increasing Republican voter turnout, expanding party membership, and communicating party positions on key issues for Tazewell County voters.