Peoria Standard

Jim Rule, chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans, said that the stalled Homeschool Act has ignited a grassroots movement encouraging liberty-minded Illinoisans to stay engaged in protecting their rights. He made this statement to the Peoria Standard on April 21.

"While the bill targeting homeschoolers has stalled, the threat to freedom hasn't vanished," said Rule. "It was the resolve of thousands of parents that stopped it in its tracks—for now. But victories like this only matter if they spark lasting involvement. This moment should become the catalyst for a broader political movement of Illinoisans standing for their rights."

According to Capitol News Illinois, House Bill 2827 missed a procedural deadline. However, its sponsor, Representative Terra Costa Howard, says the bill remains active as she considers suggestions from other lawmakers. The bill proposes that parents file a declaration of intent to homeschool and allows officials to request lesson plans during truancy investigations. It has faced strong opposition, particularly from Christian homeschooling groups who celebrated the delay. Minority leaders and major editorial boards have also expressed concern about government overreach and potential harm to families leaving inadequate public schools. Costa Howard has requested an extension on the bill.

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. If a student is enrolled in such a program without notifying the public school or district with this form, they would be considered truant, with penalties applying. The act also sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs along with reporting requirements.

The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) reported that homeschooled students score 15 to 25 percentile points higher on standardized tests than public school students. Furthermore, 78% of studies favor homeschoolers academically over their peers in traditional schools. According to NHERI, a student's success is not significantly influenced by parental education level or family income. Homeschooled students also perform above average on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, 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 party membership, and communicating party positions on issues important to Tazewell County voters.