(The Center Square) – Despite an historic amount of witness slips in opposition to the Illinois Homeschool Act, the controversial legislation is advancing.
Hundreds of homeschool families were in Springfield Wednesday to oppose the measure that adds more regulations on homeschooling families. Among the requirements are that families report to the state that they are homeschooling. If not, the child could be listed as truant with penalties applying. It also would require “a homeschool administrator to have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent at a minimum. Requires the homeschool administrator to provide proof of, among other options, any degree obtained from an institution of higher education.”
House Bill 2827 sponsor, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, said having some regulations on homeschooling is done in 38 other states and it’s needed in Illinois.
“We know that loopholes exist and we have a duty to ensure that children actually receive an education and that they don’t fall through the cracks of our system,” Costa Howard said.
During the hearing, state Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, questioned Cost Howard about the bill. She said she’s speaking for children who don’t have adequate education at home.
“I care about their voices, that’s who I am here fighting for today,” Costa Howard said.
“I guess we’re here fighting for the 47,668 that have responded as opponents to this because those are the voices I hear and the ones that I see in my district, the ones that I see throughout the state of Illinois, the ones that are here today,” Swanson said to applause from the committee room.
Outside the committee room, homeschool parent Charity Cunningham from Woodridge said she took her children out of public school to homeschool and doesn’t need the increased oversight from failing bureaucrats.
“I don’t want someone approving my curriculum who couldn’t even meet their needs when they were their own student,” Cunningham told The Center Square.
The measure advanced out of committee with the sponsor saying to expect an amendment.
State Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, said despite the measure advancing out of committee, there’s still time to get enough Democrats to oppose the bill.
“I certainly hope so and that’ll be the question and that’s why families need to keep contacting their legislators and don’t give up now,” Elik said after the hearing.
Nearly 42,000 individuals filed witness slips in opposition to the bill as of Wednesday morning. Nearly 1,000 filed in support.
