(The Center Square) – Proposed legislation that would create oversight requirements on Illinois homeschooling is being denounced in Springfield.
The Homeschool Act in House Bill 2827 would add numerous requirements, including new forms to school districts, specific curriculum mandates, and homeschool educator requirements. The legislation’s sponsor, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, did not respond to a request for comment.
State Rep. Brandun Schweizer, R-Danville, said the proposed regulations are a direct infringement on parental rights.
“This legislation is being sold as a protection of children measure, but in reality, it is just placing another unnecessary burden on our families and on our education system here in Illinois,” said Schweizer.
The proposed regulations also would require a family to declare that they are homeschooling to their local school district, and if they fail to do so, the child would be considered truant.
Hundreds of homeschool families descended onto the State Capital Thursday to rally against the proposed legislation during Homeschool Lobby Day.
“There is no reason to enact legislation to fix a problem that simply does not exist, and I would encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to talk with the hundreds of parents and students walking our hallways today before moving forward with these new regulations,” said state Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur.
State Rep. Travis Weaver, R-Edwards, said the benefits of homeschooling are numerous, including the freedom that parents have to educate their children according to the values that they hold dear.
“Unfortunately, some Illinois politicians are trying to wrap homeschooling in red tape,” said Weaver. “Illinois has plenty of challenges, but homeschooling is frankly not one of the those challenges, it’s not a problem, it’s a solution.”
