Homeschooling in Illinois could look different if a law being considered by legislators moves forward.
The Homeschool Act, also known as
HB2827, would create a set of requirements for homeschooled students and educators. It includes things like informing a child's designated public school or district that they are being homeschooled, requiring any child taking part in school activities on or off school ground provide proof of immunizations and health examinations and setting requirements for the topics and content homeschool children learn.
The bill says the "laws of this state do not adequately protect homeschooled children in situations when notification of the type of schooling of the child would help reduce vulnerabilities to abuse and neglect."
According to the
State Board of Education, in Illinois, the only specific requirement for homeschooling is that certain subject areas be taught. Required subjects include language arts, physical development and health, mathematics, biological and physical science, social science and fine arts.
Under HB2827, several new guidelines would be added. Some of the main changes include:
Homeschool Declaration Form: This requires all homeschool administrators to submit information of a child being enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or district they would have otherwise attended. The form would include information about the child as well as assurance that the homeschool administrator has received at least a high school diploma. This requirement would start Aug. 1, 2026, if the bill is passed, with the form becoming available by July 1, 2026. The requirement to fill out such a form would repeat annually.
Health guidelines: Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the bill would require any child in a homeschool program wishing to enroll part time in a public school or take part in any public school activities on or off school grounds to submit proof of all immunizations and required health examinations, or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption.
Click to expand...