Committee OKs ‘Homeschool Act;’ fight moves to Illinois House floor

Illinoisans over 90,000 times said they opposed a bill regulating homeschools and private schools, but an Illinois House committee passed it anyway. Now the full Illinois House must face constitutional issues and fierce opposition to the bill.

A measure regulating homeschool and private schools in Illinois saw a record 90,000-plus public declarations of opposition, but an Illinois House committee ignored them March 19 and advanced the bill for a full House floor vote.

The Illinois House of Representatives’ Education Policy Committee voted 8-4 in favor of House Bill 2827, with one voting “present.” The vote was along party lines.

HB 2827, the “Homeschool Act,” requires all elementary and secondary private schools to register annually with the state and report sensitive information on all enrolled students. It also requires homeschooled children’s information be registered annually and that a curriculum portfolio of their school work be produced on demand.

Illinois Policy staff attorney and director of labor policy Mailee Smith testified before the committee, urging members to vote “no.”

“Nothing in HB 2827 is about what’s best for kids or somehow improves education for those students who are struggling. Instead, it’s about tracking and regulating every single family and school that is not a government public school,” Smith stated in written testimony.

By making private schools disclose the names, addresses and other information about their students, the state government is essentially requiring families’ religions to be disclosed.

HB 2827 would empower the state to ask for an annual “homeschool declaration form” and an “educational portfolio” any time for any reason among other requirements. The portfolio must include a log of curricular materials used and samples of writing, worksheets or other materials written by the child. Public schools are not required to share that same information with the families of enrolled students.

Other concerns raised during the hearing included the added cost for the state and regional superintendents without the resources being provided, the security of personal information being provided and the potential for data breaches, and the bill violating a 100-year-old U.S. Supreme Court protection of a parent’s right to decide their child’s education.

The bill now moves to the Illinois House floor for a vote.

Tell your lawmaker to protect the rights of private school families

Illinois should empower parents to be in charge of their child’s education rather than empower bureaucrats to track parents’ schooling decisions.

Use our Take Action tool to contact your lawmaker and tell them to vote “no” on HB 2827.