House passes potentially unconstitutional homeschool regulations out of committee
House Bill 2827 aims to regulate homeschooling and private schooling in Illinois

CHICAGO (March 19, 2025) –  The Illinois House of Representatives’ Education Policy Committee today approved House Bill 2827 – the “Homeschool Act” – which aims to regulate homeschooling and private schooling in Illinois.

By requiring all elementary and secondary private schools to register annually with the state and report sensitive information on all enrolled students, the bill is likely unconstitutional, Illinois Policy finds.

The bill goes farther than simply gathering the number of students across the state who don’t attend a government public school. Experts at Illinois Policy say simply gathering those tallies would more than satisfy the state’s interest, but instead, the bill would essentially create a log of people and the religions they associate with. That is something the government cannot do.

“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,” Mailee Smith, staff attorney and senior director of labor policy at Illinois Policy, stated in written testimony. “There is no provision allowing parents to opt out of having their children, and their religious affiliations, tracked by state and local authorities. Notably, it’s that type of government tracking that influences parents to choose private school or homeschool in the first place.”

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.

The bill now moves to the Illinois House floor for a vote. Over 87,000 witness slips have been filed in opposition to the bill and an amendment so far.

To read Smith’s submitted testimony visit, illin.is/homeschoolhearing.

For interviews or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.