Homeschool Law Could Criminalize Parents

People can’t get out of Illinois fast enough. Only two other states lost more residents between 2023–24, and the state has actually lost population for 10 years in a row. The tax burden, weather, heavy regulation, and crime levels all contribute to its residents seeking an exit. So, taking this mass exodus into account, you’d think the state would try to appeal to the families that remain. Well, think again. 

In an alarming move that should concern every freedom-loving American, Illinois lawmakers are advancing House Bill 2827, also known as the “Homeschool Act.” According to Jordan Sekulow, it’s an ill-conceived piece of legislation that should be renamed “The Illinois Family Exit Act” because, no doubt, many families will be looking for an exit if this monstrosity is signed into law.

Very likely, this ill-conceived piece of legislation will be coming to other states as well. 

Be informed, not misled.

Sekulow writes in Townhall, "It appears Illinois officials are feeling the pressure, as they have turned out amendments over the last 24 hours in an attempt to make this bill appear more palatable. So, please keep up the pressure and add your name to our petition: Stop Indoctrinating Our Kids. This bill is riddled with so many issues that it must be defeated. Here is what we know at this point."

He continues, This legislation directly threatens the rights of parents to educate their children, particularly those who choose homeschooling for religious or moral reasons. When the bill was introduced, it garnered a massive negative response among Illinois citizens. Homeschool families valuing their educational freedom signed witness slips in opposition to the tune of over 50,000 in 24 hours.

Here's the problem with this legislation

Advancing out of committee in an 8-4 vote, with one voting present, this bill is deceptively framed as a measure to ensure “safety” and “accountability” and would require all homeschooling families in Illinois to register with the State Board of Education or face an automatic criminal penalty. Because the bill also contains a provision for “school inspections,” it opens the door to unprecedented state intrusion into the private decisions of families – most of whom are providing their children with a quality, values-based education out of deep and sincere convictions. Imagine surprise home inspections conducted against homeschool families at the whim of the state.

There is no credible evidence of widespread issues in the homeschooling community that would justify such sweeping government intervention. Yet that hasn’t stopped this legislation from moving forward. In fact, in big-government fashion, the bill’s sponsor, State House Representative Terra Costa Howard (IL-48), and other supporters are more concerned with government regulation than religious and educational freedom, justifying this overreach for Illinois by saying, “38 other states also have regulations.” My response: As with any legislation, the devil is in the details. Regulation is one thing; onerous burdens intended to drive out conservative homeschool families or imprison them – jail time for those who don’t timely comply – is quite another.

Indeed it is.

Focus On The Family says, "The 'Land of Lincoln' is one of a dozen states known for steering clear of any meddling with homeschool families. While 38 other states do require parents to sign a declaration to educate in their homes, none of them have criminalized those who do not. Illinois would be the first.

Those behind the bill claim oversight is necessary to ensure the proper education and personal protection of the state’s students.

“It is an empirical reality that abuse and neglect occurs in homeschool settings, and that abusive caregivers can deliberately exploit the cover of homeschooling to isolate children — not educate them,” claimed Jonah Stewart, interim executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CFRHE)."

“While research has yet to settle the question in terms of rates of abuse by school status, all children deserve protections from abuse,” he added.

Focus says, "There is actually no evidence that children being homeschooled are at any elevated risk of abuse."

And if homeschooling is so detrimental to a student’s academic success, why do studies show that those who are educated at home regularly achieve higher scores and outperform their traditionally schooled counterparts?

The Illinois legislation is either an ignorant attempt to solve a problem that doesn’t exist or an aggressive power grab by government officials to control what students, who are otherwise outside their reach, are being taught.

Illinois state Representative Travis Weaver strongly opposes the onerous and invasive legislation.

“My colleagues on the other side of the aisle that would say homeschooling is growing, and that’s how we need to regulate it. I totally reject that,” Weaver said. “That’s a false, misnomer of a lot of Illinois politicians that when things are good, it’s time for the government to step in. Homeschooling is a massive success.”

While educating children in the home dates back thousands of years, the modern-day movement took off in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In fact, Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson is often credited for popularizing and normalizing the practice in Christian families by talking with advocates for it on the Focus daily radio program.

Like many Christian parents then and now, Dr. Dobson believed that mothers and fathers were best equipped to teach their children, and also equipped to pass along the values and principles of their faith, especially if a local school system was hostile to fundamental truths being shared in the home.

Homeschooling exploded during the COVID pandemic, and while many of those children have returned to traditional classrooms, it’s estimated that 3.7 million students (or 6.7%) are currently being educated at home.

Will Estrada, who serves as senior counsel with the Home School Legal Defense Association, calls the Illinois legislation a form of harassment.  

“Our single goal is to defeat this bill,” Estrada told National Review.

Takeaway

Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Illinois for 31 years beginning in 1830 right up until the presidency, attended formal school for only a year. The rest of his education was self-directed and based in the home. It’s a shame that many of the same legislators who rightly hail the 16th president are failing to acknowledge that his greatness was fueled by the very type of education they now seem to want to discourage and make more difficult for families and their children.

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.