(The Center Square) – Nearly 4,000 opposition slips have been filed against a measure in Illinois to regulate homeschooling. That’s 100 times more than the nearly 40 who have filed in support.
House Bill 2827 would create the Homeschool Act and require parents to inform their local school district if they decide to homeschool their children. If not, the children could be labeled truant. Proponents argue the bill would ensure children are protected from potential harm, including making sure that they are receiving adequate schooling.
“Every child has the right to be safe, to learn, and to access resources. HB 2827 would protect those rights for children who are homeschooled in Illinois,” said Coalition for Responsible Home Education Executive Director Angela Grimberg.
The coalition said the measure ensures every school-age child in Illinois is accounted for, has a record of their academic progress, learns from educated instructions and is protected from convicted sex offenders. They also say the measure streamlines the process for homeschooled children to take part in public school activities.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, said he has had many constituents say they don’t like the bill because it takes away parents’ autonomy over their children.
“I’m not for it,” Ford told The Center Square. “From the constituents that I’ve gotten calls from, I’m understanding why they don’t like it. The loss of their autonomy, that’s a major concern that they lose the autonomy over their children, which is why they choose homeschooling. They want to have control over their children’s education, including the curriculum, how they teach and the philosophy.”
Under the bill proposed by Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, homeschool parents could face tighter restrictions that include requiring them to submit additional forms to school officials and follow specific curriculum guidelines.
The bill would also require the state’s Regional Offices of Education to collect data on homeschooled children, with the findings being compiled into an annual report that includes the grade level and gender of all the students being educated in that way.
Other factors are also at play for the opposition, Ford said.
“There are some things that we have to consider for why people have chosen homeschooling,” Ford said. “They’re things in there for vaccinations, immunization and health requirements. Some people don’t like that.”
The measure is set for a House Education Policy Committee hearing at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. As of Monday afternoon, 38 people filed in support. Nearly 4,000 have filed in opposition.
The total number of witness splits in support of HB 2827 is 723. The total number in opposition for the bill is 31,882.
Glenn Minnis contributed to this report.
