Illinois homeschooling families protest education bill at state Capitol
A controversial state bill that has sparked outrage among homeschooling families in Illinois has advanced out of committee and is headed to the state House floor for a vote. House Bill 2827, also known as the Homeschool Act, passed out of the Education Policy Committee by a narrow 8-4 vote. If it passes a House floor vote, the bill will then move on to the full House for a vote, followed by the Senate, and ultimately to the desk of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who has not publicly taken a stance on the bill.
The Homeschool Act has drawn criticism from hundreds of homeschooling families who gathered at the state Capitol in Springfield to protest what they see as government overreach. The bill would establish strict requirements for parents to meet in order to homeschool their children, with potential penalties for non-compliance including up to a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail.
Will Estrada, senior counsel for the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, expressed concerns about the bill’s vague language, which he believes could give undue power to unelected officials to impose further restrictions on homeschool and private school families in the future. He argued that homeschoolers have a proven track record of academic success and questioned the need for additional regulations.
Homeschooling parents who attended the protest at the state Capitol voiced their opposition to the bill, with many citing concerns about parental rights and the intrusion of the state into their family’s values and beliefs. Michelle Langworthy, a homeschooling mother, criticized provisions in the bill that would give schools control over student records and dictate the education priorities of families.
Another parent, Luke Schurter, expressed worries that the bill would undermine homeschooling freedoms and subject families to increased oversight and regulation by the public school system. He argued that parents should have the right to choose how they educate their children without interference from the government.
The Homeschool Act would require parents to submit a “Homeschool Declaration Form” to register their children with the nearest public school, with penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, homeschooling parents would be required to provide an “education portfolio” containing their child’s records to demonstrate that their homeschool program meets state education standards.
Critics of the bill fear that it could lead to further encroachment on homeschooling freedoms and parental rights. The debate over the Homeschool Act is likely to intensify as it moves closer to a full House vote and potential enactment into law. As the bill progresses through the legislative process, homeschooling families in Illinois are mobilizing to defend their rights and protect their autonomy in educating their children.
