Conservative Illinois lawmakers have warned about bills that could significantly change Prairie's homeschooling rules.
The homeschooling law, also known as HB2827, requires homeschooling parents to complete a “homeschool declaration form” essentially registering with the nearest public school district.
According to the bill's summary, children of parents who do not fill out the form will be considered “school refusal.” Also, documents for vaccination and health testing for children who wish to participate in public school activities are required.
“[If a] As children in the homeschool program are looking to register part-time in public schools or participate in public school activities that take place on or outside the school's premises, homeschool administrators must provide evidence that their child has received all vaccinations and health checks or signed religious exemption certificates.
The bill also “sets out the requirements for homeschool administrators and programs as well as reporting requirements.”
“[The bill] Conforms and other changes to the Freedom of Information Act, School Act, and the Illinois School Student Records Act.
The Illinois Education Board's Education Policy Board reviewed the bill Wednesday, but opposing lawmakers are encouraging constitutionalists to submit eyewitness slips to halt further progress on the bill. Illinois Sen. Neil Anderson said 30,000 eyewitness slips have been filed on Facebook.
“After nearly 30,000 witnesses opposed to this attack on private schools and homeschools, we will need to resubmit eyewitness slips before tomorrow's House Education Policy Committee meeting at 8am,” the Republican wrote.
“Listen to your voice and protect your homeschool rights!”
Chris Miller, a Republican representative in the Illinois House of Representatives, also called attention to the bill in a Facebook post.
“HB2827 is scheduled for the House Education Policy Committee tomorrow,” Miller wrote. “As a father of seven homeschooled children, I think this bill is a direct attack on Illinois families!”
Some left-leaning politicians have also expressed concern about HB2827. Representative of Illinois Democrat La Sean Ford told Center Square at his local outlet he “is not the case.”
“I understand from the ingredients I called, why they don't like it,” Ford quotes him as saying. “Their loss of autonomy, that's a big concern that they'll lose autonomy over their children, and that's why they choose homeschooling. They want to control their children's education, including the curriculum, how they teach, the philosophy.”
