The new bill, soon to be handed over for a full vote at the Illinois State Capitol, aims to parents who homeschool their children.
On Wednesday, lawmakers from the House Education Policy Committee gathered to consider it. HB 2827It is well known as the home schooling method.
This bill not only requires all private and religious primary and secondary schools; Register with the state Every year, these schools need to share sensitive information about their students, such as their names and home addresses. These private schools also require that their policies be clarified and promise not to limit hairstyles “historically racially” or “ethnicity.”
“This bill invades our privacy, is unconstitutional and … hampers parents' rights.”
Additionally, the bill requires that all homeschooling parents and guardians of high school diplomas or equivalents complete a homeschool declaration form for homeschooled children and submit the form to the public school or district where the children will otherwise be present. This form must be resubmitted annually if the child is homeschooled or if the child is considered a truancy.
The district and/or the Department of Education may also require homeschool administrators to provide a “educational portfolio” of homeschooled children.
Homeschooled children who want to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools such as sports must also provide proof of vaccination and health checks or provide a certificate of religious exemption.
Homeschooling parents and guardians who do not comply with the measure could face misdemeanor charges. wttw It has been reported.
The bill was introduced by state Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) and enjoys co-ops of more than 12 people. Blue hair.
Costa Howard argued that the bill was necessary to protect children who could be victims of abusive parents or guardians. Such parents can hide their abuse by leaving their children at home and keeping them away from the scrutinized eyes of teachers, administrators and coaches, as the theory goes.
“We currently have zeros in Illinois, and we also say zero restrictions,” Costa Howard said during deliberations on the bill. “Thirty-eight states have regulations. Illinois is an outlier. This is not what we want to be outliers.”
“We tracked over 500 extreme abuse and neglect in a homeschool setting where abuse escalated due to isolation brought about through homeschooling,” argued Jonah Stewart, research director for the Responsible Home Education Coalition.
However, homeschooling parents and supporters condemned such presumptions about their motives.
“Advocates argue that children who are homeschooled are at a higher risk of abuse and neglect, which is not supported by two peer-reviewed studies produced,” he said against Estrada, a senior lawyer at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.
“The bill targets homeschool parents, treats us as criminals and commits crimes until they prove innocent,” said Aziza Butler, a former public school teacher who currently homeschools her children.
“we believe [this] It's religious persecution,” the homeschool parent added. Ratasha Fields. “That's what we believe, we really believe this bill is because it invades our privacy and is unconstitutional and that's what it is.[es]and it interferes with the rights of parents. ”
Costa Howard argued that homeschooling families investigations only occur in response to serious allegations, but some are concerned that the bill would be selectively enforced and could possibly lead to harassment by law-abiding Christians and other homeschoolers.
Others noted that children are not always safe on local public school campuses. Last week, Christina Formela, a 30-year-old special education teacher and soccer coach from Downers Grove, Illinois, was charged with multiple sex-related offences after being allegedly engaged in sexual relations with a 15-year-old boy in a classroom in December 2023.
Thousands of interested parents, like Fields and Butler, crowded the Capitol on Wednesday, singing hymns and patriotic songs and protesting the bill. A violent demonstration In recent years, by other Capitol leftists across the country.
These parents and homeschooling groups also submitted a staggering 40,000 eyewitness slips against the bill, but supporters won less than 1,000 witness slips.
Nevertheless, the bill passed the House Education Policy Committee 8-4. All Democrats voted in favor of it except for one person who currently voted. The bill will move across the state capitol floor for votes.
Pay attention Illinois State Teachers Federation. According to WatchDog Group, since 2010, the Costa Howard, Costa Howard, Katie Stuart and Janet Jan Roll campaigns have received a total of more than $630,000 in donations from IFT. Illinois policy.
The Illinois Education Association awarded Costa Howard the award for “deep support for public education” and for positively impacting “all education support personnel.”
“Costa Howard is the champion of education employee rights. We are proud to honor her with the Friends of Education Award.” The union said April 2022.
Costa Howard did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
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