Heavily opposed Homeschool Act stalls in Illinois House before deadline
[April 12, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Homeschool parents worried about the state of
Illinois imposing regulations on the practice have a reprieve after the
measure failed to advance.
House Bill 2827 accumulated tens of thousands of opponent witness slips
filed against it since the measure was filed earlier this year. Sponsor,
state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, rose Friday to announce the
bill isn’t ready, but said it is necessary to ensure homeschool children
are protected.
“To the victims who are out there: We see you, we hear you and we will
keep fighting for you,” she said.
Costa Howard said she was keeping the measure held on third leading into
the Friday deadline to pass House bills to the Senate. She defended the
measure, saying it does not mandate curriculum, but does require
homeschool families to report to government officials that they
homeschool, or they could face truancy charges.
“It truly is a simple form that can protect families from those nosey
neighbors,” she said.
Tens of thousands of opponents filed witness slips against the measure
since it was introduced earlier this year. Some Democrats spoke out
against the measure, saying it could criminalize homeschool parents
raising and teaching their children how they see fit.
Republican state Rep. Amy Elik said the bill was “doomed from the
beginning.”
[to top of second column]
|
Homeschool advocates at a rally in Chicago on April 3, 2025 - Jim
Talamonti | The Center Square
“A simple form was not so simple was it? It created burdens on
families across Illinois, our entire school system,” Elik said, “and
nobody seems to care that that was going to cost our schools and our
families valuable resources that could be spent instead of fixing
our public school system that often fails children.”
Elik said she’s glad the measure is being held, but she said the
fight isn’t over for opponents.
“I can tell you our families still feel like they are under attack
and walking on eggshells in Illinois,” she said. “That happens all
the time in this chamber.”
The measure will be held, but could come back up in some fashion
before the scheduled end of session May 31.
Legislators are off next week. The House returns April 22. The
Senate returns April 29. |
