HOMESCHOOLING IN ILLINOIS & HOMESCHOOL LAWS
You may be considering homeschooling in Illinois, but don’t know where to start regarding state regulations and legal requirements. This guide will walk you through what you need to know to successfully set up your own homeschool in Illinois. We’ll cover the history of homeschooling in Illinois, current Illinois law and regulations, required notifications and filings, curriculum and testing choices, high school transcripts, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and special education services.
History of Homeschooling in Illinois
Homeschooling in Illinois has been legal since 1950 when the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of homeschooling rights in People v. Levisen. The court found that parents have a constitutional right to direct the education of their children under the 14th Amendment. This established homeschool programs in Illinois as legal non-public institutions in the prairie state.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, homeschooling was still relatively rare, with an estimated 2,000-5,000 homeschooled students statewide. However, the homeschooling movement began growing rapidly in the mid-1990s and onward. Reasons included desire for religious education, school safety concerns, displeasure with public schools, and special learning needs.
Current estimates place the number between 20,000-40,000 homeschooled students in Illinois, though exact figures are hard to determine. The movement continues to expand as more families research and choose homeschooling in Illinois.
Current Illinois Homeschool Laws and Regulations
Illinois homeschool laws classify homeschools as non-public school. Therefore, homeschoolers meet the definition of attending school under the Illinois law for compulsory attendance which mandates schooling for children ages 6-17.
Illinois law considers truancy to be willful non-attendance at public or private school. Homeschools comply provided they meet minimum homeschooling criteria under homeschooling laws in Illinois. Here is current Illinois law for you to be aware of so you know how to start homeschooling in Illinois.
Per Illinois homeschool laws, you must provide instruction to your child, in the English language and math, specifically in the following subject areas:
Language arts
Math
Biological and physical sciences
Social sciences (social studies)
Fine arts
Physical development and health
There are no Illinois homeschool requirements for the number of school days or the length of a school day for homeschoolers under Illinois homeschool laws. Classes can occur any day of the week and at any time during the day according to laws for homeschooling in Illinois.
Although there are no specific legal requirements for homeschooling in Illinois under Illinois homeschool laws, you are strongly encouraged to develop a consistent schedule for your child at home school. You could choose to follow the same calendar year as your local public school or create your own. In any case, make sure your child has a consistent daily schedule for their learning, especially if they plan to return to their local public school in the future. If you decide to re-enroll your child in public school after a period of home schooling, the public school enrolling the student will make a determination of grade placement.
Illinois homeschool laws prohibit public school officials from excessive interference. Homeschools are not required to follow set hours, a traditional school calendar, use credentialed teachers, adopt particular textbooks or teaching methods beyond the minimum standards under homeschool laws in Illinois. Families have freedom to direct their homeschool program as desired under Illinois homeschool law.
How to Set Up a Homeschool In Illinois
It is advisable that you inform your child’s current school of your decision to officially withdraw them to start homeschooling. The school may have a withdrawal form that needs to be completed and signed in accordance with Illinois homeschool law. Alternatively, you can opt to write a letter to the school indicating your intention to home school. This crucial aspect is ensuring that your child’s current school is aware that they will not be attending classes to prevent any reports of your child being truant.
Once you have arranged your homeschool program and officially withdrawn your child from their current school, you may commence homeschooling. No additional forms, licenses, approvals, or similar legal requirements are necessary under Illinois homeschooling laws.
Illinois homeschool laws do not designate particular qualifications to homeschool your own children. Parents can teach their own homeschool curriculum without holding teaching credentials, college degrees, or meeting any instructor requirements. You do not need to be a certified teacher or take educator exams. Parents have full discretion to direct their home education or arrange qualified tutors in certain subjects where desired. The Illinois State Board of Education does not provide recommendations for materials or provide assistance with planning a homeschool curriculum or how to homeschool in Illinois.
In summary, if you are planning on homeschooling in Illinois, laws are pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.
Maintaining Your Illinois Homeschool
While Illinois homeschooling laws are flexible about methods, documentation is key to compliance with Illinois law. Core record-keeping for your homeschool in Illinois includes:
Maintaining daily attendance logs. Record actual attendance of your child, not just scheduled hours. See samples here.
Creating lesson plans of what you teach outlining required subjects covered. The following subject areas are required under Illinois law: Language Arts, Mathematics, Biological and Physical Science, Social Science (Social Studies), Fine Arts, Physical Development, and Health.
Assessing student progress annually each May. Administer tests, grade work samples, provide written evaluations measuring growth in each required subject. Document with portfolios containing tests, reports, transcripts, and work samples.
Saving attendance logs, lesson plans, evaluation portfolios year-to-year as ongoing documentation of your homeschool program meeting legal minimums.
Go here to research attendance forms, lesson planners, evaluation generators, and portfolio checklists to properly document your homeschool in Illinois. Having your records in order is key to complying with to avoiding problems with truancy officers.
In Illinois, a parent has the option to homeschool their children for pre-K, offering a flexible and personalized early education tailored to their child’s needs and learning pace. Part-time homeschooling in Illinois refers to a flexible educational experience where children attend traditional school part-time and receive the remainder of their education through homeschooling, often allowing many families to customize the learning experiences of their children while complying with state educational requirements and Illinois law. Part-time homeschooling allows parents to balance homeschooling work with other responsibilities, providing flexibility in their children’s education. To be a full-time homeschooler, there are no minimum requirements for the amount of time you must teach to comply with laws on homeschooling in Illinois.
Illinois Homeschool Reporting Requirements
Illinois is considered a low-regulation state, with no legal requirements regarding reporting currently under Illinois homeschool laws. Home schooling families are not obligated to submit documentation like attendance records, test scores, lesson plans or student portfolios unless specifically requested by local school officials under Illinois law. School district superintendents have limited authority to ask for documentation if evidence arises that a homeschool may not be meeting Illinois law regarding compulsory education. However, asking for additional reporting without reasonable cause is beyond their scope.
Homeschool Testing In Illinois
The prairie state does not mandate Illinois homeschoolers take standardized tests. However, reputable correspondence programs often incorporate standardized testing such as the ACT or PSAT/SAT for those who are college-bound. Additionally, some parents independently arrange grade-level IOWA or Stanford tests through private evaluators to benchmark annually. These provide standardized testing comparisons helpful for charting progress especially in high school.
Funding Your Illinois Homeschool
Unfortunately, Illinois does not designate tax dollars, public resources or direct financial assistance to support non-public homeschools. Funding your homeschool is 100% out-of-pocket for parents in most cases. Homeschool families must cover the cost burden themselves for:
Homeschool curriculum materials like textbooks and workbooks.
Supplies – paper, art materials, science equipment, computers and electronics.
Enrichment activities – field trips, classes, music lessons, sports/gym access.
Assessment resources – tests, evaluations, professional scoring services.
Plan for an average of $500-$600 per child, per core subject curriculum ordered. Then budget additionally for ancillary supplies, activities, and assessment tools which can range from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars more annually depending on electives, experiences, and evaluative testing opted into. Costs increase in high school with advanced courses, exams, and extracurricular interests.
The main way an Illinois parent reduces home schooling tuition burdens is via dual credit, allowing high school students to concurrently enroll in community college classes often at significant discounts. Taking just a class or two a semester helps access higher level work and serious instructors with advanced degrees. Community colleges also offer some vocational training, arts, language and IT certification courses not typically feasible for parents to tackle alone with students at home. This dual credit option saves money over university prices too once students graduate high school.
Federal Tax Breaks
Illinois homeschooling families may be eligible for certain federal tax benefits to help offset educational expenses. One option is a Coverdell Education Savings Account, which allows money to grow tax-free when used for qualified education costs. Homeschool parents might also be able to deduct a portion of mortgage interest or rent if part of the home is used regularly and exclusively for homeschooling. Finally, tax credits or deductions could be available for required books, supplies, equipment and curricula used for homeschool instruction. To learn more about these potential tax advantages, homeschooling families should review the information and resources provided by the IRS.
Illinois Immunization Requirements
Illinois mandates standard immunizations for all students by state law, including those homeschooled. Required vaccinations must be administered by licensed medical professionals and submitted on State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination forms indicating up-to-date status before October 15 of the respective school year.
Students entering kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade have additional required immunizations beyond prior years’ requirements per the chart found here. Standard inoculations include:
Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DTP or DTaP)
Polio (IPV or OPV)
Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR vaccine)
Varicella (chickenpox)
Meningococcal (MCV4) – for 6th & 12th grade
Hepatitis B vaccine
Homeschoolers in Illinois are considered private school students and are expected to get immunizations. The state accepts exemptions and does not require home educators to submit immunization records to the school district or Illinois Department.
Illinois State Graduation Requirements
As non-public schools, Illinois homeschools develop independent graduation policies. The state’s School Code does not impose Illinois homeschool graduation requirements directly on homeschools. Instead, homeschools issue a high school diploma based on parents’ determination of satisfactory course completion.
However, enrolling in college often drives homeschool graduation timelines. Many parents find it helpful to look at the Illinois State Board of Education’s graduation requirements for public schools. Most post-secondary institutions expect the following high school level coursework at a minimum:
4 years of English – grammar, literature, composition
3 years Math – Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry
3 years Science – Biology, Chemistry, Physics
3+ years – History and Social Sciences
2 years total of Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Vocational Education
Use admission expectations as a benchmark for graduation readiness. Customize additional credits as desired across language arts, technology, community service, life skills or religious studies.
Illinois Homeschool Charters
Illinois has limited avenues for establishing certified charter homeschools. Attempts by homeschool groups to create publicly-funded charter options have mostly stalled politically so far. Without policy vehicles like “homeschool academies” found in other states, most Illinois students enroll in privately-managed correspondence or accredited homeschool programs in Illinois for formal structure.
Local Illinois Homeschooling Resources
While funding is minimal at the state level, regional homeschool networks provide support services privately. Active groups and co ops exist across Illinois affiliated with larger associations, such as the Illinois Christian Home Educators Council (ICHE).
The Central Illinois Home Educator Network (ECIHEN) is a Christian group that operates primarily in East Central Illinois. In addition to monthly meetings, ECIHEN provides multiple opportunities for field trips.
These groups facilitate used curriculum exchanges between local members to save costs. Additionally, clubs offer pooled field trips, holiday proms, graduation ceremonies, used book sales, youth sports teams, cooperatives, and various ensembles allowing homeschoolers to gather for social events and supplemental activities normally through public schools. Join email lists and Facebook groups in your area to connect with regional support tailored to homeschool families.
For local public school resources, some districts may allow homeschool students to attend individual classes, clubs or sports tryouts on a part-time basis per local discretion. Others prohibit any dual enrollment citing attendance technicalities with state funding rules. Check policies with your district’s superintendent.
