Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in Illinois and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in Illinois.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
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Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education is the departmental agency overseeing public education in the state of Illinois.
Required Record Keeping
Lists records that should be kept by homeschooling parents in Illinois.
Illinois Statute 105 ILCS 5/Article 27
This statute details required courses of study, including language arts, biological and physical science, mathematics, social sciences, fine arts, health and physical development.
Home School Laws from HSLDA
Find the laws pertaining to home education for all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Driver's Education & the Home-Schooled Student
An examination of the driver's education laws and their effect on homeschoolers in Illinois.
Public Act 093-0858
Regulations concerning education of students by parents.
Illinois Home School Laws
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Illinois. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Illinois.
Illinois Statute 820 ILCS 205, Section 11 Child Labor Law
Regulates the employment of workers under the age of 16. Addresses the use of employment certificates.
Sample Letters
These are sample letters for withdrawing children from Illinois schools, and other necessary correspondence. Letters as the parents, as the private school, and Driver's Education letter.
Ad Hoc Committee for Illinois Home Education Legal and Legislative Matters
The purpose of this committee is to develop, by consensus, unified positions to present to state school officials and legislators on important legislative and legal issues that impact upon Home Education in Illinois. In addition, this committee is dedicated to protecting private Home Schools from state regulations that infringe upon the liberty of parents in the education of their children. Finally, they are committed to advancing the principle of academic freedom for the good of all citizens in...
Public Act 093-0859
Record keeping is discussed in this statute.
How and Where to take Classes
Covers taking classes at community colleges, constitution tests, and part time attendance of pupils enrolled in nonpublic schools in the regular education program of the district.
People vs. Levisen
In People vs. Levisen, (1950), The Supreme Court of Illinois reversed the conviction of homeschool parents. The appellants were Seventh Day Adventists and, according to Justice Crampton who delivered the opinion of the Court, "believed that the child should not be educated in competition with other children. The Supreme Court did not agree that the homeschool parents had violated the compulsory attendance law. Further, the Court defined a private school as: "a place where instruction is imparted...
Illinois H.O.U.S.E.
Illinois H.O.U.S.E. (Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience)
is an umbrella organization of individual nonsectarian and inclusive support groups across the state of Illinois.
Illinois Statute 105 ILCS 5/ Article 26. Pupils--Compulsory Attendance
Statute regulating compulsory attendance, including ages of students, and regulations concerning private schools.
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Featured Resources
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Serving Homeschooled Teens and Their Parents (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series)
This guide for librarians addresses the needs of homeschooled teens and how a library can meet those needs. Includes ideas like developing a homeschool resource and book collection to creating special homeschool programs. While this book was written ...
Shurley English
Shurley English maintains that effective instruction in English must be founded upon an understanding of how the parts of speech work together in a sentence. A good grammar foundation gives students the skills to improve writing. Grammar is the struc...
English from the Roots Up
English from the Roots Up explores the Latin and Greek roots of words. Many people haven't realized how valuable the Latin and Greek vocabulary is in the formulation of the finely structured English vocabulary of today. Even learning a few Latin and ...
Cognitive Styles and Learning Strategies: Understanding Style Differences in Learning and Behaviour
First Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Drawn Into the Heart of Reading
Drawn Into the Heart of Reading was developed for use with students of multiple ages at the same time, perfect for the homeschooling family. It is designed for use as an entire reading program or as a supplement to an existing program for students in...