Illinois House panel advances bill to strengthen homeschooling oversight

SPRINGFIELD — After nearly three hours of debate before a packed hearing room, a House committee on Wednesday voted to advance a bill that would impose new requirements on homeschooling, fueling a heated discussion over parental rights and government oversight in Illinois.

The measure, known as the Homeschool Act, would require families to notify their school districts when they decide to homeschool, and that parents or guardians who teach their kids at home have a high school diploma or equivalent. One of the most-contested pieces of the bill provides that if education officials suspect a child is not receiving proper instruction, they could demand proof of teaching materials and student work.

The House Education Policy Committee voted 8-4 along party lines to move the bill to the House floor for a vote, with one Democrat lawmaker voting present.

Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, introduced the bill following the publication of a Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica investigation, which revealed little accountability for parents who pull their kids from school and then fail to ensure they receive an education.

The news organizations’ reporting documented cases where children endured severe abuse at home, unnoticed because they were not in school.

One such case, referenced in Wednesday’s hearing, was that of Zion Staples, a 9-year-old boy from Rock Island who went missing in December 2022. His mother, who had a long history of abuse and neglect allegations, was able to homeschool him despite previously losing two children to foster care. Police later determined Zion had accidentally shot himself while playing with a gun. His mother hid his body in a trash can for months before authorities found him. She pleaded guilty to felony endangering the health of a child and was sentenced to two years in prison in April.

Opponents, including homeschool advocates and religious groups, called the bill an unnecessary government intrusion. Thousands of homeschool families filled the Capitol — packing the committee room and spilling into hallways and the Capitol Rotunda where they sang hymns and patriotic songs.

In addition to showing up in person, they submitted over 40,000 witness slips opposing the bill — a mechanism state lawmakers use to gather testimony and gauge support on bills. Nearly 1,000 people filed in support, including the Illinois State Board of Education, whose representative appeared to answer questions.

Critics argued the bill would disproportionately burden low-income and minority families.

“This bill targets homeschool parents and treats us as criminals, guilty until proven innocent,” said Aziza Butler, a former public school teacher who now homeschools her children in Chicago.

Supporters pointed to cases of abuse, arguing that some parents use homeschooling as a shield for abuse and neglect.

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education, a national child advocacy group, said some families pull their children from school to avoid scrutiny.

“We have tracked over 500 cases of extreme abuse and neglect in homeschool settings where the abuse escalated because of the isolation afforded through homeschooling,” said Jonah Stewart, the group’s research director.

“I believe this bill will help protect abused and neglected children and leave in place the freedom of parents to decide how to best meet the educational needs of their children,” said Tanner Lovett, a homeschooling advocate who also testified in favor of the measure.

Opponents pushed back, arguing there is no evidence homeschool children are at greater risk of abuse than their public school peers.

“The proponents claim that children who are being homeschooled are at greater risk of abuse and neglect. This is not supported by the two peer-reviewed studies that have been produced,” said Will Estrada, senior counsel at the Home School Legal Defense Association.

Some also warned the bill could lead to selective enforcement, particularly against marginalized families.

Lawmakers clashed over how the law would be enforced. Supporters said it would allow regional education offices to track homeschool students and investigate truancy. Opponents argued it could open the door to harassment.

Estrada said the bill would allow regional offices of education to request a homeschooling family’s educational portfolio at any time, even as often as once a month. Costa Howard rejected that interpretation, saying such an investigation would only come if serious allegations arise.

“That is simply not true, that is not in the bill, that is not what the law says. You are wrong,” she said.

Another point of contention was the impact on private schools. The bill would require all private elementary and secondary schools to register with the state and submit student information upon request.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois opposed the measure, saying it would force religious schools to hand over confidential data. Bob Gilligan, the organization’s executive director, said he understands the aim of the legislation is to ensure homeschooled children are safe and receive a sufficient education but doesn’t believe the measure would accomplish that.

“It is unclear how this bill will advance either of those goals,” he said.

Costa Howard defended the measure as a necessary safeguard.

“This bill is about the thousands of children whose voices are not heard,” she said. “I am the voice of the voiceless here today, and I will continue to fight for them.”

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.