The proposed bill in Illinois has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and families because it could potentially criminalize parents homeschooling their children. House Bill 2827, called the “Homeschool Act,” requires parents to register with local public schools through a “homeschool declaration form” that would not allow them to be punished for misdemeanors.
La Sean Ford, the representative of a democratic nation that represents parts of Chicago, joined critics Thursday at a rally in downtown Chicago. “This bill is a pipeline for the criminal justice system for parents,” Ford said. “How can you criminalize a parent because you want to love your child?”
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The bill also requires that homeschooled children meet the same vaccination and health check requirements as public school students if they wish to participate in extracurricular activities. Additionally, the law requires private schools to submit student contact information to the state.
Critics argue that the bill undermines parental rights and disproportionately targets minority communities where homeschooling has grown significantly. The proportion of black families who chose to homeschool in Illinois has increased from 3.3% to almost 17%, according to Ford.
Bobby Sylvester, vice president of urban centers, warned that the law would allow state invasion of private education. “The bill would require private schools to hand over their names, phone numbers and addresses. That’s a government overreach,” he said.
Supporters, including Democrat Terra Costa Howard, who sponsored the bill, have argued that stronger surveillance is needed. The law follows a ProPublica report claiming that Illinois’ LAX homeschooling regulations did not capture cases of child abuse. The bill includes provisions that allow states to request educational materials if a child is suspected of not being properly educated.
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Opponents say there is no evidence to link homeschooling to a higher risk of abuse than public schools. Homeschooling advocates say the bill could force parents to keep their children in a failed or unsafe school because they fear prosecution.
“Keeping children safe is not by form, but by standing together as a community,” says Chantal Moore, a mother whose autistic son thrives in a homeschool setting.
Aziza Butler, a former public school teacher and homeschooling mother of six, added that the bill threatens education freedom and misleads resources from struggling public schools.
This article was originally published in the American Faith and has been reposted with permission.
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