A note added to House Bill 2827 shows it likely will add costs for school districts, regional offices of education and even individual schools. The Illinois State Board of Education should retract its support of the bill restricting homeschools and private schools.
Does it matter which union represents your child’s teachers? The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents a lot of school districts where student performance is lacking.
Students in large school districts unionized by the Illinois Federation of Teachers underperform the state average in reading and math.
House Bill 2827 would regulate both homeschool families and private schools in Illinois. Its extensive provisions have generated historic opposition. Here are nine things you should know about how it will impact education, privacy and your family.
Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated Dyett High School where only 2% of tested students can read at grade level – and none can do math at grade level – as a “great example” of a schooling model the Chicago Teachers Union’s tentative contract plans to boost.
“Illinois is the only state to lose a school choice program rather than expand one. If we can turn that around at the federal level, it would be a huge win for students in the state."
Student literacy is in trouble nationally. Illinois is one of 41 states where just 1 in 3 or fewer of its fourth-graders met reading standards in 2024.
Illinoisans over 90,000 times said they opposed a bill regulating homeschools and private schools, but an Illinois House committee passed it anyway. Now the full Illinois House must face constitutional issues and fierce opposition to the bill.
As Illinois House members consider regulating homeschools and private schools, Illinois Policy and parents across Illinois have registered their opposition to government intrusion into constitutionally protected rights.
House Bill 2827 would require the collection of personal information – including religious affiliation – of private school and homeschool families all over the state. That violates families’ constitutional rights.
Dues money collected by local teachers unions rarely stays local. Instead, money flows up to state or national affiliates, where the priorities are politics and union boss expenses – not representing teachers.
Angela Harris homeschools six children on the South Side of Chicago – two of her own, plus four cousins. She attended Cherry Pie Day at the state capitol to oppose House Bill 2827, which would force her family to register with the local public school. “I worked with families in social services, and even before...
Latasha Fields is a mom of four and homeschool advocate on the South Side of Chicago. She founded a homeschool co-op and a microschool to help other South Side families teach their children independently. She is one of hundreds of parents who rallied at the Statehouse in opposition to House Bill 2827, which intends to...
House Bill 2827 would require all Illinois private schools to report personal information about students to local and state authorities – a prime example of Illinois government overreach and an infringement of parents’ constitutional rights.