RE: HB 2827 Stalled--But the Push for Homeschool Oversight Isn’t
Every year brings new attempts to curb educational freedom. Illinois’ HB 2827 is one example, a proposal that would have shifted homeschooling away from teaching and toward compliance.
Illinois has historically been one of the least regulated states for homeschooling. Families have been free to teach at home without filing annual paperwork, registering with the state, or submitting student portfolios. HB 2827, the “Homeschool Act,” aimed to change that.
Introduced in the 104th General Assembly, the bill advanced through committee in March 2025 but has since stalled in the House Rules Committee, with no action since April. Though it has not become law, its provisions are a warning of where lawmakers may try to go:
Annual Notification: Parents would file a homeschool declaration with regional offices or superintendents by September 1 each year.
Portfolio on Demand: If a truant officer opened an investigation, families would have just 10 business days to produce a portfolio of work.
Public School Participation Rules: Proof of immunization or health exams (with religious exemptions possible) would be required for public school activities.
Parent Credentials: The designated homeschool administrator would need at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
For Illinois families, this would have meant an abrupt shift from near-total autonomy to mandated oversight. Even though the bill is stalled, it signals a broader trend: lawmakers across the country are increasingly exploring ways to tighten homeschool regulation through truancy, child welfare, and public-school access measures.
Why this matters:
Records are your shield. If challenged, families may be required to prove their child’s education in days, not months.
Defensibility matters more than volume. A clear, time-stamped, verifiable record of instruction is more powerful than a box of worksheets.
The precedent travels. If Illinois considers mandatory declarations, other states may follow.
The bottom line: Laws may change, but parents remain the first institution. ScholarBitBook was built to give families the ability to compile and defend a child’s full educational record. If your Homeschool or Microschool is ever questioned, you can quickly demonstrate your student’s learning history with confidence. In a climate of shifting rules and growing oversight, defensible records are no longer optional, they are essential.
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