Illinois ‘Homeschool Act’ has parents, schools concerned

(LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Roy S. Askins and Molly Lackey

District leaders of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), along with school administrators and homeschoolers throughout Illinois, are raising concerns about Illinois HB 2827, dubbed the “Homeschool Act.” The bill resulted from a report published last year that used a child abuse case in Illinois to drive concerns over the state’s limited regulations on homeschoolers.

For many, HB 2827 represents a dramatic swing in the opposite direction, with concerning effects for homeschooling parents and private schools, both religious and secular. The presidents of all three LCMS districts in Illinois issued a joint letter to members of LCMS churches and schools sharing these concerns, stating that “the measures proposed in HB 2827 overstep the bounds of decency to achieve [the] goal [of a well-educated citizenry].”

The bill begins with a statement that it does not apply to “non-home-based, non-public schools”; however, much later, the bill creates mandatory reporting requirements for all non-public schools. Those schools will be required to register with the Illinois State Board of Education and provide the names and contact information for all enrolled students and their parents to state and local education offices.

Furthermore, this registration requires of the school, among other things, “assurances of compliance … with federal and State laws regarding health examination and immunization, attendance, length of term, and nondiscrimination.” It also includes a provision for curriculum review of the school by the local education board.

Dr. Jay Krause, principal of Metro East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville, Ill., pointed out that his school receives a regular review from the state: “Every five years, [the state Board of Education] through the local Madison County Regional Office of Education comes through and does an evaluation of our school. … They don’t need to expand that.”

Leaders also have concerns over the status of students attending schools that refuse to register or are not approved by the state: “Even though students have 100% attendance at school, they would still be considered truant because they are not being taught a state-approved curriculum,” said the Rev. Michael Mohr, LCMS Central Illinois District president. Parents of truant children may be subject to fines, jail time and the forced removal of children from their home.

The bill is also vague in terms of enforcement. “The bill leaves it open to interpretation how it’s going to be implemented,” said the Rev. Rene Castillero, headmaster of St. Paul Lutheran School, Hamel, Ill. “The only thing it does say is that homeschoolers and private schools will be beholden to making sure they meet expectations of the state.”

“We’re here to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our families and educate them in the best way possible,” Krause said. “The LCMS has a rich history in education and in schools. We know what we’re doing, and we’ve consistently shown that over the years. This [bill] continues to be a jab at that.”

“This bill … is an even greater concern for our homeschoolers,” said Mohr. If passed, the Homeschool Act would require all homeschooled children in the state of Illinois to be registered with the public school district in which they reside. Parents would be required to provide documentation that includes the child’s name, date of birth, grade, home address and parent or guardian’s name and address.

The bill states that the purpose of the documentation and reporting is to track the number of homeschooled children in Illinois, as well as to “reduce vulnerabilities to abuse and neglect” and ensure that children “receive a safe and sufficient education.” Furthermore, the “homeschool administrator” (the parent or guardian teaching the child at home) would be mandated to annually document and submit a list of curricula used, examples of learning materials used or developed by the child, and the parent or guardian’s assessment of the child’s academic progress.

Failure to comply will result in the child being considered truant, with attendant penalties and fines as noted earlier.

Mohr is especially concerned because of the power the bill grants to officers of the state. It “permits officers, agents of that regional office, to come in at will to inspect the homeschool site, which means [they may] come in and inspect the homes of our members. … I think that is concerning,” he said. “The underlying presupposition of this bill is that children are wards of the state that are granted to their parents and the various private schools by leave of the state to raise them as the state sees fit, rather than the rearing and educating of children being the responsibility of the parents God gave them.”

District leaders are encouraging LCMS members to get involved in a number of ways:

Pray that the Lord would protect Lutheran schools and the work they do of sharing the Gospel.

Read the bill. Be informed about what legislators are doing.

“Witness slips” are an important part of the process for the hearings. Before last Friday, it was reported that over 29,000 witness slips had been filed against the bill with only 700 supporting. However, legislators amended the bill. Committee members only consider slips filed for each committee hearing. Concerned homeschoolers and private school parents should consider filing a witness slip for each available hearing (Wednesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 20).

Finally, consider reaching out to the committee members to speak about the bill.

For his part, Castillero has also made this an opportunity for teaching in the classroom. St. Paul’s upper grade students discussed the bill and wrote sample witness slips as a class. “It’s an exciting time to be a Lutheran and an exciting time to be a Christian,” Castillero noted. “I’ll just reiterate how excited we should be to have the opportunity to confess even before the state in a matter such as education. If we believe that the parent is the child’s first teacher, then this should be of utmost importance to us.”

Posted March 17, 2025