Illinois Homeschool Bill: HB 2827 and Current Requirements

Homeschooling is legal in Illinois with very little state involvement. Under Illinois homeschool laws, a home-based education qualifies as a private school, so families do not have to register with the state, file curriculum plans, submit to standardized testing, or seek approval from any agency before teaching their children at home.¹ That framework comes from the Illinois Supreme Court’s 1950 decision in People v. Levisen, which held that a child taught at home attends a “private school” under the compulsory attendance statute.² The ruling has never been overturned, and it still governs today.

The compulsory attendance statute requires children ages 6 through 17 to attend school, with an exemption for any child attending a private or parochial school where the subjects match those taught in public schools and instruction is in English.³ Everything below flows from that exemption.

How to Start Homeschooling in Illinois

There is no official form, no waiting period, and no approval step. You can begin homeschooling the day you decide to.

If your child is currently enrolled in public school, though, don’t just stop sending them. The State Board of Education recommends sending a dated letter to the child’s school stating that you are withdrawing the student and intend to homeschool, and keeping a copy. Send the same notification to your Regional Office of Education, which handles compulsory attendance complaints in your area.¹ The reason is practical rather than legal: without notice, the school marks your child absent, and enough unexplained absences trigger a truancy referral. A short letter avoids that entirely.

Required Subjects

Your instruction must cover the same subjects taught in public schools at your child’s grade level and be delivered in English.³ The State Board of Education identifies these areas:

Language arts
Mathematics
Biological and physical science
Social science
Fine arts
Physical development and health

You choose the textbooks, curriculum, and methods. The state does not approve or review those choices. The legal standard is equivalency: your education must be “at least commensurate with the standards established for public schools.”¹ That is deliberately broad language, which gives families flexibility but also means the benchmark is somewhat subjective if a dispute arises.

Records You Should Keep

Illinois law does not specify what records you must keep, how long you must retain them, or in what format. There is no state-mandated attendance log, no annual report, no portfolio submission. This is where Illinois differs sharply from states that require yearly assessments.

Even so, thorough records are one of the smartest investments you can make. If a truancy complaint is filed, the regional superintendent can ask you to show that your instruction meets the Levisen standard, and families who can produce organized records typically resolve those inquiries without escalation.¹ Records worth maintaining include:

Attendance logs showing instructional days and hours
Samples of completed work across each required subject
Any standardized test results you choose to administer
A written description of the curriculum or resources used each year

Those records also become valuable when your child applies to college or seeks employment.

When Homeschools Get Investigated

Enforcement runs through the truancy system. Your regional superintendent has first-line responsibility for investigating reports that a child is not receiving adequate education. A truant officer, who carries the authority of a peace officer, can investigate and refer the matter to court.¹

A parent who receives notice of a child’s truancy and knowingly allows the child to continue missing school can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.⁴ The statutory phrase is “knowingly and willfully permits.” That penalty targets parents who ignore warnings and refuse to cooperate, not families teaching in good faith with a paperwork gap.

Access to Public School Classes and Sports

Homeschool students in Illinois, like all private school students, can enroll part-time in any for-credit class offered at their local public school. Chemistry labs, foreign language, vocational programs — the public school is required to allow it.

Sports work differently. Interscholastic athletics are governed by the Illinois High School Association, a private organization with its own eligibility rules separate from public school policy. Under IHSA rules, a homeschooled student can play only if enrolled at the member school and taking at least one course there each semester, among other requirements. Several states have passed laws giving homeschoolers unconditional access to public school sports. Illinois has not.

Special Education Services

Homeschooling does not shut your child out of special education entirely. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, school districts must spend a proportional share of their federal special education funding on services for children with disabilities whose parents have placed them in private schools, and Illinois homeschools count as private schools.⁵

The distinction matters. A child in public school has an individual right to a free appropriate public education tailored to their needs. A homeschooled child does not. The district must consult with private school representatives and parents to decide how the proportionate share funding will be distributed across all eligible parentally-placed children. Your child may receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, or specialized instruction, but the district decides what and how much. You can request an evaluation through your local school district at no cost, and the district must conduct child-find activities for homeschooled children comparable to what it does for public school students.

Preparing for College, Financial Aid, and the Military

Homeschool graduates apply to college using the same process as other students. Because Illinois treats homeschools as private schools, parents act as both administrator and teacher, which means you create your own transcript and issue your own diploma. There is no state-issued homeschool diploma in Illinois.

Most colleges accept parent-issued transcripts. Admissions offices often place additional weight on standardized test scores, a documented portfolio, and any dual-enrollment or AP coursework. Some Illinois public universities note that homeschooled students follow the same application procedure as all other applicants and must submit a final transcript showing completion of college-preparatory coursework.⁶

For FAFSA, homeschool graduates generally need a secondary school completion credential recognized by their state, which in Illinois typically means a parent-issued diploma documenting completion of a home-based program. Some students also take the GED or earn college credits to establish eligibility. Get this documentation in order before senior year to avoid financial aid delays.

For military enlistment, federal law protects homeschool graduates. Section 591 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 requires all branches of the Armed Forces to exempt homeschool graduates from any requirement to obtain a GED or traditional high school diploma as a condition of enlistment.⁷ Under the Department of Defense’s uniform policy, homeschool graduates are classified as Tier II for credential purposes but treated as Tier I for enlistment, meaning they receive the same access to positions, educational benefits, and enlistment bonuses as traditional high school graduates. If a recruiter says your child needs a GED, that recruiter is wrong.

Tax Considerations

As of 2026, there is no dedicated federal tax credit or deduction for homeschool curriculum, books, or supplies. Homeschool parents remain eligible for general credits like the Child Tax Credit, but those are not tied to educational expenses.

The federal educator expense deduction, worth up to $300 per qualifying educator, is generally not available to homeschool parents. The IRS defines an “eligible educator” as someone who works at least 900 hours during the school year at a school providing elementary or secondary education as determined under state law.⁸ Because Illinois treats homeschools as private schools under Levisen, some homeschool parents may have an argument for eligibility, but the IRS has not issued guidance confirming it, and it remains a gray area. Instructors at registered homeschool cooperatives serving multiple families have a stronger claim.

529 Plans and K–12 Homeschool Expenses

A significant change took effect in 2026: 529 education savings plan distributions can now be used tax-free for K–12 homeschool expenses, up to $20,000 per student per year. Eligible expenses include curriculum materials, books, online educational subscriptions, tutoring from a qualified non-relative, standardized testing fees, dual-enrollment costs, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. Distributions above the $20,000 cap or spent on nonqualified expenses are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty on the earnings portion. The IRS has not yet issued specific documentation guidance for homeschool 529 distributions, so keep detailed receipts.

Social Security Student Benefits After 18

If your child receives Social Security benefits as the dependent of a retired, deceased, or disabled parent, those benefits normally end at age 18. An exception allows payments to continue until age 19 if the child is a full-time student at the elementary or secondary level, and homeschooled students can qualify.⁹

To keep benefits past 18, your homeschool program must be recognized as an elementary or secondary school under state law, the course of study must last at least 13 weeks, and the student must be scheduled for at least 20 hours of instruction per week. The student completes Form SSA-1372-BK, and a school official certifies attendance, which for homeschools typically means a parent acting as administrator. Benefits stop the month before the student turns 19 or the first month they drop below full-time status, whichever comes first.⁹ If your family depends on these payments, structure your schedule to meet the 20-hour threshold and keep attendance records that show it.

What HB 2827 Would Have Changed

You may have heard about a homeschool bill during the 2025 session. House Bill 2827, introduced in the 104th General Assembly, proposed a standalone “Homeschool Act” that would have required parents to file an annual declaration with the State Board of Education, hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent, and submit to portfolio reviews at the request of public school officials.¹⁰ It died without a vote. None of it is law. The Levisen framework described above still controls, though similar legislation could resurface in future sessions, so watch each new session if you homeschool in Illinois.

1
Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Homeschooling
2
Justia. People v. Levisen
3
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 105 ILCS 5/26-1 – Compulsory School Age; Exemptions
4
Justia Law. Illinois Compiled Statutes 105 ILCS 5 Article 26 – Pupils Compulsory Attendance
5
eCFR. 34 CFR Part 300 Subpart B – Children With Disabilities Enrolled by Their Parents in Private Schools
6
Illinois State University. Homeschooled Students
7
GovInfo. Public Law 109-163 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
8
Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 458, Educator Expense Deduction
9
Social Security Administration. Frequently Asked Questions – Students
10
Illinois General Assembly. Bill Status of HB 2827