Illinois Homeschooling Laws

Age Requirements

• The Illinois Supreme Court ruling of People v. Levisen, 404 Ill. 574 (1950) holds that a home school education is the same as a private school education in the state. Therefore, families choosing to home-school do not need to comply with the compulsory age law of seven to 17 years of age in the Illinois School Code.

Required Subjects

• Homeschooling is legal in Illinois if operated as a private school, but certain subjects must be included in the child's curriculum. These subjects are language arts, social studies (social sciences) science (biological and physical,) fine arts, physical development and health. The subjects must be taught in the English language and taught at the same time as they would be taught to children in the public school system.

Hours of Instruction

• Families homeschooling Illinois must provide 176 days of instruction per the Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/10-19 through the parent or a private tutor. It is not required that the parent be a certified teacher. There are no laws however regarding the number hours for instruction, per year or day.

Notification to School District

• Illinois law does not require homeschooling families to provide notification when they choose the method of education. The Illinois State Board of Education does provide a form for those who choose to notify their district's superintendent of their choice. It is suggested, though not mandatory, that parents who remove their child from public education should present the form to prevent a report to truancy officials.

Testing

• The state law does not require home-schooled students to submit to standardized testing. Home-schooled students do have the right to participate in some assessments through their school district, at the discretion of the district and public schools.

Tax Credits

• Home-schools in Illinois are entitled to an education tax credit because they are considered a private school by the state. The Home School Legal Defense Association states that the "tax credit that allows up to $500 in excess of expenses of $250 for tuition, book fees, and lab fees to be deducted from state income tax," as result of state legislation passed in 1999.