Getting Started
Hello New Homeschooler,
Welcome to the wonderful world of homeschooling! If you know the law and have it handy as you withdraw your child from public school, then you are in good shape. The wonderful part of homeschooling is that you will be able to create the best home education for your child that will be custom fit to their needs.
See the attached file for information about Illinois homeschooling legalities. If it seems confusing, please ask questions.
This information is non-lawyer researched opinion. But homeschoolers should think like lawyers regarding their rights and responsibilities. Particularly since we’re a tiny, alternative lifestyle minority.
If you do choose to homeschool, school administrators might ask you to fill out a Home School Registration Form. That form is NOT mandated. They will ask you for an update every year and put into the Illinois State Board of Education Data Analysis and Progress Reporting Dept database. It's an unnecessary and invasive form that is not necessary for you to homeschool legally in Illinois. Most homeschoolers would strongly discourage sending in that form for your sake and for other homeschoolers' sake. You have much better ways to spend your time with your family.
Long time homeschooling advocate, Harvey Bluedorn, wrote a fine article explaining to IL Homeschoolers-Eight Reasons NOT to Register
Ordering catalogs and reading home education magazines can be a great help for research. Rainbow Resource (an Illinois company) is very thick and will show you some of the endless possibilities available for homeschooling.
For new homeschoolers, there are also many, many general resources online to research. Here are some general favorites:
Home Education Magazine’s For New Homeschoolers: Starting Out, Learning The Ropes Questions and Answers, FAQs
Ann Zeise’s Beginning to Homeschool
Lillian Jone’s The best advice of seasoned homeschoolers and other educators…
There’s so many other resources online and there are usually local resources available in your library. Check it out. You’ll appreciate and enjoy your new discoveries and possibilities and then be able to make the best decision with that information for your family.