Homeschooling in Illinois

Illinois is currently one of the most hands-off homeschool states in the country. Under 105 ILCS 5/26-1, homeschools operate as private schools — no notification, no testing, no approval, no reporting required. The Illinois Supreme Court established this in People v. Levisen (1950), ruling that 'the object of the law is that all children shall be educated, not that they shall be educated in any particular manner or place.' IMPORTANT 2026 UPDATE: HB 2827 is currently moving through the Illinois legislature and would create the state's first formal 'Homeschool Act,' requiring annual notification by September 1 starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill has NOT yet become law, but Illinois homeschool families should monitor it closely.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: One pathway — home-based private school under 105 ILCS 5/26-1, established by People v. Levisen (1950).

Notification: No notification required to begin homeschooling. Some families voluntarily send a letter of compliance if questioned by district officials..

Instructional time: No specific minimum days or hours required.

Required subjects: Six required subjects per 105 ILCS 5/27-22: language arts (reading, writing, grammar, spelling), mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences (social studies, U.S. history, geography, government/civics), fine arts, and physical development and health. All instruction must be in English (American Sign Language is considered English-equivalent)..

Testing and evaluation: No state-mandated testing for homeschoolers.

What Illinois families need to know

Homeschool = private school: Illinois does not have a separate homeschool statute. The word 'homeschool' does not appear in the Illinois School Code. Homeschools operate under the private school exemption in 105 ILCS 5/26-1, which exempts any child attending a private school that teaches 'the branches of education taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools' in English.

People v. Levisen (1950): the foundational Illinois Supreme Court case — 404 Ill. 574, 90 N.E.2d 213 (1950). A Seventh-day Adventist mother taught her daughter at home. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a 'school' does not have to be a building, and that a home where real teaching occurs qualifies as a private school. This case is over 75 years old and has never been overturned. Scoma v. Chicago Board of Education (1974) reinforced this, ruling the private school exemption is constitutional.

No notification required: you do NOT need to inform the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), your regional office of education, or your local school district before beginning to homeschool. There is no required Notice of Intent, registration form, or approval process. The 'Non-Public School Registration Enrollment and Staff Report' form sometimes presented to families is VOLUNTARY for all non-public schools — you are not required to fill it out.

Letter of withdrawal: if your child is currently enrolled in an Illinois public school, send a brief written letter of withdrawal to the school stating that your child is transferring to a home-based private school program. Use certified mail or get a signed acknowledgment. This is not legally required, but prevents truancy referrals.

Letter of compliance (if questioned): if a regional truancy officer or district official inquires about your child's status, you may provide a brief 'letter of compliance' confirming that your child is attending a home-based private school in compliance with 105 ILCS 5/26-1, teaching the required subjects in English. No other paperwork or proof is required.

Six required subjects: language arts, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health. All instruction must be in English (ASL counts).

**APRIL 2026 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE**: HB 2827 is currently moving through the Illinois General Assembly and would create the state's first 'Homeschool Act.' Under the bill: parents would be required to submit a 'Homeschool Declaration Form' to the regional office of education or local superintendent before September 1 of each year, starting with the 2026-2027 school year; truant officers could request an educational portfolio as part of a truancy investigation (must be produced within 10 days); homeschool students participating in any public school activities would need to provide proof of immunizations or a Certificate of Religious Exemption. THE BILL HAS NOT YET BECOME LAW. ILLINOIS HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS LEGISLATION CLOSELY through ILHSA, IRACHE, and HSLDA.

Sports access: NOT guaranteed. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) requires full-time enrollment in a member school for athletic participation, so public school sports are generally unavailable to homeschoolers. Some districts may permit non-IHSA activities at their discretion.

Special education: homeschool students are not entitled to public school special education services unless they enroll in public school for at least one class.

Compulsory attendance: ages 6 (by September 1 of the school year) through 17, unless graduated. Children 5 and under are not subject to compulsory attendance.

Always verify current requirements with the Illinois State Board of Education before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Illinois homeschools are private schools, so each homeschool develops its own graduation requirements and issues its own diplomas and transcripts. Illinois public colleges (UIUC, UIC, Illinois State, etc.) accept homeschool transcripts. Maintain detailed records: course titles, credit hours, grades, GPA, and course descriptions. Strong ACT or SAT scores significantly strengthen college applications. Illinois public colleges typically do not require a state-accredited diploma.

Getting started in Illinois

If you are new to homeschooling in Illinois, here is the practical sequence to follow:

1. Read the statute. Visit the Illinois State Board of Education website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
2. Choose your legal pathway. Illinois offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
3. Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
4. File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
5. Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
6. Connect with a local homeschool organization. Illinois has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.

Illinois homeschool organizations

The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Illinois homeschool families:

• Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) — Largest statewide Christian organization with annual convention — iche.org
• Illinois Homeschool Alliance (ILHSA) — Inclusive statewide alliance with detailed legal information — ilhsa.org
• Illinois Resources Advocates Christian Homeschoolers Educators (IRACHE) — Statewide Christian advocacy
• HSLDA Illinois — Legal defense and member support

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Illinois homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.

Beyond the legal requirements

Meeting Illinois's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:

Homeschool360 • Illinois State Guide