In March, Illinois lawmakers introduced House Bill 2827, known as the Homeschool Act. If passed, it would have placed heavy regulatory burdens on homeschooling families, as well as a variety of private schools. For decades, Illinois had been among the freest states for home education—until this bill.
The Homeschool Legal Defense Association called H.B. 2827 “the most authoritarian bill proposed in the country in the last three decades.” The original version threatened automatic criminal charges against homeschoolers who didn’t file paperwork. Later, amendments offered a slightly milder version but still left the door open to prosecution and even referral to state attorneys.
On March 19, hundreds of homeschooling families gathered at the state capitol in Springfield. The Illinois Christian Home Educators led the effort, and citizens submitted tens of thousands of witness slips opposing the bill. Out of more than 42,000 slips originally submitted, fewer than 1,100 supported the bill. Even with amendments, opposition only increased. A rally on April 3 in downtown Chicago brought together parents, students, and concerned citizens—including some from the Black community who had turned to homeschooling during and after the pandemic.
Finally, as the legislative session neared its close, the momentum of parent-led opposition proved decisive. The bill died on June 1. Even in triumph, homeschool advocates remain vigilant. Following the defeat of H.B. 2827, homeschooling mother Cora Weber and her group, the International Alliance for Freedom in Home Education (IAFHE), helped persuade twelve county governments in Illinois to pass “pro-homeschool” resolutions, becoming known as “homeschool sanctuary” counties.
Remember – this bill isn’t isolated; similar efforts are rising in other states. Leftist groups are constantly working to push through model legislation that would force parents to surrender constitutional protections (First, Fourth, Fifth Amendments), impose permits, or require curriculum aligned with “woke” ideologies under threat of state intervention. Homeschoolers and family-rights supporters must continue to stay alert. The Illinois case reminds us: citizen action matters, and freedoms once thought secure can be challenged—but when parents speak up, they can be heard.
If you want to hear more of the story about how this terrible Illinois bill was defeated and how you can stand up to the same tyrannical overreach in your state, come to Eagle Council 54! The Eagles are gathering in St. Louis, Missouri on November 1st, and we want you with us. Visit PhyllisSchlafly.com for all the details, again that’s Phyllis Schlafly dot com. Thank you, and join us next time for the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/family/outraged-parents-defeat-anti-homeschooling-bill-in-illinois/