A controversial state bill known as House Bill 2827, or the Homeschool Act, has been protested by hundreds of homeschooling families at the Illinois state Capitol. The bill, which passed out of the Education Policy Committee by a vote of 8-4, will now head to the state House floor for a vote, potentially next week. If it passes, it will then move on to the full House, Senate, and eventually to the desk of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The Homeschool Act would establish requirements for parents to homeschool their children and failure to comply could result in a Class C misdemeanor. Homeschooling families view the bill as government overreach and an attack on parental rights. Critics, including Will Estrada from the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, argue that the bill is unnecessary and could lead to further restrictions on homeschooling families in the future.
Protesters gathered in Springfield to voice their opposition, expressing concerns about the bill’s impact on their autonomy and ability to choose their children’s education. They fear that the government would have too much control over their homeschooling practices if the bill becomes law. The bill would require homeschooling parents to register their children with the public school system and submit educational portfolios for review.
Opponents of the bill, such as homeschooling mother Michelle Langworthy, view it as an infringement on their values and freedoms, highlighting that homeschoolers perform well academically and socially without government intervention. The legislation also mandates that homeschooling children participating in public school activities must show proof of immunizations or a religious exemption. Governor Pritzker has not publicly taken a stance on the bill yet.
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