How to Homeschool in Illinois

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Homeschooling in Illinois is relatively easy. There are very few requirements to start and then continue homeschooling in your state! If you are ready to dive into the exciting adventure of homeschooling, read on. In this article you will find the following:

An overview of Illinois homeschool laws,
An introduction to homeschool groups in Illinois, and
A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started.

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

Illinois Homeschool Laws

Illinois has no specific statutes regarding homeschooling, so your homeschool will qualify as a private school. While there are no requirements for notifying your school district, if your child has already attended public school, it's a good idea to notify the school that you have chosen to homeschool. If your child is under the age of seven and has not attended public school, no notification is necessary.

Once you have begun homeschooling, there are no requirements for taking attendance or administering end-of-year testing. Your homeschool is required to teach the same subjects as students in the corresponding grade level, however. Education statutes define these subjects as the following:

Language Arts
Math
Biological/Physical Science
Social Sciences
Fine Arts
Physical Development/Health

Homeschool Groups in Illinois

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Illinois to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Illinois Christian Home Educators

http://www.iche.org

This Christian-based group serves the entire state of Illinois. They provide a Beginner's packet if you're just starting out and a network of support groups to be with you throughout your homeschooling experience. In addition, the ICHE sponsors family outings, conventions, and conferences throughout the year.

Illinois HOUSE

http://www.illinoishouse.org/

HOUSE is a non-sectarian group that provides a wide network of support groups throughout the state. Their website also features a wealth of resources for answering your homeschooling questions and needs.

East Central Illinois Home Educator Network

http://www.homeschool-life.com/il/ecihen/

This Christian group operates primarily in East Central Illinois. In addition to monthly meetings, ECIHEN provides multiple opportunities for field trips and other enrichment activities.

Splendor of Truth Catholic Home Educators (SOTCHE)

http://www.sotche.org/

We are a group of homeschooling Catholic families. Our location spans the IL/WI border: from southeastern Wisconsin to northeastern Illinois; from Racine, WI to Lake Bluff, IL and from Lake Michigan to McHenry County, IL. Our activities include field trips, Co-op, gym classes, support meetings for moms and moms’ book club, to name a few.

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NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Illinois

Moving Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Illinois. All of the Moving Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Illinois legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Moving Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Moving Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Moving Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.