Illinois Homeschool Laws & Requirements

Compulsory School Attendance Age

Illinois compulsory attendance generally applies to children age 6 through age 17, unless the student has already graduated from high school or qualifies for another statutory exemption.

Homeschool Notification and Enrollment

Illinois does not require parents to register a homeschool before beginning. The Illinois State Board of Education offers a voluntary homeschool registration form, but registration is not mandatory.

If a child is currently attending public school, ISBE strongly recommends giving the school a dated written withdrawal notice. This helps prevent the student from being marked absent and referred for truancy.

Instructional Days and Hours

Illinois does not set a specific minimum number of homeschool hours per day or homeschool days per year. However, the educational program must be at least equivalent to the education offered in public schools.

Required Subjects

Illinois requires homeschool instruction in the following subject areas:

• Language Arts • Mathematics • Biological and Physical Science • Social Science / Social Studies • Fine Arts • Physical Development and Health

Instruction must be offered in the English language.

Attendance and Records

Illinois does not require routine homeschool attendance reports, grade reports, portfolios, or transcripts to be filed with the state. Good records are nevertheless strongly recommended, especially if a student may later return to public school or apply to college.

Useful records include:

• Attendance • Courses and curriculum used • Grades • Credits • Report cards • Transcripts • Student work samples • Testing, if voluntarily completed • Graduation records

Standardized Testing

Illinois does not require homeschooled students to take standardized tests. If parents choose to test their children, the results do not have to be submitted to a school official or state agency.

Parent Teacher Qualifications

Illinois does not require a homeschooling parent to hold an Illinois teaching license or teaching certificate. The parent is responsible for providing an educational program that satisfies the required subject and equivalency standards.

Curriculum Freedom

Illinois does not provide or mandate a specific homeschool curriculum. Parents may select textbooks, workbooks, online programs, parent-created lessons, tutors, cooperative classes, educational websites, or other resources as long as the program covers the required subject areas and is at least equivalent to public-school instruction.

Graduation

Illinois does not issue a state homeschool diploma. Families operating a homeschool as a private school may establish their own high school course and graduation requirements and should maintain a detailed transcript. Acceptance of homeschool coursework, credits, transcripts, and diplomas may depend on the receiving college, employer, military branch, licensing program, or other institution.

Returning to Public School

If a homeschooled student later enrolls in public school, the receiving public school determines grade placement and may review records or administer an assessment to determine appropriate placement or credit.

Alabama Church School Services for Illinois Families

Illinois families are not legally required to enroll with Alabama Church School. However, families may choose Alabama Church School for curriculum, academic records, transcripts, report cards, graduation documentation, and other educational services.

• Complete curriculum • Enrollment documentation • Attendance resources • Academic records • Report cards • Transcripts • Diplomas and graduation documentation • Student records • Educational support and other available services

Alabama Church School can provide families with an organized curriculum and recordkeeping framework while the parent continues operating the Illinois homeschool and remains responsible for meeting Illinois law.