Prairie State Wire

House Bill 2827, which homeschool advocates say threatens parental rights and educational freedom, was not brought to a vote on the final day of the session as lawmakers prepare to leave Springfield for spring break.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D–Glen Ellyn), has been described by opponents as a sweeping and under-publicized overhaul of state oversight of homeschooling. It has sparked a sizable grassroots response with more than 42,000 witness slips filed in opposition.

Kirk Smith, Executive Director of the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE), provided a real-time update on April 11.  

“Today, Costa Howard, the sponsor, brought the bill up on the House floor to get all the notes that had been attached to it dropped so that she can go from the second reading to the third reading,” Smith said on Facebook. “But it will not be brought up [for a vote] today, which is the last day before the spring break starts. So we’ll come back April 22nd.”

Smith noted that Costa Howard appears to be adjusting the bill in real-time to win over hesitant lawmakers, including a recent carveout that exempts Catholic brick-and-mortar schools—though not Catholic homeschoolers—from certain provisions.

“She’s been making amendments to try to bring more legislators to her side,” he said. “The Catholic homeschools are still upset because they’ve kind of been dumped on here.” 

Smith encouraged optimism in homeschool parents. 

“I do want to encourage you to draw a breath,” he said. “Once it hits social media, things go out so quickly… So everybody, draw a breath. Celebrate the fact that Christ is risen and that He rules over Springfield.”

The amended version of HB2827 has raised a host of concerns among families and advocacy groups, including potential mandates for registering homeschool co-ops as private schools, increased data collection from private education providers and vague language that some say could lead to government overreach and the erosion of parental rights.

Will Estrada, senior counsel at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), called the amendment “a completely new law” cloaked as a revision, warning that it could make Illinois “one of the worst states to homeschool in.”

“It’s about the government deciding what’s best for children instead of parents,” Estrada said. “The state shouldn’t come between them and that right.”

Though the bill is temporarily stalled, Smith emphasized that the fight is far from over. 

“They’ll probably bring it up when they come back the 22nd—if they think they have the votes,” he said. “She [Costa Howard] said herself, she’s not ready to bring it for a vote yet.”

Opponents of the bill continue to encourage families to contact their legislators, especially during the spring break period, while lawmakers are back in their home districts.

“Keep praying,” Smith said. “If you haven’t reached out to your representatives, please do so. I still remain cautiously optimistic.”