ILLINOIS (WCIA) —  Illinois is one of a few states that place minimal rules on parents or guardians who homeschool. A proposed bill, called the Homeschool Act, is hoping to change that. 

As of now, Illinois parents or guardians who homeschool don’t have to register with any state agency or school district and authorities can’t make them track attendance or show students’ progress. 

Kirk Smith, executive director of Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE), has homeschooled all 11 of his children. With some still in highschool, he said any legislation that tries to infringe on his role as an educator is absurd. 

“Our kids have done very, very, very well in college, and we’re the norm,” Smith said. “Our kids are not special, they’re just very normal, and that’s kind of representative of what the homeschool community is all about.”

The proposed bill aims to increase oversight for homeschooling families. Groups, like the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), think that Illinois’ current state of homeschooling could put children in harm’s way. 

“Floor-level protections like this pose no more than a minimal administrative task for the many families who are homeschooling responsibly, while ensuring children who are vulnerable to educational neglect and abuse are accounted for,” CRHE Research Director Jonah Stewart said in a statement.

Smith did not overlook the fact that cases of abuse can exist in homeschool settings. He said, however, that it exists everywhere.

“There are some tragic stories of abuse,” Smith said. “You can’t get around it. Any educational model will have abuse.”

The Homeschool Act would require homeschooling parents or guardians to have a high school diploma or equivalent, tell school districts when they decide to educate from home and show evidence of teaching materials if authorities have concerns. 

Along with impacting homeschool families, the bill would also require all private schools to register within the state — something that’s voluntary as of now.

Smith said that the state simply does not have the funds or staffing necessary to carry out what the bill would require. He also said that the proposed measures of oversight and sharing of data infringes on his rights as a parent.

“What that suggests is I’ve got to get permission to homeschool my kids from the state, thus the ideological backing is they’re the state’s kids not mine,” Smith said. 

On the other hand, the CRHE believes that the bill would put Illinois on par with other states who have legislation that closely monitors homeschooling. 

The bill introduces common-sense measures that make sure homeschooled children are educated and safe,” Stewart said. 

The concept of increasing homeschool oversight isnt a new thing in Illinois. Past attempts to create protections for homeschooled students have failed or been tabled.

The Homeschool Act was read in the House last month and has now been assigned to the Education Policy Committee. It’s scheduled for a hearing this week.