Dupage Policy Journal

As Illinois lawmakers consider sweeping changes to homeschooling regulations under House Bill 2827, families across the state are raising serious concerns about government overreach, loss of parental rights and a fundamental shift in educational freedom. 

HB2827, sponsored by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), was amended this week in what some critics describe as a complete overhaul introduced with little public notice. 

Critics argue that a recent amendment to HB2827 significantly expands government authority over homeschooling, introducing strict deadlines that could penalize families in crisis situations, like bullying. 

Additional concerns center around potential state oversight of homeschool curricula, increased data collection from private schools and provisions that may infringe on family privacy and constitutional rights.

Liz Wiersum, a Medinah-based homeschool mother of five and president of Homeschool Kingdom, a nonprofit co-op serving 100 families, questioned the bill’s underlying motivation. 

“I think it must come down to money,” Wiersum told DuPage Policy Journal. “The schools don’t get funding if children are not enrolled. So maybe this is a way to bring homeschoolers back under the public system’s authority.”

With over 42,000 witness slips filed in opposition, critics argue the bill places homeschool families under unwarranted suspicion and creates obstacles that could discourage home education entirely.

Wiersum has been educating her sons from preschool through high school graduation. She warns that the bill could undo decades of progress for homeschoolers. 

“To add one more level of complexity to that — where someone else random can come in and look at your homeschool or you have to put together a profile — it’s an unnecessary step that is going to put more pressure on the homeschool parents,” she said. “We’re doing so many jobs and so many roles here. Adding that takes away from the time spent actually educating your own children.”

Wiersum’s experience runs deep: she and her husband are both second-generation homeschoolers. She emphasized that homeschool communities already enforce accountability and safety through practices like mandated reporting and background checks. 

“We are helping each other and encouraging each other,” she said. “The parents that sign up, those are the ones doing a great job with homeschooling.” 

Critics are also troubled by new definitions in the bill that exclude co-ops and community-based learning groups from being recognized as homeschool programs — a move Wiersum says would isolate families. 

“This will encourage a life of isolation, which we strongly discourage as homeschoolers,” she said.

Wiersum remains hopeful that growing public resistance could influence key decision-makers. 

“We’re really on an uphill battle here,” she said. “But maybe if Governor Pritzker is thinking about a presidential run, he’ll want to show he listened to the people. That’s our hope.”

Will Estrada, senior counsel at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), called the amended bill “a completely new law” cloaked as an amendment.

“It’s about the government deciding what’s best for children instead of parents,” he said. “Families across Illinois are united by their love for their children and their desire to provide the best education. The state shouldn’t come between them and that right.” 

The legislative push in Illinois is being led by the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, which Estrada called “a pro-authoritarian, pro-government regulation organization” who “are taking it as their mission to roll back homeschool freedom.”