Macon Reporter

State Rep. Regan Deering (R-Macon) is voicing strong opposition to the Homeschool Act - HB 2827, a piece of legislation that seeks to impose stricter oversight on homeschooling families in Illinois.  

The Homeschool Act is currently under consideration by the Illinois House of Representatives Education Policy Committee. 

The bill aims to increase oversight on homeschooling families by imposing new regulations, including requiring homeschooled students to submit a "Homeschool Declaration Form" to avoid truancy penalties. 

If homeschooled students wish to engage with public schools, the bill also mandates that certain health documentation, such as proof of immunizations, be provided.

"My concerns with the Homeschool Act are simple," Deering told the Macon Reporter. "This legislation sets up unfunded mandates, further burdens school administrators and Regional Offices of Education (ROEs), puts energy into a non-problem when we have many problems in education, and strips freedom from students who learn differently."

Critics, including Kirk Smith of Illinois Christian Home Educators, have voiced similar concerns, arguing that the bill infringes on parental rights and introduces unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, requiring state permission for homeschooling. 

Deering expressed her belief that these new regulations could severely limit educational choices for students and their families.

"As a parent, former educator, school board member, and former owner of a tutoring and test preparation business, I know that every student learns differently and responds to different methods of instruction, and homeschool bridges that gap for many," Deering said. "Homeschooling is an incredible asset that can open those opportunities and allow a child to flourish, and this bill opens the door to taking away those freedoms. Piece by piece, enough legislation will be crafted and passed to make homeschooling nearly impossible if this bill passes and sets that precedent."

One of Deering's primary objections to HB 2827 is what she describes as a "terrifying precedent" in which government involvement in education expands to homeschool settings. 

She believes the bill creates unnecessary regulations that could stifle the ability of parents to educate their children as they see fit.

"HB 2827 sets a terrifying precedent that forces the government to be involved in the education of students who do not attend a public or private school and creates unfunded and unprecedented mandates in Illinois for homeschooling parents," Deering warned. "Parents know their children best and should be included in their child’s education every step of the way, and this legislation starts to strip those freedoms away by making it more difficult to homeschool."

A central feature of the bill that Deering is particularly critical of is the requirement for homeschooling families to submit detailed reports and forms. 

The bill also outlines mandatory educational portfolios, which could be subject to review by local school districts and ROEs.

"I agree, this legislation over-regulates homeschool by mandating 'Homeschool Declaration Forms,' requirements for homeschool administrators, and even educational portfolios upon request—all of which must be monitored by the local school district and Regional Offices of Education (ROEs)," Deering said.

Deering also raised concerns about the broader implications of the bill on public education, arguing that the added administrative burden could negatively impact public school students as well. 

She highlighted how public schools are already struggling with performance issues, and that the legislation could exacerbate the problem by diverting attention from real educational challenges.

"Public education is full of government mandates and plenty of tax dollars, yet kids are still performing way below grade level in basic skills like reading, writing, and math," Deering said. "These new burdensome regulations may also affect public school students if their school’s administrators are required to also monitor the work of homeschool students. The legislature needs to refrain from putting up red tape where it is not needed."

Instead of focusing on homeschooling, Deering believes that lawmakers should direct their attention toward addressing more pressing issues in the state's education system.

"I would like to see the time and energy that was put into crafting this legislation channeled into education as a whole and the many fixes that are long overdue," Deering said. "This seeks to solve a problem that does not exist. Homeschool is often a solution to many of the problems at public or private schools, like unprecedented teacher shortages, intense levels of bullying and violence, and extreme cases where schools are committing educational neglect in public education. Those are real issues that merit solutions, and ones we should be focusing on, not homeschool programs and students."

As the debate over the Homeschool Act continues, Deering remains a vocal advocate for parental rights and educational freedom in Illinois. 

With over 41,000 Illinois residents filing witness slips in opposition to the bill, there is significant public outcry against the proposed regulations.

"I hope the Democrats listen to the tens of thousands of citizens who filed witness slips in opposition to this bill, and it does not go forward," Deering said.

Deering represents the 88th House District of Illinois, which covers parts of Livingston, DeWitt, Macon, McLean and Piatt counties in east central Illinois.