Questions You May Have On Illinois Home Schooling (Page 2 of 5) in pdf

6. May a home-schooled student take assessment tests through his/her district of residence?

The public school may choose to allow a home-schooled student to participate in some

assessment tests. However, state assessments such as the Illinois Standards Achievement Test

(ISAT) are not considered appropriate tests for students in nonpublic schools, since the content

of such assessments was designed specifically for the Illinois public school curriculum.

7. My child is currently attending a public school. Is there a formal procedure I must follow to

withdraw him from school to begin home-schooling?

It is highly recommended that you give the public school a dated letter (keeping copies for your

records) that states you will be withdrawing your student to place him/her in a private school.

Such a letter indicates your intent to continue your student’s education and will make it less

likely that the school reports your student to county officials as truant after a prolonged absence.

Home-schooling organizations provide samples of this type of letter.

8. Does the State Board of Education give advice to parents on effective home-schooling?

No. The State Board of Education’s jurisdiction generally does not extend to private or parochial

schools and for most purposes a home school is regarded as a private school. We give basic

(legal) information to parents and others interested in home-schooling, including references to

private education in Illinois law or in court cases. In addition, we have provided links to some

state and national websites of possible interest (see below).

9. Where can I find information on how to begin a home-schooling program?

Here are some of the resources available to parents and others interested in home-schooling:

• Your public library should have information on home-school groups in your area as well

as state-wide or national home schooling associations. Some or all of these contacts may

share information on home-schooling textbooks, study guides, homework materials, and

curricula. Your library would also have information on home-schooling magazines and

books.

• The Internet has thousands of links to home-schooling information ranging from

suppliers of home-schooling materials to home-schooling “ezines”and support groups to

research studies and legal analyses. Parents interested in purchasing a home-schooling

curriculum or related materials through the Internet are advised to first research the

products, and their claims, as they would do before making other types of on-line

purchases.

• Your Regional Office of Education may have information on local home-schooling

organizations as well as links to state and/or national organizations. For a directory of

Regional Offices see:

• You may have friends, neighbors and/or relatives who are home-schooling their children

and would be willing to share their experiences with you.

Questions You May Have On Illinois Home Schooling Page 2