UPDATE x1: Rep. Bristow tabled this bill Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
ALTON – A second term Democrat from Alton Illinois wants – among other things – families that homeschool to register with the State, undergo investigations by the Department of Children and Family Services, have their homeschool curriculum approved by the State Board of Education.
State Rep. Monica Bristow of Alton introduced a bill last Friday that would authorize the Child Protective Service Unit of the DCFS to "investigate the home in which the home schooling will occur to ensure there is no suspected children abuse or neglect in the home."
As soon as word of HB 3560 hit social media, homeschoolers networked and began efforts to call and email the state rep. Within hours Saturday morning, the Illinois Family Institute posted on their Facebook page that Rep. Bristow agreed to withdraw the proposal.
With Monday as a state holiday, the official notification has not yet appeared on the Illinois General Assembly's website.
In Illinois, homeschools are under the umbrella of private and parochial schools – with only basic curriculum requirements. Bristow's bill would set up a third category of schools with requirements unique for only home schools.
The bill's description says HB 3560:
Amends the School Code. Provides that, after a home-schooling registration form is submitted, the State Board of Education must request a Child Protective Service Unit of the Department of Children and Family Services to investigate the home in which the home schooling will occur to ensure there is no suspected child abuse or neglect in the home. Provides that after the investigation by the Child Protective Service Unit is complete, the State Board must notify the school district in which the home is located that the child is being home-schooled. Provides that once every 2 school years, the State Board must inspect the academic records of a registered home-school student. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to require a Child Protective Service Unit to investigate the home of a child upon a request from the State Board. Effective immediately.
