Does anyone know of a website to find out information on homeschooling in Illinois?

Question

I'm looking for info on home schooling for my 15 year old. He's not adapting to public schools and can't afford a private one. He's been to alternative schools but continues to run out of them. Thanks for your input.

Answer 1

The best place to go to learn the laws in your state is http://www.HSLDA.org.  You should be able to find all sorts of information on your states requirements, as well as some support groups listed there.

Also try http://groups.yahoo.com and type in "YourCityNameHomeschool".  You are bound to come up with something near you, where you can network with other homeschoolers-and they are your best resource.

I wish you the best!

Answer 2

Here is the best place to start with information about HS'ing in Illinois:

http://www.illinoishouse.org/

Have you looked into the Illinois Virtual High School?  You can enroll through your school district.  It's not homeschooling, but rather "public school at home", but it may be an option for you.

http://www.ivhs.org/index.learn?bhcp=1

There's also a great Yahoo Group for HS'ing in IL:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschool...

There are other YG's for Illinois also.  There's groups for:  Springfield, Decatur, Champaign-Urbana, and Chicagoland suburbs, plus more.  A more local group will help you connect with activities in the area you live.

There's also a great library resource in Johnsburg.  They will loan out materials to anyone with a state of IL library card through inter-library loan.  It's a great way to check out different curricula:

http://www.johnsburglibrary.org/hrc.htm

If you live near there, you can also visit while the director is in.  She gives weekly tutorials about HS'ing on Tuesdays from 10am-Noon.

Answer 3

The two best are

http://bushnell.net/~peanuts/illaws.html

and

http://hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=...

Answer 4

After www.hslda.com, there are 2 additional things that I would look at...

ALEKs math online-one month free trial for homeschoolers

Sonlight-Free catalog

Best of luck to you and your son!

Warm Regards,

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com

http://www.summerhouseliving.com

Answer 5

IL is one of the easiest states to homeschool in.

Here are a couple of great websites to get you started:

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/

Great overall link about homeschooling in general.

Here is the direct link from the same site to research the law:

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi...

http://hsislegal.com/associations.asp#i

This link has resources for joining a homeschool group

HSLDA legal analysis:

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?St...

In IL, you don't have to report to anyone, submit to testing, have any special degree, or fill out paperwork. You do have to teach equivalent subjects as the public schools at the appropriate levels, and in English, but there is no set standard to do this.

You're only real snag (and this is not because of the law, but because schools don't want to let the children go), is that you might have problems with the school harassing you. It's easy enough to solve. It's all in your wording.

Under IL law, students are not homeschooled, but private schooled. When you withdraw your child, you tell them them you are transferring to a private school (do not use the words "home school"). They will ask you which school your child is transfering to. Tell them that you are not sure which one, but you will hand deliver the school records to the new school.

They may refuse to give you the records, but that is not a big deal. Just be non-confrontational and state that you will get back to them to let them know. Then just never get back to them.  When your child goes to college, you can have the records sent there, and submit your transcript for what you did in your private school.

Although it is illegal for DCFS to investigate a family because of homeschooling status, sometimes they will do it anyway -- especially if a school were to call them, so it's best to just not give the school any reason, no matter how unfounded.

IL really is a nice place to homeschool and it's not likely that you will actually have any problems with the authorities. There are a few minor cases that crop up from time to time, but it is rare.

Please remember, that it is your responsibility to check the law. Don't take anyone's word for it, but do your research.

HTH

Answer 6

HSLDA has a great website regarding standards for all states. I also live in Illinois, and I can tell you that Illinois is one of the easiest states to homeschool in. Simply because there are no requirements mandated for Illinois. I also have a 15 YO that I have been homeschooling for the past few years. I pulled him out of the public school system for some of the same reasons you have. I pulled him out mid-year. I didn't have any problem doing so. Illinois considers a homeschool in the same bracket as a private school. There are many different curriculums and companies out there. I am not sure where you are at, at this point, but I can give you a run-down on what we will be using for next year. I like Ambleside On-line, because it offers a free curriculum, and most of the books required can be found at the library. I love the gentle laid back atmosphere that Ambleside creates. I try to incorporate other things as well into our homeschool day. This fall my 15 YO will be using Apologia Science (Physical Science), Saxon Algebra 1, We The People -- Government/Civics course, Learning Language Arts Through Literature-Gray Book (Grammar/Dictation/Latin Roots), Story Starters by Karen Andreola (Creative Writing), Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola (Nature Studies), Ourselves by Charlotte Mason (Personal Growth and Leadership), Boyhood and Beyond, Bob Schultz (Growing into manhood),

Art and Composer Studies. This will be in conjunction with free reading books that he chooses from our Ambleside book list.

You can read more at:

www.amblesideonline.com

www.hslda.gov

or my blog at: www.destinationexceptionalmotherhood.com

( I have many different links to free resources listed.)

Good luck on your journey. It's a rewarding one. One thing I must stress is that I feel that I truly know my teenager. How many people can say that, these days? Hold tight.

Warmly,

Amy

Answer 7

If you type in homeschool Illinois into a search Engine, lots will come up.

Here's some of the more useful stuff I found:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschool...

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi... (LOTS of links on this one--laws, support groups and more)

Answer 8

Illinois Virtual High School is not free but affordable. You might want to look into it. There is a virtual online school in Chicago that is free, but you must live in Chicago.

There are many online curriculums and schools for those homeschooled and some are very affordable. An affordable one is Progress Academy .. but there are many options