Why does Illinois only offer the public homeschooling system for residents of Chicago and/or only high school?

Question

My son is enrolling in Az Virtual Academy which is funded by the state or federally. A friend in Illinois was wanting to do the same but found there are no options except for in Chicago. Can anyone explain why this is not offered nation-wide?

Answer 1

It's not offered nation wide because schools are not federally controlled.  The Constitution gives states the right to control things like schools, therefore each state gets to decide whether they want to pay K12 to run an online public charter.  The school systems are then broken down into districts, which are accountable to the state.  

Apparently, the Cook County school district feels that it is beneficial to pay K12 to run an online charter, while the state doesn't.  It's not required to.

Each state is required to offer public schooling that is accessible to its residents; no one ever said in which form this has to be done.  It can be offered online, but it's not in any way required.  As long as a brick and mortar public school is physically accessible to your friend's kids, it is fulfilling its requirement.  The state is not required to offer anything to homeschoolers.  Fortunately each state offers us the legal right to homeschool, and some states offer more than others, but all they are required to offer is a form of education.