Dem Lawmaker: Illinois Home School Bill Will Create a “pipeline to the criminal justice system”

Illinois bills could change dramatically Homeschooling rules The state will create a “pipeline for the criminal justice system for parents,” state Democrats warned Thursday.

Rep. La Sean Ford, who represents the district, including parts of Chicago, spoke out as HB 2827, homeschool law parents, students and enemies, gathered in downtown city.

The bill moving forward through the Illinois Legislature will charge the parent with a misdemeanor if he does not register his child on the “Homeschool Declaration Form” and he or she is unable to register with the nearest public school he or she will otherwise participate in. Also, documents for vaccination and health testing for children who wish to participate in public school activities are required.

“I support the representatives who sponsor the bill and I hope I can work with her to make this bill something you can support. But now I don’t think it’s exactly what you need. Illinois” Ford said. “I believe in restorative justice. I believe in making sure people don’t have a path to the criminal justice system. And this bill is a pipeline of the criminal justice system for parents. And I can’t support it.

Illinois parents, lawmakers warn about the proposed homeschooling bill

“And finally, we’ve seen homeschooling growth since the pandemic. It’s growing in all demographics, but specifically in the black community, homeschooling in this state from almost 17% of black people,” he added.

“The bill would require private schools to hand over individual contact information, including name, phone number and address, to Illinois,” Bobby Sylvester, vice president of Urban Center Nonprofit, on Thursday.

“That’s a government overreach,” he said.

The Democrats say The bill will include parts that require parents to hand over teaching materials if the child is suspected of not being properly educated, increasing homeschooling oversight.

Democrat State Rep. Terra Costa Howard introduced the bill following an investigation story by Propublica, with a left-leaning bias, entitled “A hands-off approach to homeschooling in Illinois puts children at risk,” according to nonpartisan news ratings agency Allsides. The report included cases of abuse that were not noticed because the children were not present in school.

School Choice Activists Warn Parents About Jail Time Provisions on Illinois Homeschool Bill

However, opponents of the bill argue that there is no correlation between homeschooled students being at a higher risk of abuse than students in the public school system.

“Many families need to make decisions too early to separate their children from public school settings for their safety, and it’s a more effective learning environment,” homeschooling mother Chantal Moore said at a rally Thursday.

Moore said her son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but is thriving in a homeschooling environment.

“Keeping kids safe is not by getting them into form, but by standing together as a community,” she added.

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Aziza Butler, the self-proclaimed homeschooling mother of six and former Chicago Public Schools teacher, said, “The bill not only distracts valuable resources, time and energy from the critical needs of public schools that are already at risk, but also threatens the benefits of many minorities, as well as the educational revolution.”

Jamie Joseph and Andrea Margolis of Fox News contributed to this report.