Illinois treats a homeschool as a private school, and asks almost nothing of it: no notice, no testing, no hours, no required records. The one real duty is teaching six subject areas, in English, as well as the public schools would.
Verified against primary sources November 2026. Laws change; sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Illinois has no homeschool registration, notice, testing, or day and hour count. A homeschool counts as a private school under the compulsory attendance law, so your duty is to teach the same branches of education the public schools teach at your child's age and grade, in English: language arts, math, biological and physical science, social science, fine arts, and physical development and health. Nothing is filed with anyone. If your child is leaving a public school, tell that school in writing so the child is not marked truant.
The compulsory attendance law excuses a child who attends a private school where children are taught the branches of education taught to children of the same age and grade in the public schools. The School Code names those areas as language arts, mathematics, the biological, physical and social sciences, the fine arts, and physical development and health. You choose the curriculum, the courses, and the order. The State Board of Education says this subject rule is the only specific homeschool requirement in Illinois.
The same exemption requires that instruction in those branches of education be in the English language. Learning a second language as a subject is fine; the core teaching itself must be in English.
The law applies to children from age 6 (if 6 on or before September 1) until age 17, unless the child has already graduated from high school. A child outside that range has no attendance duty under this law.
No state law sets a withdrawal procedure. The State Board of Education recommends telling your child's current school, preferably in writing, that you are withdrawing to homeschool, and keeping a copy. The point is to keep the child from being reported absent or truant. The school may have its own withdrawal form to sign.
There is no inspection. A truancy investigation starts only if someone reports a concern to your Regional Office of Education. A truant officer may then contact you. Under the State Board's reading of court decisions, the parent must be able to show the home instruction meets the law. A parent who has been given notice of a child's truancy and knowingly lets it continue can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, with up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
| Before you start | If your child is in a public school, send a dated withdrawal letter or sign the school's withdrawal form, and keep a copy. |
| Any time | Choose your own school year and schedule. Illinois sets no start date, day count, or hour count. |
| Before May 1 | If you want your child to take a class at the local public school next school year, the request must reach that school by this date. |
| By April 1 | If your teen wants public school driver education next school year, notify the district by this date. Confirm the process with the district. |
| Never | Nothing is filed with ISBE, your district, or your Regional Office of Education. |
No. State law has no registration or notice requirement for homeschools. The Illinois State Board of Education says it no longer collects homeschool forms. Some Regional Offices of Education, and Chicago Public Schools for Chicago residents, offer a voluntary form. Filing one is your choice.
No. HB 2827 would have required a yearly declaration form and set parent qualifications. Its last action was on April 11, 2025, when it was sent back to the House Rules Committee. No homeschool law has passed in the 2025 to 2026 General Assembly as of November 2026.
None set by law. The State Board of Education says there are no requirements for the number of school days or the length of a school day for homeschool students. It recommends a consistent schedule, especially if your child may return to public school.
Often, yes. A district must accept students from nonpublic schools, which includes homeschools, for part-time attendance if there is space. The request for the next school year must reach the public school before May 1. Driver education is also open to nonpublic school students, with a rule about passing grades in at least 8 courses over the previous 2 semesters.
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Make a free parent accountReference information reviewed August 2026 against primary sources (statutes, NCAA and Common App published requirements). This is general information, not legal advice; requirements change, so verify anything load-bearing for your family against your state's current law.