By Melissa Leu Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Hundreds of concerned parents and children flooded the Capitol on Tuesday to rally against a measure that will require home-schooled students to register with the state Board of Education.
Janet Hasselbring, of Braidwood, home schools her three children, and arrived early Tuesday morning to voice her opposition.
Michael McCreery, executive director of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, said that most parents who came out on Tuesday were the “cream of the crop,” and that he’s more worried about the ones who didn’t show up.
Under Illinois law, home schooling is considered private education. Parents are required to teach their children subjects “taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools,” including language arts, mathematics, science, social science, fine arts and physical development and health.
Jasmine Jasper, 16, a home-school student from Mascoutah, said she enjoys the one-on-one attention her parents can provide.
Twelve states — Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Missouri, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Oklahoma, Alaska, New Jersey, Kansas and Illinois — are considered to have minimal home-school regulations, Woodruff said.
A home-schooled transplant from New York said he likes the looser environment.
Giove, 28, expects to educate his four young children at home.
The measure was supposed to be brought up in committee this week, but with the outpouring of criticism from parents, future plans remain on hold.
Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.