Illinois Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling is legal in Illinois, and a homeschooled student is considered to be attending a private school. There is no registration, no license, and no approval. You teach six named subject areas in the English language, and nothing is submitted to your district or to the state. Illinois sets no minimum number of school days, no length of school day, and no testing requirement.
Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.
Illinois Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | Children between the ages of 6, on or before September 1, and 17 |
| Notification or registration | Not required. Registration of home schooled students is not required in Illinois, and there are no forms, licenses, or approvals to obtain |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | A homeschooled student is considered to be attending a private school |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | No credential is required. The teacher must be competent, and the education must be at least equivalent to public schooling |
| Required subjects | Language arts, mathematics, biological and physical science, social science, fine arts, and physical development and health, taught in the English language |
| Instructional time | No requirements for the number of school days or the length of a school day |
| Testing or evaluation | None. There is no requirement that a home schooled student be tested |
| Required records | No specific record keeping requirements, though families are strongly encouraged to keep good records. Nothing is submitted to a school, district, or the state board |
| Responsible government agency | Your local district handles withdrawal from public school. The Illinois State Board of Education publishes guidance but does not accredit or approve homeschool programs |
What Is Required, and What Is Merely Offered
Required: instruction in the six subject areas, in English, from a competent teacher, at a level at least equivalent to public schooling. That is the whole legal standard.
Not required, though sometimes presented as though it were: registration. Your Regional Office of Education may make a voluntary form available for families who want to tell that office they intend to homeschool, and Chicago Public Schools offers a voluntary form for city residents. Both are optional. Filing one does not make your homeschool more legal, and skipping it does not make it less so.
Recommended: notifying your child's current school in writing when you withdraw. The state board recommends it, and your school may have a withdrawal form to sign. This is about the district's enrollment records rather than permission to homeschool.
How to Start Homeschooling in Illinois
- Notify the school in writing, if your child is enrolled. A dated letter stating that you are placing your child in private school is the recommended approach, and the school may have its own form.
- Organize your program before you begin. You may start homeschooling once your program is organized.
- Cover the six subject areas. Language arts, mathematics, biological and physical science, social science, fine arts, and physical development and health.
- Teach in English. The law asks that instruction in these branches of education be in the English language.
- Decide about the voluntary form. If your Regional Office of Education offers one and you want your program on file locally, submit it, knowing it is optional.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Illinois does not require testing, and you are not required to administer or submit tests, homework, projects, grades, or any other materials to a school, a district, or the state board. If you give your child a standardized test for your own purposes, the results stay with you.
There is no attendance register to keep for the state and no minimum day or hour count to track. Curriculum choice belongs entirely to your family, and it is the parent's responsibility to find, evaluate, and organize materials into an education program.
Even with no formal requirement, the state board strongly encourages good records. A simple file of subjects covered, materials used, and samples of work is what answers questions later, particularly if your child enrolls in a school that sets its own placement and credit procedures.
Official Illinois Homeschool Resources
- Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Homeschooling
- Illinois State Board of Education, Questions You May Have on Illinois Home Schooling
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.