Homeschool Requirements in Illinois
Illinois is one of the easiest states to start homeschooling in. There is nothing to file and no one to ask permission from. Your home school counts as a private school, you teach six subject areas in English, and you decide the rest. Here's how it works, in plain English.
Homeschool mom of two and co-founder of Packet Day
✓ Last verified against isbe.net
The short answer ⚡
No registration, no approval, no testing. Illinois treats a home school as a private school. You teach six subject areas in English, at a level at least equal to public school. ISBE recommends a short letter to your child's current school so they aren't marked truant.
Illinois at a glance 📋
- Registration
- Not required
- ISBE says the state doesn't require you to register
- Tell the school
- Recommended
- A dated letter if your child is leaving a school
- Parent qualifications
- None listed
- ISBE's guide lists no diploma or certificate. It doesn't define "competent" either
- Subjects
- Six areas
- Language arts, math, science, social science, fine arts, physical development and health
- Testing
- Not required
- You don't have to test or send anything in
- Hours and days
- Not set
- No minimum school days or hours
- Records
- Not required
- ISBE strongly encourages them anyway
Pick your path 🛤️
Here are the main ways Illinois families school at home. The first is the home school itself. The other two can sit beside it.
At home
1. Home school as a private school
Since a 1950 Illinois Supreme Court case called People v. Levisen, a home school counts as private school in Illinois. ISBE describes the test this way: the teacher is competent, the required subjects are taught, and the education is at least equal to public school. There is no registration or approval.
Mix and match
2. Part time at the public school
Under 105 ILCS 5/10-20.24, your child can take classes at your local public school. ISBE lists three conditions: you ask by May 1 of the year before, there is room, and you live in that school's attendance zone. Classes there can also open the door to special education services.
Less work for you
3. A private online school
ISBE says many private online schools will handle most of the planning, for a cost. There is no free online public school option in Illinois. If you enroll in one, check how its courses line up with what colleges will want.
Getting started in Illinois, step by step
There's no form to file with the state. The one thing worth doing is telling your child's school, so nobody thinks your child is missing.
Plan your six subject areas: language arts, math, science, social science (social studies), fine arts, and physical development and health.
If your child is in school now, tell the school you're withdrawing to homeschool. ISBE prefers it in writing, and the school may have its own withdrawal form for you to sign.
Keep a dated copy of your letter. The goal is that the school knows your child won't be coming, so they aren't reported missing or truant.
Optional: your Regional Office of Education may have a voluntary form to tell them you're homeschooling. Chicago Public Schools has one for Chicago residents. ISBE says it no longer collects homeschool forms itself.
Start when you're ready. ISBE's guide says there are no other forms, licenses, or approvals required.
What ISBE says the state does NOT ask for
- ISBE's guide says you aren't required to send tests, homework, projects, or grades to a school, district, or ISBE
- It lists no required classes, no minimum school days, and no length for a school day
- It lists no recordkeeping requirement, though it strongly encourages records
Source: ISBE: Illinois Homeschooling
Want this as a printable? Get the free Illinois checklist.
Records to keep 🗂️
ISBE's guide says there are no specific recordkeeping requirements. It does strongly encourage good records, because if you're ever asked for proof, it says the job of providing it is yours. A simple folder is enough:
- Your withdrawal letter with the date on it, and a copy of any form the school had you signRecommended
- Report cards, syllabi, attendance logs, and test results ISBE lists these as the kind of proof a public school may ask for when your child goes backRecommended
- Book lists and work samples for each subject a quick way to show all six subject areas were taughtOur suggestion
- Credits for each high school course ISBE says proof of credits is critical for a high schooler entering public schoolRecommended
Nobody collects these. They're there for the day somebody asks.
Testing: what Illinois actually requires 🧪
None. ISBE's guide says you aren't required to administer or submit tests, homework, projects, grades, or anything else to a school, district, or ISBE. Any test you choose to give won't be reviewed by them either.
ISBE also says homeschooled students may not take the state accountability tests used in public schools. If you want an achievement test for your own peace of mind, that's your call.
What to teach 📚
Illinois asks for six subject areas, taught in English, at a level at least equal to what public schools offer. ISBE's guide cites 105 ILCS 5/26-1 and 27-1.
- Required subject areas: language arts, mathematics, biological and physical science, social science (social studies), fine arts, and physical development and health
ISBE's guide says there are no specific classes required. Algebra 2 or chemistry is your decision. If a college is on your child's radar, ISBE encourages you to follow public school graduation requirements.
5 mistakes new Illinois homeschoolers make ⚠️
1. Pulling your child out without telling the school.
ISBE says the school may mark your child absent and eventually refer you to a truancy officer. A dated letter fixes it.
2. Hunting for a state form or paying to "register."
ISBE says the state doesn't require registration, and its 2023 guide says it no longer collects homeschool forms.
3. Skipping a subject.
The six subject areas, taught in English, are the one thing ISBE's guide calls a requirement. Fine arts and PE count.
4. Assuming nobody can ever ask.
ISBE says truancy reviews start when someone reports a family to the Regional Office of Education. Keep simple records so you can show your child is learning.
5. Counting on the school's sports and clubs.
ISBE says public schools have no obligation to open extracurriculars to homeschooled students, and in most cases sports are limited by state association rules.
Illinois homeschool FAQ 💬
Do I have to register to homeschool in Illinois?
No. ISBE says the state doesn't require you to register before you start, and it lists no other forms or approvals. A home school counts as a private school here. Some Regional Offices of Education offer a voluntary notice form, but ISBE's 2023 guide says it no longer collects forms itself.
How do I withdraw my child from public school to homeschool?
ISBE says state law has no formal withdrawal procedure, but it recommends telling the school, preferably in writing. The school may have a form to sign. The goal is that they know your child isn't coming back, so they aren't reported missing or truant. Keep a dated copy.
What subjects do I have to teach in Illinois?
Six areas, taught in English: language arts, mathematics, biological and physical science, social science, fine arts, and physical development and health. ISBE's guide cites 105 ILCS 5/26-1 and 27-1. It says no specific classes are required, so you choose the courses and the curriculum.
Does Illinois require homeschool testing?
No. ISBE's guide says you aren't required to give or submit tests, grades, or projects to a school, district, or ISBE. Anything you choose to give won't be reviewed by them. Homeschooled students also may not take the state accountability tests used in public schools.
How many hours or days do Illinois homeschoolers need?
None are set. ISBE's guide says there are no requirements for the number of school days or the length of a school day. It does say your education must be at least equal to public school, and it encourages a steady daily schedule, especially if your child may return to school.
Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool in Illinois?
ISBE's guide doesn't list a diploma, degree, or certificate for parents. ISBE does say the 1950 Levisen decision looks for a competent teacher, and its guidance doesn't define that word. The guide describes the subject areas as the only specific requirement.
What happens if someone reports me for truancy?
ISBE says a truancy review begins when someone reports a family to the Regional Office of Education. A truancy officer may contact you for more information. Keeping simple records helps if you're ever asked to show your child's education.
Can my homeschooled child take public school classes or driver's ed?
Yes, with deadlines. For part time classes, ask by May 1 of the year before, if there is space and you live in the school's zone. For driver's ed, ISBE says to notify the district by April 1 and show passing grades in at least eight courses over the last two semesters.
How do I know this guide is still current?
Laws can change. We last checked this page against ISBE's March 2023 guide in October 2026. Before you rely on any guide, including this one, confirm with your Regional Office of Education or ISBE at isbe.net.
Get your free Illinois checklist ✅
We turned this whole page into a 1 page printable checklist: your school letter, your six subjects, what to keep on file. Stick it in your homeschool binder and you're covered.
Plus, make your first learning packet free. 11 to 17 pages, generated around your kiddo in a minute or two.
Sources 📖
- ISBE: Illinois Homeschooling (guide, March 2023) (checked )
- ISBE: Homeschooling web page (marked archived) (checked )
- ISBE: Questions about Illinois Home Schooling (FAQ, October 2017) (checked )
Last verified October 2026. Requirements are summarized from the sources above.
This page summarizes public information for general reference. It is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current requirements with your Regional Office of Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, or a qualified attorney before making decisions for your family.
Explore more states 🗺️
More state guides
- Texas homeschool requirementsHow to homeschool legally in Texas: withdraw from public school in writing, teach five required subjects, skip registering with the state. Checked against TEA.
- Ohio homeschool requirementsHow to homeschool legally in Ohio under the 2023 law: send a short notice to your superintendent within 5 days of starting and by August 30 each year.
- Michigan homeschool requirementsHow to homeschool legally in Michigan: teach nine subjects in an organized program for ages 6 to 18. The law names no notice, testing, or hours.
From the Packet Day blog
- How Many Hours of Homeschool a Day? Real Answers by GradeHow many hours of homeschool per day? Real answers by grade (K to 2, 3 to 5, and 6 to 8), plus why home learning needs fewer hours than school.
- What Should a 3rd Grader Know? (Without the Panic)Worried about what your 3rd grader should know? The real list (math, reading, and writing milestones), minus the panic and the jargon.
New to homeschooling? See how Packet Day helps on sick days, and why so many parents are done hunting for free worksheets.