Homeschooling in Illinois: the paperwork, exactly

Illinois — No filing — guidance only

Notice: No filing required — a home school is a private school in Illinois; ISBE registration is voluntary only

Ongoing duties: Teach the branches of education (language arts, math, biological and physical sciences, social science, fine arts, physical development and health) in English; no testing or filed records

Withdrawal from public school: no codified withdrawal procedure — a dated written notice to the school is the practice, and it creates your paper record.

Verified Illinois details

• ISBE recommends written notice to the public school as a courtesy against truancy errors — it is a recommendation, not a filing (ISBE Home Schooling FAQ).
• Keep your records for proof, not for filing: if the State ever questions the school, the parent must be able to show competent instruction in the branches (Levisen).
• Watch item: HB 2827 (2025) would have created an Illinois filing duty; it was not enacted. A no-filing state can flip — this page is re-checked every session.

Source: 105 ILCS 5/26-1; People v. Levisen, 404 Ill. 574 (1950)

Check another state

Rules checked October 2026 — every rule on this page is cited to its source. Verify day counts against your district's official calendar.