UPDATE*** As predicted, this bill will not be voted on during the current legislative session. This does not mean, however, that it will not be introduced again. This might be a good thing to keep in mind if you run into any legislators at community parades, picnics, or town hall meetings.
Full text can be read at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=50&GA=94&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=409&GAID=8&LegID=16397&SpecSess=&Session=
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-22.18 from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18
105 ILCS 5/26-1 from Ch. 122, par. 26-1
105 ILCS 5/26-2 from Ch. 122, par. 26-2
Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, lowers the compulsory school age from 7 years to 5 years; makes a related change. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, requires all school districts to establish kindergarten for the instruction of children who are 5 years of age or older.
Comments:*
As homeschoolers in Illinois need to comply with the compulsory education laws this obviously affects us. However, it does not affect us very much unless we are withdrawing a child from school who is 5 or 6 years old.
Homeschoolers are already working with their children at this age on age appropriate materials. We do not need to be mandated to do so, just as we do not need to be mandated to work with our 10 year olds.
There are plenty of good reasons to fight this law, but none of them are directly related to homeschooling.