An analysis of Illinois' practice of non-purposeful home-schooling: Policy recommendations for Illinois lawmakers

摘要

This study examined the educational laws, policies, and practices of Illinois and Iowa concerning home-schooling and suggests policy recommendations for Illinois lawmakers to end the Illinois practice of non-purposeful home-schooling. A review of home-schooling and compulsory attendance in America was conducted to provide the context for this study. A short survey of Illinois public school principals confirmed the author's hypothesis that Illinois law allows a significant number of students to withdraw from public school under a pretense of home-schooling. A short survey of Iowa principals demonstrated a significantly lower percentage of students withdrawing from public school under a pretense of home-schooling. An analysis of Illinois law, administrative rules, and court cases revealed a systemic problem in enforcing state and federal compulsory attendance laws for all school-aged children.;An analysis of Iowa law, administrative rules, and court cases revealed a multi-pronged approach targeted at reducing this non-purposeful home-schooling population while still allowing home-schooling as an educational option in the state. While Iowa's approach has not completely eliminated abuses of the compulsory attendance law, the state has taken steps to reduce this abuse.;Based on the differences in the legislative approaches undertaken in Illinois and Iowa and the results of these approaches, the author prepares policy recommendations for Illinois lawmakers.