Romeschool

Illinois homeschool requirements

Illinois treats home education as a private school. No registration is required; teach the branches of education in English. No testing.

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · corrected September 23, 2026 · Sources below

Minimal regulation
Another state:

Illinois homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice
Not required
Required subjects
Language Arts, Mathematics, Biological & Physical Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, Health & Physical Development
Instruction time
NoneNo hours or days minimum specified by statute.
Testing or evaluation
NoNo standardized testing required.
Records
No
Parent qualifications
Not required
Compulsory attendance ages
6–17105 ILCS 5/26-1 starts the duty only for a child who is 6 on or before September 1, so a child who turns 6 after that date is not of compulsory school age until the next school year, and it runs to 17 — the Illinois State Board of Education's attendance guidance reads that as ending on the child's 17th birthday — or earlier if the child has already graduated from high school. A child who is under 6, or 17 and over, but enrolled in a public school must keep attending under 105 ILCS 5/26-2 unless excused under Section 26-1, so withdraw the child in writing rather than simply stopping.
Ways to homeschool
Private school (no registration)
Law
105 ILCS 5/26-1
Official source
isbe.net ↗

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Illinois?

No. Illinois does not require homeschooling families to file a notice. No registration or notice to the state is required, and ISBE's homeschooling guidance says the agency no longer collects homeschool forms. Your Regional Office of Education may offer a voluntary notice form, and Chicago Public Schools has one for Chicago residents; neither is required. Families withdrawing from public school should notify the school, preferably in writing, so the child is not reported truant.

What subjects does Illinois require homeschoolers to teach?

Illinois requires instruction in Language Arts, Mathematics, Biological & Physical Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, and Health & Physical Development. Taught in English; homeschool is legally a private school (People v. Levisen). The branches derive from the compulsory-attendance law (105 ILCS 5/26-1).

How many days or hours of instruction does Illinois require?

None. Illinois does not set a minimum number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. No hours or days minimum specified by statute.

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in Illinois?

No. Illinois does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. No standardized testing required.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in Illinois?

Illinois does not require homeschooling families to keep specific records. No statutory record-keeping; the parent bears the burden of showing equivalent instruction if challenged.

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in Illinois?

No. Illinois does not set a general qualification for homeschooling parents. No credential required; must teach competently.

What ages does Illinois's compulsory attendance law cover?

Illinois's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 6 to age 17. 105 ILCS 5/26-1 starts the duty only for a child who is 6 on or before September 1, so a child who turns 6 after that date is not of compulsory school age until the next school year, and it runs to 17 — the Illinois State Board of Education's attendance guidance reads that as ending on the child's 17th birthday — or earlier if the child has already graduated from high school. A child who is under 6, or 17 and over, but enrolled in a public school must keep attending under 105 ILCS 5/26-2 unless excused under Section 26-1, so withdraw the child in writing rather than simply stopping.

What are the ways to homeschool in Illinois?

In Illinois, families homeschool under this pathway: private school (no registration).

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Illinois, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Illinois treats home education as a private school. No registration is required; teach the branches of education in English. No testing.

How to get started in Illinois

1
Teach the required branches of education, in English
Language arts, mathematics, biological and physical science, social science, fine arts, and health and physical development — the branches of education required under Illinois's compulsory-attendance law. Instruction must be in English, and you must teach competently; no teaching credential is required.
Official resource (isbe.net) →
2
Tell the school if you're withdrawing
Illinois requires no registration or notice to the state, and the Illinois State Board of Education says it no longer collects homeschool forms. Your Regional Office of Education may offer a voluntary notice form, and Chicago Public Schools has one for Chicago residents — neither is required. If your child is leaving a public school, tell the school you're withdrawing to homeschool, preferably in writing, so the child isn't reported truant. Don't simply stop sending an enrolled child, even one under 6, or 17 and over: under 105 ILCS 5/26-2 an enrolled child that age must keep attending unless excused, so withdraw in writing.
3
No testing, hours, or required records
Illinois sets no minimum days or hours, requires no standardized testing, and has no record-keeping law. Keeping records is still wise: if your homeschool is ever challenged, it's up to you to show your child received equivalent instruction.
What Romeschool tracks for you: Attendance and subject coverage.

Sources for Illinois

Official source (isbe.net) ↗HSLDA's Illinois summary ↗
Statute: 105 ILCS 5/26-1
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026
Corrected: September 23, 2026, after re-reading the official source for what changed

Every requirement above comes from our review of Illinois’s rules, checked against these sources on June 5, 2026 and corrected on September 23, 2026 after re-reading the official source for what changed. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

Nearby states

States that share a border with Illinois:

All 50 states & D.C. →