Homeschool is a private school according to Illinois state law. While it typically includes the home and community setting, it may utilize hybrid or microschools, co-operatives, online “schools”, municipal and community resources, faith-based resources, and more to be realized or seen as parents and guardians create new spaces in which to provide home education. At certain times, the homeschool may even interface with the public school for certain specified resources and subjects or activities like driver’s education classes as one example. For a very helpful, validating, and thoughtful look at developing a homeschool, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has included a brief and point-by-point narrative that discusses the choice to homeschool; the link to that document is found below: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Illinois-Homeschooling.pdf.  

Oftentimes, homeschooling parents and guardians find this facet of homeschooling confusing; it is rather straightforward, really, in that the same subjects as those taught in conventional school are to be taught at home. The ISBE (in https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Homeschool.aspx, Location: Per 105 ILCS 5/26-1 and 27-1)  explains what subjects are  to be taught as follows: 

1. Language arts
2. Mathematics
3. Biological and physical science 
4. Social science (social studies) 
5. Fine arts

6. Physical development and health classes 

One word about the language in which subject matter is rendered. Just because subjects are taught in English, this does not mean that homeschool work may not be carried out in a family’s language of origin. The idea is that homeschooled children will be able to comprehend and navigate subject matter in English as well and not only in their first language.

ISBE goes on to say: 

There are no specific classes that are required for homeschool students. You can decide to require or not require specific courses in the above subjects,such as [C]hemistry, Algebra 2, [C]ivics, etc., as you design your own homeschool program. This is different from public schools which require that specific classes and credits be earned in order to graduate. However, if your child is considering applying to college, you are strongly encouraged to use the same high school graduation requirements used in public schools (p. 1).

No. Registration is voluntary.  However, you may wish to notify your local school district and your Regional Superintendent of your intention to home school by filling out a form and providing one copy to the ROE, but it is not required by law. This information might be used for census purposes or research. To register your child for homeschooling (if you so choose) complete a Notification of Intent to Homeschool (see:  https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Illinois-Homeschooling.pdf)

Yes. If parents or guardians of the homeschool student wish to enroll or re-enroll a child in public school, a simple form provided by the public (or private) school can be obtained from the school. The school reserves the right to administer some evaluation or tests for placement purposes only, and these must be fair, reasonable, straightforward, and culturally sensitive. If you have questions or concerns about a school’s approach for students returning to public school, please reach out to the district or regional superintendent

Parents may choose to take the opportunity to have their children tested, but if they do, they are not required to report the results to ISBE, the ROE, or to the school.

 Strict hour-for-hour and day-by-day documentation and so-called “attendance records” can get blurry and unclear because home education may take place at any time of the day (or night) or be year-round or seasonal. Homeschooling families are not required to follow a conventional school calendar or document like a public (or other private) school might. There is no required number of days or hours that children are “in homeschool” unless the parents or guardians choose to do it that way. In a nutshell, here is what ISBE says about the matter of number of school days and specific hours:

There are no requirements for the number of school days or the length of a school day for homeschool students. Classes can occur any day of the week and at any time during the day.

Although there are no specific requirements, you are strongly encouraged to develop a consistent schedule for your homeschool program. You could choose to follow the same calendar year as your local public school or create your own. (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Homeschool.aspx, p. 1)

Composing a diploma falls into the realm of documentation for homeschooling families in that your good record keeping should help you summarize and document in whatever manner is clear about how you assess(ed) your child’s learning within the homeschool and the homeschool curriculum. No special forms are necessary–only an earnest and to-the-best-of-your-ability assessment is required. You do not have to translate that content into a letter grade or percent unless you would like to, but it stands to reason that mindful record-keeping through the homeschool journey is most helpful when it comes time for your child to move on. Please see the video for more: https://youtu.be/A73eOSYL1QY?si=rSUbU5Q2v6r2g16J

For College Admission, your child will have to comply with admission requirements like SAT and ACT tests. Homeschooling families can get some idea about the content of these through ACT or SAT “test prep” manuals and talking with friends whose children have taken the test. 

Drivers education classes are attainable from the public school for homeschooling families. The best way to enroll is to contact the public school office and administration. Explain in brief that your child has been homeschooled and is ready for drivers education. Their responsibility is to direct you to the proper classwork, practicum, and documentation without any difficulty. ISBE and the ROE can help you in this matter should the school not be clear about their role.