Illinois homeschoolers!!

I’m in Illinois also! I got an email with list of senators phone numbers in Springfield to call to strongly encourage them to withdraw the bill. I can post the phone numbers if anyone wants to call between now and Feb 14.

I’ll be praying! I LOVE our freedom we have in IL and want it to continue. I don’t like Govt in my life telling me what to do with my children. 🙁

Tara

Here is ICHE‘s Legislative Task Force Alert on the issue…

Help Needed Immediately to Stop Registration of Homeschool Children

Dear ICHE Family,

SB 136, Senator Maloney’s bill that would require all homeschooled children to be registered with the government, will have a hearing before the Senate Education Committee this Tuesday, February 15, at 10:45 a.m.

This is our first meaningful opportunity to stop a bill that would put every homeschooled child directly under the authority of the Illinois education bureaucracy.

How much power would the Illinois Department of Education have over your children? As much as it wants. 

SB 136 as written gives the Department unlimited power to mandate what families submit when they register their children.

You–the individual homeschool families of Illinois–are now a vital, powerful, line of defense protecting the freedom to homeschool in Illinois!

ACTION REQUESTED

1. Please attend the hearing on February 15 at 10:45 a.m. in Room 212 in the state Capitol, Springfield, Ill. Feel free to bring well-behaved children. Please consider taking a day of vacation from work to protect your freedom. A big crowd will send a powerful message. Fill out a witness slip as you enter the room if you wish to speak. We are hoping for a very big crowd! Could you car pool and bring more people?

2. Prior to the hearing, call your senator if he or she is a committee member (see list below). Use the HSLDA Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find out who your senator is. Even senators whom you think already oppose the bill need to hear from you!

3. If your senator is not on the committee, call the chairperson, the vice chairperson and the minority spokesman (see below).

4. Your message can be as simple as: “Please vote NO on SB 136. Studies show that homeschooling prepares students for college better than other types of education. There is no need for government to expand into an area that is already so successful. A new registration mandate will require taxes to go up to pay for it.”

5. Attend the Briefing before the hearing!  ICHE is holding an informational meeting with HSLDA representatives in the auditorium of the Howlett Building, 501 South 2d St., Springfield before the hearing.  Start time for this imperative briefing is 9 a.m.  This is a great educational opportunity.  PLEASE no signs or yelling.

6.  Pass this message on to others!

BACKGROUND

Homeschool leaders met with Sen. Maloney recently, but he has refused to withdraw his bill. In fact, he plans to amend it so children in institutional private schools are exempt from registering–so it would impact only homeschoolers.

He also plans to amend the bill to require families to register with the regional office of education rather than the state Department of Education. Obviously, this makes no meaningful difference.

On Feb. 8, the Illinois Review quoted Sen. Maloney as admitting “he doesn’t understand” why homeschoolers are so opposed to SB 136. A big crowd at the hearing this Tuesday may help him understand!

The Illinois Christian Home Educators Association and HSLDA are united in opposing this bill.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom!

Education Committee Members – Please call All!

Sen. James T. Meeks (D-Chicago) – Chairman of the Committee

Springfield :  217-782-8066

District:  708-862-1515

Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Westchester)

Springfield :  217-782-8505

District: 708-343-7444

Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton)

Springfield :  217-782-5509

District:   618-439-2504

Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Highwood)

Springfield :  217-782-3650

District:  847-433-2002

Sen. Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago)

Springfield :  217-782-8191

District: 773-463-0720

Sen. John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago)

Springfield :  217-782-1035

District:  773-763-3810

Sen. David Luechtefeld (R- Okawville)

Springfield : 217-782-8137

District:  618-243-9014

Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Decatur)

Springfield :  217-782-5755

District:  217-428-4068

Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R-Lake Villa)

Springfield :  217-782-7353

District:  847-752-7004

Sen. Christine Johnson (R-Sycamore)  *Do Not Contact until after 2/14*

Springfield: 217-782-1977                     

District: 815-895-6318

Yes I’m an hour away but have obligations that day. I’ll definitely be making phone calls and be in MUCH prayer!! I’ll ask our church to pray as well.

The Lord is in control!!

Tara

I grew up in IL, my family is still there.  Passage of this would definately hinder any future decision to move back.  If I lived in IL and were writing my senator, I would tell them that passage of this bill would cause me to seriously consider moving my family and my tax $$ out of IL to a more freedom-loving state.  Praying this doesn’t pass!!  Gina

I went with my Sophomore and 8th grade daughters.  Though we were not one of the 250 to be able to get into the actual hearing, we were part of the large crowd that gathered and right outside of the chamber doors as well.  There were 4000+ in attendence; well beyond the 500 or so that they were expecting might show up.  If you search on YouTube SB136, you will find a video of the days events including some of our HSLDA reps comments to the Education Committee. 

This is far from over, so please keep homeschoolers in Illinois in your prayers.

http://wjbc.com/local-home-school-mother-slams-registry-effort/

An interview with a HS mom in Bloomington, IL  who once taught in PS. GOOD interview.

BTW, the interview on WJBC is very good.  Sarah is very succinct and states the case of home-schoolers.  Definitely worth a listen.