Southern Illinois News

An amendment to the Homeschool Act (HB 2827), a bill introduced by State Representative Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), has sparked widespread opposition among educational freedom advocates who argue the changes significantly expand government control over homeschooling without adequate public input.

Danielle Taylor, a homeschool parent and staunch advocate for parental rights, has voiced her concerns over Homeschool Act, which is aimed at increasing regulation of homeschooling in Illinois. Taylor, who has been homeschooling her children for over two decades, believes that these measures threaten the educational freedoms of families across the state.

In an exclusive interview, Taylor, a mother of nine, explained the origins of her family's journey in Southern Illinois. 

Originally from the Chicago area, the Taylors moved to Southern Illinois over two decades ago and reside in Dongola, a small community just outside of Anna. 

“I’ve been here for 23 years, and there’s never been a problem with homeschooling until now,” Taylor told the Southern Illinois News. Taylor’s commitment to homeschooling is unyielding, despite the pending legislation. 

“We are never going to comply with these regulations,” she said. “And if they come after us, I will sue them. I will own Illinois before that happens.”

Taylor has homeschooled all of her children up until high school and strongly believes that this choice has significantly contributed to their success. 

She credits homeschooling for providing her children the freedom to explore their passions outside the traditional school system, especially since her older children are now entrepreneurs.

“My first three children are six- and seven-figure earners,” Taylor said. “My oldest is a Fortune 100 executive. My second started a seven-figure company from his bedroom, debt-free. My third started her own personal training company and now oversees over 200 clients a week.”

The bill, which was amended on April 8, described by some critics as a complete overhaul of the original bill, introduces stricter regulations and deadlines that could penalize homeschooling families, particularly those in crisis situations such as bullying. One of the major concerns raised is the potential for state oversight of homeschool curricula, which many fear could lead to increased government intrusion into private family matters.

Additionally, critics point to provisions in the bill that would require increased data collection from private schools, potentially infringing on family privacy and constitutional rights.

Will Estrada, senior counsel for the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), criticized the amendment as a "complete overhaul" of the original bill. 

"This is a completely new law cloaked as an amendment," Estrada said. “It’s about the government deciding what’s best for children instead of parents. Families across Illinois are united by their love for their children and their desire to provide the best education. The state shouldn’t come between them and that right.” 

Estrada also took aim at the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, the organization leading the legislative push in Illinois. He described them as "a pro-authoritarian, pro-government regulation organization" that seeks to "roll back homeschool freedom" in Illinois and beyond.

With over 42,000 witness slips filed in opposition, the bill’s opponents argue that the legislation places unwarranted suspicion on homeschooling families and creates obstacles that could discourage home education in Illinois.

Taylor’s ultimate question is about the state's motive.

“If they had no monetary incentive, would they even bother with us? If there was nothing to be made?” she said. 

Taylor remains steadfast in her belief that homeschooling offers the best path for her family. 

“I will not be governed by lawless legislators,” she said. “We don’t need the state to raise our children. We do it ourselves, and we do it well.”

Taylor’s concerns are heightened by what she perceives as targeted efforts against Christian homeschooling families.

“Eighty percent of homeschoolers are Christian,” she said. “It’s in my opinion religious persecution. They don’t like what we teach. They don’t like what we believe.” 

For Taylor, this fight is about more than just the future of her own children. She sees this battle as part of a broader push against religious and moral freedoms, which she believes are central to the homeschooling movement. 

“Our entire life is woven into that,” Taylor said. “That is our brand. It is how we are known.”Taylor highlighted her concerns over the legislation, which, in her view, aims to undermine the freedoms of homeschooling families. 

“In my opinion, it is the same bill in the sense of the motive,” she said. “It’s literally to undermine the freedom and representation of how we actually represent and operate as homeschoolers.”

She said that while lawmakers claim they want to protect children from potential abuse, they are unfairly targeting families like hers who have proven their commitment to their children’s well-being. 

“The minority of people they say are a problem are easily identified,” she said. “If an abuser pulls their child out of school... no, they can't just disappear. If they're breaking the law, we already have laws to address that.”

Throughout the conversation, Taylor expressed frustration with what she sees as a one-size-fits-all approach to education, which fails to consider the unique needs of homeschooling families. 

“Do you ever see the teachers' unions or the legislators in Illinois coming up with bills that are pro-family, pro-taxpayer?” she said. “I don't see them putting freedom and responsibility first, ever.”

Her concerns are rooted not just in legislation, but also in the experiences her children had when attending public school. 

Taylor’s older children attended public school through high school, and she shared how her daughter, a standout athlete, was forced to leave her senior year because the school refused to accommodate her athletic commitments. 

“She was an advanced athlete, and the school couldn’t hybridize her schedule for her last class,” she said. “So I took her out, and she graduated early with dual credit from the local college.”

Taylor attributes their success to the flexibility and freedom homeschooling provided. 

“You couldn’t have that if they had been bogged down with a classroom setting for 12 years,” she said. “Homeschooling allowed them to thrive in ways traditional education just couldn’t provide.”

Taylor also pointed to the case of the bill's sponsor, Howard, who received a death threat that Taylor said, despite the legislator’s rhetoric, was not linked to homeschooling families in Illinois.

“That was a New Jersey thing,” she said. 

Taylor’s concern is rooted in what she sees as a violation of privacy and personal freedoms. 

“It violates privacy, freedom to travel, freedom to go and come,” she said. “We’ve never had a problem homeschooling until now, and it feels like everything is being viewed through a political lens.”

While she acknowledged that the homeschool community is a minority, she firmly believes that this makes them no less resilient. 

“We are the minority, but we are the strongest ones,” Taylor said. “We take self-sacrifice. We raise our children 24/7, no babysitters, no incentives from the government.”

Even as Taylor expressed frustration with the state of public education, she noted that her family’s story was not one of isolation. 

“Homeschooling is just starting to get real roots here in Southern Illinois,” she said. “And of course, they don’t want that to happen. They don’t want families to be self-sufficient. They want to control everything.”