Illinois homeschool checklist for this year

Answer two questions and get the year's deadlines with their dates, the notice, testing and records, each linked to the law. Print it or tick it off here.

This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page. Laws change, and Illinois's own statute and education department are the final word. The links below go straight to them.

Deadlines, forms and amounts checked on October 29, 2026 against the sources linked on this page.

Illinois homeschool checklist, school year

Things to do, with their deadlines

Nothing dated for your answers. No. The State Board of Education says Illinois does not require parents to register before they begin home schooling and requires no other forms or procedures. The state offers a voluntary ISBE Home Schooling Registration Form.

All year

All year
Teach the subjects Illinois names: language arts, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, fine arts, physical development and health.
Source: Illinois State Board of Education: Illinois Homeschooling
All year
The state requires no particular records. The Board says parents decide what records of the student's accomplishments should be kept. It also says the burden is on parents to show, if asked, that the home instruction meets state requirements.
Source: Illinois State Board of Education: Illinois Homeschooling

Good habits (not in the law)

Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.
Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.

Dates shown are the next time each deadline comes round from today. Your ticks and answers stay in this browser; nothing is sent.

Where this comes from

105 ILCS 5/26-1, compulsory school age (Illinois General Assembly) (the law)
Illinois State Board of Education: Illinois Homeschooling (state agency)
Illinois State Board of Education: Questions on Illinois Home Schooling (FAQ, revised Oct. 2017, PDF) (state agency)

Checked on October 29, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and forms change; confirm a date with your school district or the state agency before you rely on it. For legal advice, ask a lawyer licensed in Illinois; homeschool legal-help organizations and your state's homeschool groups can also point you to help. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.