Local Legislators Concerned Over Pending Legislation That Could Impact Private Schools, Home Schools

Local legislators are voicing concern over a bill that has passed the Illinois House of Representatives and is awaiting assignment to committee in the Illinois Senate.

The measure, House Bill 2789, would require the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish requirements for providing in-person instruction at non-public schools and public schools during a health emergency such as the pandemic. The requirements would include, but are not limited to, personal protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene, social distancing, occupancy limits, symptom screening, and onsite isolation protocols.

The legislators are concerned primarily since, in Illinois, a home school is a private school, and a private school is a non-public school. The implication is that home schools could end up having to meet the guidelines required of public schools. 

When the matter was considered in the House, representatives of the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education filled out witness slips in opposition to the legislation. Representatives of the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers filled out witness slips in favor of the legislation.

St. Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City was quoted as saying, "Local decision making is the only reason most of the students in our area have been in school. Removing what's left of their authority is a terrible move."

St. Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia said the legislation "is a way for the teacher unions to shut down their competition in the private and parochial schools and stifle the increasingly popular home school options."

St. Rep. Adam Niemerg of Dieterich said, "Local health departments already have the authority to investigate health concerns in their jurisdiction. We do not need the state Health Department creating another army of investigators running around the state closing down private schools, religious schools and even home schools."

House Bill 2789 was passed along strictly party lines; all 70 legislators voting Yes on the measure are Democrats, all 42 legislators voting No are Republicans.