Home-school monitoring effort raises concerns

A recent effort to monitor a half-dozen central Illinois home schools has raised the murky issue of whether authorities have any control over parents who choose to teach their kids.

Bruce Dennison, regional superintendent of schools for Bureau, Stark and Henry counties, is seeking information from six home schools to ensure they are providing a proper education.

But the effort has drawn protests from home school parents and support organizations, who say Illinois law has no provisions to regulate -- or even register -- home schools.

The only statute relating to home schools requires that children ages 7 to 16 be taught coursework equal to their counterparts in public schools, and that instruction be in English.

However, the law does not specify courses or qualifications for teachers, and includes no regulatory or enforcement authority.

Dennison cited case law in his effort to check on attendance, curriculum and teaching standards at home schools in his area that he suspects might fall short of acceptable educational standards.

A 1974 federal court ruling says regional superintendents can seek proof that a home-school curriculum is adequate and even require examinations to gauge children's level of achievement.

Dennison acknowledged that the ruling provides no enforcement authority but said his office could use the state's truancy law to push compliance.