About Us
Who We Are
Illinois Christian Home Educators is a not-for-profit Christian organization composed of families dedicated to the success of home education in Illinois. ICHE was started in December of 1983 by four Christian families seeking the support and fellowship of like-minded home educators. They decided to form ICHE for the purpose of encouraging the formation of distinctly Christian support groups, compiling information to help form such groups, and making the information available to support group leaders.
ICHE is governed by a Board of Directors and is not a membership organization. ICHE is largely staffed by volunteer home educating families. Its affiliation with Christian support groups is informal and at no cost to these groups. Its annual operating budget is met through the monies received for various publications, books and conferences each year.
You can contact ICHE here.
What We Do
ICHE serves to network different support groups from all over Illinois for the purpose of sharing information and encouraging one another. Today the network has grown to over a hundred support groups and county contacts throughout the state. For more about Support Groups, check out our Support Group page.
For the individual home educator, ICHE sponsors conventions and conferences throughout the year. The largest and most popular event is the annual ICHE State Convention, held every spring in northern Illinois. This event features national speakers on home education, a variety of workshops covering many helpful topics, and an Exhibit Hall jam-packed with curriculum suppliers.
ICHE also sponsors some family outings. Some of our events include a Family Camp each September, the biannual Mid-Winter Renewal for mothers, and the Young Adult Conference each Fall. For more info, check out our Events calendar.
For the beginning home educator, ICHE offers a Beginner's Packet to answer questions and to help new home educators find a local support group. Just Contact Us to request a packet.
Our Vision
The Lord has given us a vision for home education that goes well beyond the classroom. We believe that true homeschooling includes whole family discipleship that seeks to present a people prepared to serve and glorify God. Home education is not merely a pursuit of academic goals, but also the training and discipleship of the whole family. In order for home education to succeed, it is essential for Christian parents to grow along with their children. To God be the Glory!
Our Mission
The mission of ICHE is to call, encourage, and assist Christian families to trust our trustworthy God through practicing a home-based, family-funded, multi-generational, life-long discipleship that builds Christian character, pursues excellence in academics, nurtures an ever-deepening faith, and impacts our world for Jesus Christ.
