Another Bill to Lower Compulsory School Attendance Age - Another Reason to Come to Legislative Days!

Two bills that would expand government control over children are moving in the Illinois Legislature. Please call to help bring them to a halt!

HB 2762 would lower the starting age for compulsory school attendance from 7 to 6 and repeal the graduation exemption. It received a favorable vote in committee and will go the House floor quickly.

SB 1307 would lower the starting age from 7 to 5. It passed Senate committee and the full Senate could vote on it very soon.

Parents, not the government, are in the best position to decide whether a child should start formal schooling at 5, 6, or 7. Every child is different. Mandating that every 5- or 6-year-old be treated the same way despite their obvious differences is bad policy.

There is a mountain of research that shows that forcing kids to start schooling before they are ready can actually cause long-term harm. At best, the gains from starting early vanish after a few years.

Action Requested

Please make two phone calls: one to your representative and one to your senator.

When you call your representative, your message can be as simple as: “Please vote ‘no’ on HB 2762. It would lower the age of compulsory school attendance from 7 to 6 and make some young adults attend school even after high school graduation. Parents, not the government, know when it’s best for their young child to start formal education. Taxes will go up for everyone to pay for it.”

When you call your senator, your message can be as simple as: “Please vote ‘no’ on SB 1307. Five- and 6-year-olds should not be forced into school against their parents’ wishes. Illinois is in financial trouble. It’s the wrong time to expand an expensive program.”
It is not necessary to identify yourself as a homeschooler since this would affect every Illinois parent.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Here is a link to find your representative and senator and their contact information.

Here is a link for HB 2762

Here is a link for SB 1307

PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING LEGISLATIVE DAYS!

Sample letters are found on the Legislative Days Event Pages!