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 establishment of distinctly Christian support groups; compiling information helpful to the creation of such groups, and making it 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; at no cost to these groups. Its annual operating budget is met through the monies received for various publications, books and conferences each year, as well as generous donations from the friends of ICHE.

You can contact ICHE using our Contact Form.

What We Do

For the individual home educator, ICHE publishes a quarterly magazine called The Alliant. This magazine is currently free of charge and goes out to over 10,000 homes in Illinois. ICHE also sponsors conventions and conferences throughout the year. The largest and most popular event is the annual ICHE State Convention, held in the Chicago area. This three-day event provides national-level speakers, a variety of workshops covering many helpful topics, and a vendor hall jam-packed with curriculum suppliers.

For those located farther south in our state, ICHE sponsors a similar two-day event, the Southern Illinois Convention.

A unique fall conference is held most years to further encourage and build up the home educating families in Illinois.  In January mothers can enjoy an encouraging mid winter day of refreshment together. 

Some families have also taken advantage of ICHE's family outings. In September a family camp weekend is a great place to relax with like-minded friends.  Also in the summer months, fathers and sons work to build their relationships with one another and with the Lord during a unique retreat for them.  I.C.H.E. also sponsors events for our home school graduates ages 18 and up. 

For the beginning home educator, ICHE is available to answer questions, refer families to their nearest support group, and also to send out a Beginner's Packet.

ICHE networks support groups from all over Illinois for the purpose of sharing information and encouraging one another. Today the network has grown to over 100 support groups and county contacts throughout the state.   Contact us if you would like information about a support group near you!

ICHE sponsors an annual Leadership Conference for support group leaders where they are encouraged and equipped for their leadership roles.  ICHE also sends out a mailing with up-to-date information just for these support group leaders.

In addition, ICHE also represents the state of Illinois as a member of the national Alliance of Christian Home Education Leadership. Representatives from state organizations across our nation gather annually in the fall to share information about home education and leadership. Participation there, brings a broader national perspective to Illinois.

Our vision of home education as a pursuit of academic goals has expanded to include child training and discipleship of the whole child.

We have found that the continuing growth of the Christian parent is essential to the success of the family and to any effort at home education.

In short, our vision of home education has become a vision of whole-family discipleship for the purpose of presenting a people prepared to serve and glorify God throughout all of their days.

• We believe the Bible in its original autograph to be the infallible Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension and His return in power and glory.
• We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore spiritually dead and at enmity with God.
• We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man and requires belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on the cross paying the penalty for man’s sin.
• We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, grant repentance and faith, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in Jesus Christ and that lesser doctrinal differences which may exist should not hinder the cooperation of Christian home educators.