Petition Calling on Senator Maloney to Preserve Educational Freedom and Withdraw SB 136

Please sign the petition calling on Senator Maloney to withdraw SB 136 - an attack on educational freedom in Illinois.

Senator Edward Maloney (District 18) has filed a bill in the Illinois Legislature expanding government control over private education on an unprecedented scale.

SB 136 would require homeschoolers to register with the state and would give the Department of Education carte blanche authority to mandate what information families must submit.

Families all over the state have seen what public education has to offer, and they have chosen to take responsibility for their children by offering them a full education at home.

Considering that in 2006, the city of Chicago had an embarrassing 52.2% graduation rate in their public schools, it seems that Illinoisans would be better served if the state worried more about the failures of our public school system and less about the families that have taken responsibility for the education of their children.

Studies from across the country have shown that private education better prepares students for college. Children educated at home not only tend to outperform their public school counterparts, but they also have a much higher graduation rate.

Attacks on homeschool rights are not new in this state - or many others across the nation - as states are desperate to increase the numbers enrolled in public schools so they can receive more federal tax dollars.

The state is not concerned about the welfare of the children - they are concerned about control over their citizens. All evidence suggests that when parents make the tough decision to educate their children at home, it is because the education of their children is their primary concern.

Parents taking responsibility for their children should not face onerous, draconian mandates from the state.

Please sign the petition and tell Senator Maloney to stop attacking educational freedom in Illinois!

Whereas: Illinois home educators must already comply with significant substantive mandates: and

Whereas: Illinois home educators are already legally required to teach the branches of education taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools: and

Whereas: Illinois home educators must prove that they have in good faith provided an adequate course of instruction if challenged: and

Whereas: The current mandates in place protect educational freedom and have produced outstanding academic results: and

Whereas: Parents taking the educational responsibility for their children should not face onerous, draconian mandates from the state that do nothing to enhance the education of children: and

Whereas: SB 136 would give the Department of Education unlimited power to dictate what information home educators must submit:

Therefore, be it resolved that we, the undersigned urge you, Senator Maloney, to withdraw SB 136.