Illinois Catholic Homeschooling - The Catholic Homeschool

Catholic Homeschooling in Illinois

How to Homeschool in Illinois

In Illinois, homeschools are treated as private schools. There is no notification or registration with the state required. Compulsory school ages are 6-17.

There are no requirements for the number of school days or the length of a school day for homeschool students. Classes can occur any day of the week and at any time of the day.

There are no testing requirements. State mandated subjects, include language arts, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health. All instruction at home must be conducted in the English language.

Illinois State Board of Education Home School Information
This information webpage provides details on registration, requirements, resources, and more.

How to Comply with Illinois Homeschool Law
How to Withdraw Your Child from School in Illinois
Special Education Provisions for Illinois
The Importance of Recordkeeping in Illinois

Lobbying & Advocacy Organizations

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
HSLDA is the nation’s largest homeschool advocacy organization. They protect the rights of homeschoolers in court, advocate for homeschool freedom in state legislatures, and work to advance homeschooling in the public arena.

Roman Catholic Home Educators Network (RCHEN)
Illinois
RCHEN is a group of Roman Catholic homeschoolers throughout Illinois. They offer an email list to receive important legislative news pertaining to homeschoolers. They participate in the Ad Hoc Committee for Illinois Home Education Legal and Legislative Matters.

Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE)
Illinois Christian Home Educators is a not-for-profit Christian organization composed of families dedicated to the success of home education in Illinois.

Catholic Homeschool Support Groups

Caritas Homeschool Parish Ministry and Co-op
St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington, IL and St. Mary’s of Downs Church, Downs, IL
This is a community of homeschooling families in the Bloomington-Normal area. They offer an online communication platform, and events such as regular park dates and outings. They also offer an educational enrichment cooperative that meets eight times per semester at St. Mary’s of Downs Church in Downs, IL. Classes include art, science, chant, and more. They serve students in K and up.

CRECHE – Children Receiving Education in a Catholic Home Environment
Fox Valley, IL
CRECHE promotes homeschooling among Catholic families who are providing their children’s primary education at home. They provide activities that encourage friendship and family life, including feast day parties, mom’s nights out, park days, field trips, service projects, and more.

Metro East Catholic Home Educators (MECHE)
Belleville, IL and Scott Air Force Base
This is a Catholic homeschool support group serving families in the Belleville area. They offer a co-op meeting twice a month and educational opportunities and social events for the whole family.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Homeschool Support Group
Greater Joliet Area, Will and Kendall County, IL
OLOG homeschool group offers support, encouragement, and fellowship to Catholic homeschool families in the greater Joliet/Will County and surrounding areas of Illinois. Member families volunteer to sponsor various academic, social, and spiritual opportunities to grow in holiness with each other. Events include Blue Knights, Faustina Club, feast day celebrations, mom’s group, graduation ceremony, park days.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Homeschool Group
Northwest Chicago suburbs, IL
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Catholic homeschool support community based in the northwest Chicago suburbs. They foster friendship through social, educational, and spiritual events and field trips led by group volunteers. Activities include opening Mass and picnic, feast day celebrations, teen group, park days, and monthly parent meetings.

ROCK Homeschoolers
DuPage County, IL
ROCK is a Catholic homeschool support group in DuPage County, IL. They offer support to homeschooling parents, provide a resource center with information on curricula and teaching aids, provide information on legal issues and any relevant new legislation, and sponsor planned educational and recreational activities.

Rockford Area Roman Catholic Home Educators (RARCHE)
Rockford, IL, Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin
RARCHE is a network of Catholic homeschool families serving Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Roman Catholic Home Educators Network (RCHEN)
Illinois
RCHEN is a group of Roman Catholic homeschoolers throughout Illinois. They offer an email list to receive important legislative news pertaining to homeschoolers. They participate in the Ad Hoc Committee for Illinois Home Education Legal and Legislative Matters.

Society of Saint Scholastica Home School Group
Cook, Lake, and McHenry Counties of Illinois
This is a Catholic homeschool group dedicated to evangelizing and educating their children in the virtues of the Catholic faith as they fulfill their vocations as primary educators of their children. They offer activities and events throughout the year including mom’s meetings, opening school year Mass and picnic, a fall fest, feast day celebrations, talent festival, May Crowning, graduation Mass, spelling bee, a teen group, sports, and field trip outings.

Splendor of Truth Catholic Home Educators
Southeastern Wisconsin, Northeastern Illinois, Racine, WI, Lake Bluff, IL,McHenry County, IL, Kenosha, WI, Gurnee, IL
Splendor of Truth Catholic Home Educators (SOTCHE) is a group of homeschooling families in Wisconsin and Illinois. All members adhere to and respect the Magisterium and Catechism of the Catholic Church. They share information relevant to home educators, including advice on homeschooling, activities for children, and shared learning experiences. Activities include field trips, co-op, gym classes, support meetings for moms, moms’ book club, and more.

Trinity Homeschool Group
West and Southwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL
This homeschool group offers support and activities for families in the west and southwest area of Chicago.

Catholic Homeschool Co-ops

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam Co-op
Rockford, IL
AMDG is a Traditional Catholic homeschool cooperative. This group of families comes together to support one another and share in homeschooling their children. This co-op serves grades PreK-12, meeting once a week. This co-op serves families particularly attached to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) and meets at St. Mary Oratory in Rockford, IL.

Caritas Homeschool Parish Ministry and Co-op
St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington, IL and St. Mary’s of Downs Church, Downs, IL
This is a community of homeschooling families in the Bloomington-Normal area. They offer an online communication platform, and events such as regular park dates and outings. They also offer an educational enrichment cooperative that meets eight times per semester at St. Mary’s of Downs Church in Downs, IL. Classes include art, science, chant, and more. They serve students in K and up.

Classically Catholic Memory Co-op
Lemont and Peoria, IL
Classically Catholic Memory is a memory work program that is both Catholic and classical in nature. It is designed for children ages 5 through 12, and each year of the program provides 18 weeks of memory work in each subject. CCM is run as a co-op model.

De Spiritu Sancto Catholic Learning Co-op (DSSCLC)
Joliet and Will County, IL
This co-op is affiliated with Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Homeschool Group in Joliet.

Immaculate Heart Homeschool Co-op
Rockford and Belvidere, IL
Immaculate Heart Homeschool Co-op is a Catholic organization that provides support to homeschooling families in the Rockford and Belvidere area with educational classes in various subjects and social opportunities. They offer classes in music, art, physical education, science, horticulture, band, and sewing. They meet once a month at the St. James Center in Belvidere, across the street from St. James Catholic Church.

Lumen Christi Home Education Cooperative
Richmond, IL
This co-op offers support for Catholic homeschooling families as they seek to know, love, and serve the Lord through the richness of the Roman Catholic Tradition. They serve school-aged children K+ and meet at St. Joseph Church in Richmond. Special events include summer park days, picnics, field trips, feast day celebrations, academic fairs, and more.

Metro East Catholic Home Educators (MECHE)
Belleville, IL and Scott Air Force Base
This is a Catholic homeschool support group serving families in the Belleville area. They offer a co-op meeting twice a month and educational opportunities and social events for the whole family.

Our Lady’s Joy Catholic Homeschool Co-op
Moline, IL
Our Lady’s Joy co-op meets twice a month throughout the academic year. They provide academic enrichment and peer interaction for their children and support for local homeschooling families. Class topics include science, music, PE, history, literature, and more.

Schola Rosa: Abp. Fulton Sheen Co-op
Peoria, IL
This co-op is located in Peoria, IL, and serves Catholic families who are homeschooling their children.

Splendor of Truth Catholic Home Educators
Southeastern Wisconsin, Northeastern Illinois, Racine, WI, Lake Bluff, IL,McHenry County, IL, Kenosha, WI, Gurnee, IL
Splendor of Truth Catholic Home Educators (SOTCHE) is a group of homeschooling families in Wisconsin and Illinois. All members adhere to and respect the Magisterium and Catechism of the Catholic Church. They share information relevant to home educators, including advice on homeschooling, activities for children, and shared learning experiences. Activities include field trips, co-op, gym classes, support meetings for moms, moms’ book club, and more.

Veritas Christi – St. Mary Catholic Home Education Cooperative
Huntley, IL
Veritas Christi is a homeschooling cooperative of Catholic families that meets in Huntley, IL. They gather once a week on Wednesdays for Mass, classes, and community. They serve students in grades preschool through high school. Events include group field trips, park play dates, liturgical year celebrations, and more.

Do you know of any Catholic homeschool co-ops near you? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.

Hybrid Programs & Homeschool Academies

Catholic Schoolhouse
Belleville, IL, Quincy, IL, Springfield, IL
Catholic Schoolhouse is a supplemental program designed to help homeschool families enrich their educational experience through a flexible approach to learning inspired by classical elements presented in a structure environment. They serve students in grades K-8 and meet once a week during the school year.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy – Chesterton Network School
Rockford, IL
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy offers part-time enrollment for homeschooled students in grades 7-12. Students are also eligible for the school’s sports programs without enrollment in the academy.

Do you know of any Catholic hybrid homeschool programs or homeschool academies near you? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.

Catholic Homeschool Conferences

The 2024 Catholic Homeschool Conference
Virtual Conference
June 7-8, 2024

This virtual conference features topics covering homeschool guidance, marriage and family, and character and virtue development. Speakers include Bishop Joseph Strickland, Emily Brown, Bonnie Landry, and more. There will also be a homeschool graduate panel. The Catholic Homeschool Directory is a virtual exhibitors hall. You can browse through curriculum, programs, tools, and businesses who support your family’s homeschool journey.

Minnesota Catholic Home Education Conference & Curriculum Fair
St. Paul College, St. Paul, MN
May 31 – June 1, 2024

After a 3-year hiatus, the Minnesota Catholic Home Education and Curriculum Conference is back! This annual conference is one of the largest Catholic homeschooling conferences in the country. Listen to speakers from around the country and meet other homeschoolers from your area. Conference attendees can browse through the vendors hall, go to workshops and talks, and network with other homeschoolers. Keynote Speaker 2023: Pam Barnhill, Host of the Your Morning Basket Podcast

Our Lady – Queen of All Saints Central Wisconsin Homeschool Conference
Merrill, WI
Date TBA

This conference offers homeschool talks, social time, a homeschool used book and curriculum sale, and exhibitors.

Click to find more Catholic conferences across the US!

Local Classes & Programs for Homeschoolers

Do you know of any great local classes or programs for Catholic homeschoolers? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.

Sports for Homeschoolers

Public School Access for Homeschoolers in Illinois
Nonpublic school students in Illinois may request to enroll part-time in public schools. The school board has the authority to accept such students into part-time attendance with restrictions but is not required by law to do so. In practice, public schools rarely let homeschool student play on their teams.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy – Chesterton Network School
Rockford, IL
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy offers part-time enrollment for homeschooled students in grades 7-12. Students are also eligible for the school’s sports programs without enrollment in the academy.

Do you know of any great sports programs for Catholic homeschoolers? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.

Diocese & Parish Resources

Archdiocese of Chicago
Diocese of Belleville
Diocese of Joliet
Diocese of Peoria
Diocese of Rockford
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

Shrines & Pilgrimages in Illinois

Do you know of any Catholic pilgrimage sites or shrines that would be perfect for a homeschool field trip? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.

Field Trips in Illinois

Field Trips in Illinois – The Homeschool Mom

Homeschool Field Trips in Illinois

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