February 17, 2011: Thank you for all you’ve done! SB 136 has been tabled!
“Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100: 4-5
Dear Friends,
Thank you for standing with us as we opposed SB 136. The bill has been tabled which means it has been withdrawn.
If you were following the bill and would like to see the good news for yourself go to:
Follow SB136 directly on https://www.ILGA.gov (Illinois General Assembly). Click on “Legislation & Laws” at the bottom. Then look at Senate Bills — Bills 101-200. click on SB136
Feel free to contact Senator Maloney’s office and thank him for listening to our concerns.
Mark your calendars for April 27th as we head back down to Springfield for Legislative Day. This time we’ll bring our thanks and some cherry pies.
Blessings,
ICHE Legislative Task Force
February 15, 2011: IL State Journal – Illinois home school registration bill draws crowd
IL State Journal – Illinois home school registration bill draws crowd
February 10, 2011: Help Needed Immediately to Stop Registration of Homeschool Children
Dear ICHE Family,
SB 136, Senator Maloney’s bill that would require all homeschooled children to be registered with the government, will have a hearing before the Senate Education Committee this Tuesday, February 15, at 10:45 a.m.
This is our first meaningful opportunity to stop a bill that would put every homeschooled child directly under the authority of the Illinois education bureaucracy.
How much power would the Illinois Department of Education have over your children? As much as it wants.
SB 136 as written gives the Department unlimited power to mandate what families submit when they register their children.
You–the individual homeschool families of Illinois–are now a vital, powerful, line of defense protecting the freedom to homeschool in Illinois!
ACTION REQUESTED
1. Please attend the hearing on February 15 at 10:45 a.m. in Room 212 in the state Capitol, Springfield, Ill. Feel free to bring well-behaved children. Please consider taking a day of vacation from work to protect your freedom. A big crowd will send a powerful message. Fill out a witness slip as you enter the room if you wish to speak. We are hoping for a very big crowd! Could you car pool and bring more people?
2. Prior to the hearing, call your senator if he or she is a committee member (see list below). Use the HSLDA Legislative Toolbox at https://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find out who your senator is. Even senators whom you think already oppose the bill need to hear from you!
3. If your senator is not on the committee, call the chairperson, the vice chairperson and the minority spokesman (see below).
4. Your message can be as simple as: “Please vote NO on SB 136. Studies show that homeschooling prepares students for college better than other types of education. There is no need for government to expand into an area that is already so successful. A new registration mandate will require taxes to go up to pay for it.”
5. Attend the Briefing before the hearing! ICHE is holding an informational meeting with HSLDA representatives in the auditorium of the Howlett Building, 501 South 2d St., Springfield before the hearing. Start time for this imperative briefing is 9 a.m. This is a great educational opportunity. PLEASE no signs or yelling.
6. Pass this message on to others!
BACKGROUND
Homeschool leaders met with Sen. Maloney recently, but he has refused to withdraw his bill. In fact, he plans to amend it so children in institutional private schools are exempt from registering–so it would impact only homeschoolers.
He also plans to amend the bill to require families to register with the regional office of education rather than the state Department of Education. Obviously, this makes no meaningful difference.
On Feb. 8, the Illinois Review quoted Sen. Maloney as admitting “he doesn’t understand” why homeschoolers are so opposed to SB 136. A big crowd at the hearing this Tuesday may help him understand!
The Illinois Christian Home Educators Association and HSLDA are united in opposing this bill.
Thank you for standing with us for freedom!
Education Committee Members – Please call All!
Sen. James T. Meeks (D-Chicago) – Chairman of the Committee
Springfield: 217-782-8066
District: 708-862-1515
Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Westchester)
Springfield: 217-782-8505
District: 708-343-7444
Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton)
Springfield: 217-782-5509
District: 618-439-2504
Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Highwood)
Springfield: 217-782-3650
District: 847-433-2002
Sen. Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago)
Springfield: 217-782-8191
District: 773-463-0720
Sen. John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago)
Springfield: 217-782-1035
District: 773-763-3810
Sen. David Luechtefeld (R- Okawville)
Springfield: 217-782-8137
District: 618-243-9014
Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Decatur)
Springfield: 217-782-5755
District: 217-428-4068
Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R-Lake Villa)
Springfield: 217-782-7353
District: 847-752-7004
Sen. Christine Johnson (R-Sycamore) *Do Not Contact until after 2/14*
Springfield: 217-782-1977
District: 815-895-6318