Shelby County board adopts resolution backing parental rights in homeschooling debate

The Shelby County Board on June 12 unanimously adopted a resolution expressing support for parental rights in homeschooling and opposition to a recently introduced Illinois House bill that board members said would impose restrictions on homeschoolers.

The resolution states the board’s support for parents’ authority over children’s education and was sent to the state legislature as a local expression of that position. A board member who introduced the resolution said it had been reviewed by State’s Attorney Woolery and revised by the Budget and Audit Legislative Committee before coming to the full board.

“This county board showing that it supports parental rights and stands with parents' right to homeschool their children if they so choose,” the sponsoring board member said when urging approval.

The motion to approve the resolution was called, and the clerk recorded unanimous ‘yes’ votes from present board members; the clerk announced “Motion passes unanimously.”

Supporters at the meeting’s public comment period thanked the board for passing the resolution. One public commenter said, “We really appreciate it… the homeschooling community, but also just parents in general.”

The board’s action is a nonbinding local resolution intended to communicate the county’s stance to state lawmakers; no local regulatory change was enacted at the meeting.