Metro East Sun

Jennifer Korte, vice chairman of the Madison County Republicans, said that Illinois parents are united in a significant protest to defend their right to homeschool freely. She urged lawmakers to respect their freedoms and support family-driven learning in a statement to the Metro East Sun on March 19.

"Illinois parents have taken a stand, rallying at the Capitol to oppose burdensome regulations on homeschooling," said Korte. "Their collective action highlights a shared belief in the importance of parental choice in education. The sheer number of participants underscored the urgency of their concerns. Now is the time for lawmakers to engage in meaningful dialogue and craft policies that empower—not restrict—families."

According to Capitol News Illinois, hundreds of families protested in Springfield on March 6 against the Homeschool Act. This bill would require families to notify school districts if they choose to homeschool. Currently, Illinois has some of the nation’s least restrictive homeschool laws, with no registration, curriculum, or testing requirements. The proposed legislation would introduce statewide data collection and impose mandatory regulations on homeschoolers. Supporters of homeschooling argue that school choice provides solutions to public school challenges, especially as Illinois public school enrollment has dropped by 127,000 since 2020.

The Homeschool Act (HB2827) proposes the creation of a Homeschool Declaration Form for administrators to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program. It states that a student enrolled in such a program without notifying the public school or district with this form is considered truant, with penalties applying. The act also sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements.

The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) reported that homeschooled students score 15–25 percentile points higher on standardized tests compared to public school students, with 78% of studies favoring homeschoolers academically over their traditional school counterparts. NHERI also found that the academic success of homeschooled students is not significantly related to parental education level or household income. Additionally, homeschooled students perform above average on the SAT and ACT exams, contributing to increased college recruitment.

Korte was first elected as Vice Chairman of the Madison County Republicans in 2024. As Vice Chair, her focus includes boosting party communication, helping new candidates, and educating the public about various legislation impacting the community. She advocates for children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Korte and her family reside in Edwardsville.