Metro East Sun

Jennifer Korte, vice chairman of the Madison County Republicans, said that although the Homeschool Act is currently stalled, it has ignited a significant grassroots movement. This development should encourage all liberty-minded Illinoisans to remain civically engaged, she told Metro East Sun.

"The legislative delay of the Homeschool Act is no reason to relax—it's a reason to organize," said Korte. "Families who stood up proved that even in Illinois, voices can't be ignored when united. The next political attack will come, and the groundwork for political engagement must be laid now. When rights are violated, every conservative group in Illinois ought to show up with the same fervor."

According to Capitol News Illinois, HB 2827 missed a procedural deadline. However, sponsor Representative Terra Costa Howard said the bill remains active as she considers input from lawmakers. The proposal would require parents to file a declaration of intent and allow officials to request lesson plans during truancy investigations. It has faced strong opposition, particularly from Christian homeschooling groups who celebrated the delay. Minority leaders and major editorial boards have also expressed concerns about government overreach and potential harm to families leaving underperforming public schools. Costa Howard has requested an extension for the bill.

The Homeschool Act would "create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program… that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration 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 than public school students, and 78% of studies favor homeschoolers over traditional schoolers academically. According to NHERI, homeschooled students’ success is not notably related to parental education level or home income. Homeschooled students also perform above average on the SAT and ACT, leading to increased college recruitment.

Korte was first elected as Vice Chairman of the Madison County Republicans in 2024. According to the organization's website, her focus includes "boosting the party's communication, helping new candidates and educating the public on various legislation that will (or have) impacted the community." She is described as "a fierce advocate for children, senior citizens and for people who have a disability." Korte resides with her family in Edwardsville.