By Michael Brooks, M.A. on Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Category: Homeschooling in your State

How Illinois Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Illinois State Board of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! 

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Illinois homeschooling requirements.

Illinois’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance

Does the parent need to notify the state?

No

State Educational Funds

No

Academic Calendar Requirement

No

Reporting Age Requirement

6

Instructor Qualifications

No

Subjects Required 

Yes

Standardized Assessment

No

Immunization Requirement

No

Keep a Portfolio

Yes

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Illinois Families

Yes

State Educational Funds

No state educational funds are available for homeschooling families at this time.

Age Requirement

Ages five or younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Aged six on or before September 1:

They must attend school during that academic year beginning in the fall; this includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until the academic year in which they turn 17 or graduate.

Instructor Qualifications

The Illinois State Board of Education does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-8) can use book-based Christian curricula from AOP and BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) can use the digital Christian curriculum, "Ignitia". Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 3-12) can use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

Required Subjects

The Illinois State Board of Education requires the following subjects:

The first four bullet points are core courses at Enlightium Academy and will likely already be assigned by your student’s counselor. The latter two bullet points are electives available at Enlightium Academy.

English Instruction

The Illinois State Board of Education requires that instruction be taught in the English language. At Enlightium Academy, courses are taught in English, with the exception of some World Language courses, such as French and Spanish, which may be partially taught in English.

Standardized Assessment

The Illinois State Board of Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per given grade level:

Keep a Portfolio

In Illinois, we recommend:

You may need to provide your state with additional information, so keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy and include:

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Illinois Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Illinois to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. 

Your family will be added to this group upon enrolling and then downloading the Enlightium Parents app (which is provided upon enrollment).

Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

  1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website or watch this video about online homeschooling.
  2. If you have any questions:
    1. Chat with a team member
    2. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
  3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the blue button near the top of the page.

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (866) 488-4818, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

Sources reviewed in September 2023:

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