Enlightium Academy is a 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. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are 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 the 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’s requirements.
As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.
Illinois’s Requirements at a Glance
Parents Notify State = No
State Educational Funds = Yes
Academic Calendar Requirement = No
Age Requirement = 6-17
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
Illinois is one of the states in the U.S. that has a tax credit program. Private school families in Illinois can receive up to a $250 credit per dependent each school year. Parents can receive a credit of 25% of their expenses after the first $250; the maximum credit a family can receive is $750.
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.
Ages six to 17:
They must attend school during that academic year beginning in the fall; this includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ 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 Book-Based Program use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live Program use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective 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:
- Language Arts
- Math
- Biology and physical science (considered by Illinois as one combined branch of instruction)
- Social Sciences
- Fine Arts
- Physical Education and Health (considered by Illinois as one combined branch of instruction)
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 students enrolled at Enlightium. However, Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per a given grade level:
- Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment
- Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT
Immunization Requirement
Immunization is not required in the state of Illinois, but you should have your exemptions or immunizations documented and on file.
Keep a Portfolio
In Illinois, consider:
- Referring to your homeschool as a private school if working with government officials
- Referring to yourself as a homeschool when filling out a FAFSA for college financial aid
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:
- Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
- Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
- Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
- Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
- Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
- Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
- Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and the pen pal program.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Illinois Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and a 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 requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
- Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
- Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
Since 2003, Enlightium Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, hybrid, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, 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 December of 2024:
