Kendall County Times

As the Illinois House of Representatives Education Policy Committee continues to deliberate on the proposed Illinois Homeschool Act (HB2827), which would impose stricter regulations on homeschooling, local activists are voicing their opposition. 

One of the strongest critics of the bill is Molly Krempski, vice president of the United States Patriot Society’s Kendall County chapter. The bill, currently under consideration by the state’s House of Representatives Education Policy Committee, would require homeschooling families to adhere to a series of new requirements or face criminal penalties. 

"Obviously, I oppose it, especially the part about jail time," she told the Kendall County Times. "But I don't think that our (legislature) has any choice but to try to control this uprising.” 

Krempski argues that the bill represents an overreach by the state and underscores a broader issue of control over personal freedoms. 

"So it's really not good for the future of the deep state, the globalists, if patriots are educating their own kids. That's not going to work for them," she said.

Krempski is not alone in her opposition. 

Over 41,000 Illinois residents have filed witness slips to oppose HB2827, which mandates that homeschooling families submit a Homeschool Declaration Form to avoid truancy penalties. 

If homeschooled students wish to participate in public school activities, certain health documentation would also be required. 

Despite this widespread resistance, Krempski believes that lawmakers are unlikely to change course. 

"We saw this unbelievable response from the people with all these witness slips,” Kremspki said. “They don't care. They can't afford to listen to the people because the stakes are too high right now for them. And they know that they're losing. And they will lose. Even if they pass this bill, they will eventually lose. I don't blame them for trying to keep their fight. They don’t want to go down without a fight.”

Critics of the bill, including Kirk Smith of Illinois Christian Home Educators, have raised concerns that it could pave the way for state interference in what they believe is a deeply personal and family-centered decision. Smith contends that requiring state approval to homeschool and imposing additional paperwork burdens and undermines parental authority in education.

Krempski’s perspective also reflects a larger ideological concern regarding parental rights in education. 

"Especially Biblical parental rights," she said. "If you go back to our Declaration of Independence, it’s clearly stated that our rights come from God, not from man, and man can’t remove these rights that God has put in place, and God's gonna defend the rights. So they can try to remove them, but they will be defended."

According to Krempski, this bill represents a direct challenge to those rights. She pointed to religious teachings as further justification for her stance, referencing the Biblical directive to "train up a child in the way that it should go" as a cornerstone of parental education. 

"God's going to defend our right to do that when the time is right," she said.

Krempski also voiced concern about the potential impact of the bill on new homeschoolers. 

"Yeah, I do, I think it's going to intimidate people who are considering homeschooling," she said. "I think the homeschoolers are smart enough to figure out how to try to appease the state to the extent that they're willing. But I do think it is going to discourage people from going into homeschools."

While Krempski personally uses an accredited curriculum for her children, she expressed concern for families who prefer more flexibility in their educational approaches. 

"There’s a lot of them, like my curriculum is not as flexible,” she said. “We use a curriculum that’s accredited, so it would be fine. But there's a lot of people who like to use a more flexible learning environment and a more flexible curriculum, and it’s going to make it difficult for them."

She also warned about the potential for the bill to be weaponized, particularly in a politically charged environment. 

"Oh, yeah, I mean, you know how Illinois works. They weaponize everything," Krempski said. "This bill is just open wide to weaponization. Yeah, I've heard, you know, my neighbor doesn’t like what I’m posting on Facebook. Now I've got the state coming to check on my homeschool curriculum."

At the core of her opposition is what she sees as a broader societal agenda. 

"Because if you understand what their goal is, they’re trying to say, ‘Oh, we want to keep kids safe,’ but you know, if you see the big picture of this war of the two kingdoms, you know that it’s all about control and it’s about eradicating God from society,” she said. “So that's naturally where it's going to head."