Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Wrapping up a busy week at the Capitol, it was a bill which didn’t get a vote that had people talking.

A bill to regulate home schooling has drawn wide and heated opposition. The sponsor, State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), says it adds regulations where practically none exist, requires parents to notify the local school district that they are home schooling their children.

It would also purportedly make it harder for abusers to hide. Opponents say that’s tantamount to criminalizing all home school families.

Just before adjournment Friday, Costa Howard told her colleagues, “I am deeply sorry and disappointed that some people would use this as an opportunity to sow seeds of anger and fear by actively spreading misinformation to make people afraid rather than work together on the real issues.”

That got an immediate response from Rep. Amy Elik (R-Godfrey).

“The sponsor has claimed misinformation instead of listening to families,” said Elik. “The sponsor blamed families instead of fixing the broken DCFS child welfare system.”

Now members of the House have a week away from the Capitol – and from each other. The break for senators is two weeks.

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