#CHES2025
"We’ll Take It From Here"
This powerful theme represents a bold declaration by parents and families taking full responsibility for their children's education and future. It signifies a shift toward reclaiming the right to guide and nurture our children in faith, values, and knowledge. By saying, "We'll take it from here," we acknowledge the call to step up, break away from government education that no longer serves our families, especially black families, and embrace God’s command to bring up our children in His ways.
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It's a call to action—parents stepping in as the primary educators, leading the next generation with courage, faith, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Across the nation, a constant reminder of the growing tension between parental rights and government control in education persists. While liberal policies and their advocates claim to protect children, these policies have proven harmful, with lifelong consequences for children's educational attainment and well-being. Nothing is truer in this era than the fact that leaving government education overwhelmingly provides a high-quality, safe, and effective education.
As homeschooling gains traction, especially post-COVID, more families are opting for alternative educational paths. Parents choose to homeschool, enroll in private Christian schools, or explore microschools to shield them from government education that too often fails to deliver both academic quality and safety.
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Why Are Families Choosing Homeschooling and Alternatives?
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For many, the decision to exit the government education comes after witnessing first-hand its shortcomings. Public schools in Illinois and across the nation continue to indoctrinate children with all manner of ungodliness, poor academic outcomes, systemic failures, and safety issues.
Despite a growing number of rules, regulations, and oversight mechanisms, these problems remain. Illinois public schools are currently ranked among the worst in the nation, with only a fraction of students meeting academic proficiency in key subjects like English and Math.
Despite billions of dollars in taxpayer funding, Illinois public schools are burdened with inefficiencies, inadequate student protections, and academic underachievement. Illinois parents are increasingly choosing to exit precisely because they are dissatisfied with these failures.
Academic Performance in Illinois Public Schools
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Low Academic Achievement: Data from the Illinois State Board of Education shows that in the 2023-2024 school year, only 35% of Illinois students met or exceeded proficiency in English Language Arts, and only 27% did so in Mathematics. In CPS, the figures were even lower, with only 16% of students meeting proficiency in Reading and 8% in Mathematics, with approx $10 billion of taxpayers' funds going into a failing school system.
Graduation Rates: While Illinois boasts a graduation rate of around 88%, it is important to note that this figure includes students who may not be adequately prepared for post-secondary education or the workforce, as evidenced by remediation rates in college.
Why Homeschooling Works
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​Families often choose homeschooling because of their deep faith in Christ and desire to provide an education rooted in biblical values. For many Christian families, the ability to integrate faith into their children's daily learning is paramount.
Homeschooling allows parents to instill strong moral principles, foster a Christ-centered worldview, and protect their children from secular influences that may contradict their beliefs. This personalized approach nurtures academic growth and spiritual development, empowering children to live out their faith confidently in all areas of life.
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Homeschooling allows families to craft personalized educational experiences that cater to their children’s unique needs, interests, and strengths. Studies consistently show homeschooled children outperform their public school peers in standardized tests, college readiness, and overall academic achievement. They are more likely to develop critical thinking skills, leadership qualities, and self-discipline—all of which are essential for success in life.
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According to the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschooled students score 15 to 30 percentile points above public school students on standardized academic achievement tests, demonstrating the effectiveness of this educational approach.
Furthermore, a study by the Home School Legal Defense Association found that homeschooled children have higher rates of college admission and graduation, with 67% of homeschooled students graduating from college compared to 59% of public school students.
We’ll Take It from Here
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Our theme, "We’ll Take It from Here," embodies parents' determination to reclaim their children’s education from this failing system. We are committed to defending homeschooling freedoms and opposing unnecessary regulation. The solution isn’t more government control—it’s empowering parents to choose the best educational path for their children.
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As a community, we’ll continue to resist any attempts to usurp parental authority and erode the freedoms that make homeschooling a viable and successful option for so many families.
We urge parents to continue pursuing educational excellence through homeschooling and unconventional educational alternatives.
Together, we’re building a future where faith-centered education flourishes and families are empowered to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The fight for educational freedom continues, and together, we’ll take it from here.
By Evangelist Latasha H. Fields
Home Educator | Parental Rights Advocate | Founder