I-KAN News

Illinois School Code states that children between the ages of 7 and 17 must attend public school. However, an exception is made for “…any child attending a private or parochial school.”

And in Illinois, home school is considered a form of private education. 

Parents whose child/children currently attend public school, it is recommended that parents give the public school a dated letter that states they will be withdrawing their student to place him/her in a private school. It is also recommended parents complete the Illinois State Board of Education Home School Registration form. Forms can be sent to I-KAN Regional Office of Education, 1 Stuart Dr., Kankakee, IL 60901. 

Parents who educate their children at home must cover the subjects of language arts, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences and physical development and health. According to Illinois School Code, instruction must be in the English language. 

Illinois law does not set a minimum number of hours per day or days of instruction per year for students in private schools. However, the Illinois courts have ruled that home schooling must provide an education equivalent with the standards set for public schools. 

Parents who permit a child to attend a home school decide the manner, time and materials which best suit the learning needs of their children. Parents determine the home schooling, what materials to use, how much homework to assign, how homework is assessed and what records should be kept. 

Testing is not required in the state of Illinois for homeschoolers. There are private testing resources if parents choose to have their children evaluated. Parents who educate their through the high school years may determine when their student has met the graduation requirements of their private home school and is entitled to receive a high school diploma.

If a parent later chooses to send their student back to public school, the public school will determine grade placement for the student based on an evaluation of his/her work and pursuant to its policies. 

For more information, visit https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Homeschool.aspx. 

ISBE Home School Frequently Asked Questions

Home School Registration Form

Kankakee and Iroquois County high school seniors were designated as 2025-26 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Students Assistance Commission (ISAC).

Illinois State Scholars rank in the top 10 percent of high school seniors from hundreds of high schools across the state. Selection is based on academic performance, standardized test scores and GPA. In mid-November, congratulatory letters from ISAC were mailed to Scholars and a Certificate of Achievement for each Scholar was provided to individual high schools.

The I-KAN Regional Office of Education #32 recognizes the academic accomplishments of these high achieving students.

2025-26 Illinois State Scholars include

Bishop McNamara Catholic Schools

Kenna Brosseau, Meredith Cortes, Colin Downs, Sarah Hoehn, Libby Jeck, Payton Langelett, Lydia Nugent, Abigail Purcell and Emily Storer. 

Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School 

Eagan Allers, Abigail Benoit, Hayden Berens, Kloey Bull, Chloe Cooper, Nicholas Coradetti, Myah Crawford, Sophia DeCarlo, Trevor Duby, Noelle Foor, Reese Freedlund, Natalie Gross, Elijah Hockman, Shannon Houde, Lyndsay Jemar, Nicholas Johnson, Gavin Kohl, Delaney Kreissler, Benjamin Kubal, Livia Lamie, Landon Luoto, Owen McCarty, Frederick McCurty, Jenna McGee, Mallory McTaggart, Quinn Meadows, Madeline Mellin, Abigail Morrey, Cortlynn Ninis, Laylah Perkins, Alyssa Pignatiello, Ana Pignatiello, Gavin Quinlan, Charles Reeths, Christian Sadulla, Ashley Salazar, Cooper Sandeno, Evan Showers, Eleanor Snipes, Joshua Sorich, Jessica Sowder, Kylee Stone, Elaina Storer, Aubrey Summers, Thomas Summers, Leah Swilley, Claire Whittington, Shanrong Wu, Jocelyn Zettergren. 

Central High School

Madison Langley, Samantha Perzee, Audra Prairie, Anna Winkel

Cissna Park High School

Julia Edelman, Isaac Phelan and Keegan Reed

Donovan High School

Braden Klecan

Grant Park High School

 Aaron Herz and Ethan Barnas.  

Herscher High School

Mary Benjamin, Mylee Coffman, Brigitte Cueva, Johnathan Garrett, Carlee Hove, Molly Huizenga, Madison MacGilvray, Megan Murray, Riya Patel, Alyssa Velazquez, Riley Webber, Brittany Wietting. 

Kankakee High School

Gavin Allen, Jorge Arellano, Baylor Case, Aidan Fields, Emma Palmer.

Manteno High School 

Aeryn Breazeale, Tyson Clodi, Alyssa Cullotta, Matthew Dumontelle, Sarah Frost, Lucy Guimond, Macy Iwanus, Allison Martin, Caitlin Meaney, Benjamin Milton, Ava Peterson, Kaylee Piszro, Grace Rogge, Aidan Smith, Allyson Zawisza.

Milford High School

Zackery Moore and Gage Vogel

Momence High School

Paul Bishir, Kali Coulter, Jayla Joseph, Josie Newberry, Lucia Puglise.

St. Anne High School

Maya Anderson

Watseka High School

Madison Hughes, Lydia Mustered, Onyx Greene, Maya Machev, Rebekah Woods, James Newell, Mason Galyen.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, presents this prestigious recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 16,700 honorees join the other outstanding students who have been honored since the designation was first introduced in 1958.  

The Illinois State Scholar designation is a non-monetary award. Each State Scholar will receive a congratulatory letter and a Certificate of Achievement from ISAC. Additionally, awardees can download an official Illinois State Scholar Program badge to display on their online profiles, social media platforms, and share with their high school counselors, colleges, employers, family members and others. *Note that the Illinois State Scholar Program announces honorees based on the year they would begin any postsecondary education, not based on the year they graduate from high school.

Delaney Wright and Kennedi Renshaw's billboard design was chosen as winners of the Life Education Center's billboard contest by the Pledge for Life Partnership Youth Advisory Council . Delaney and Kennedi are current 6th grade students at Limestone Middle School.  They designed the ad as 5th graders.  Their billboard is displayed currently on E. Brookmont Blvd. and the corner of Schuyler Ave. in Kankakee.