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is also the most Home-school-friendly state in the union,

Actually, Illinois (of all places) is even friendlier than Connecticut. In CT, you are supposed to sign an option form, and file a "Notice of Intent" with the superintendent. The form must include “name of teacher, subjects taught, days of instruction, and the teacher’s method of assessment.” Parents may be asked to participate in an annual portfolio review.

In Illinois, NO filing of a any kind is required. It is not even the state's business whether you have charge of school age children or not. Home schooling does require 180 days of instruction, an analogous curriculum (as in CT) and classes must be taught in English (though my wife skirts that for the French and Latin classes). NO portfolio, and if a busybody calls you in as truant (hasn't happened to us but to friends), just say "homeschooling" and the questions end right there. IL also has a couple of relevant court decisions that reinforce the rights of parents to educate at home.