Being the special needs homeschooling family that we are, I often get questions asking how to go about homeschooling a special needs student, so I thought I’d answer some of those frequently asked questions for you all in one place, today.
1) Can you legally homeschool a special needs student?
Yes! I’m happy to say that it is perfectly legal for parents to teach their own children with disabilities themselves!
It doesn’t matter if your child is mentally or physically disabled or if they have a learning disability.
Homeschooling might just be the best decision you’ll ever make for your child!
2) Do you need a teaching degree to homeschool your own special needs children?
No! You don’t need to have any degree to legally homeschool your own kids special needs or not!
3) Should I disclose to public schools that my special needs homeschooler has special needs?
It’s my opinion that if your special needs homeschooler will not be performing at the typical grade level for his or her age and your state requires report cards and annual standardized assessments, it makes sense to disclose your child’s disability.
On the other hand, if your child can work at grade level and/or your state doesn’t require testing and/or reporting, then you might not need to disclose the disability or special need.
4) How do you begin homeschooling a special needs student or withdraw a special needs student from public school?
The process is actually the same for both.
Keep your child home.
Send the school registered and certified written notification of your intent to homeschool.
You should then receive paperwork to fill out with deadlines to submit back to them.
Submit your paperwork then wait for the schools response.
Please note that public school officials cannot deny your initial request to homeschool.
Comply with your school district’s requirements and begin teaching your own child in your own home!!
5) Does a special needs homeschooler need an IEP?
No. An IEP is not required for special needs homeschoolers.
However, it is recommended that parents set up goals and objectives for their special needs children similar to those that would be found in an IEP .
In NY, where we live we are required to write individualized home instruction plans (IHIP) for both our special needs and typically developing homeschooled children.
6) Can a home taught special needs student receive therapies or other services from the public school?
The answer to this question depends on the state in which you live and the severity of your child’s special needs.
In NY, we can request and insist that public schools provide testing and therapy services for our special needs kids.
But beware, If you request special therapy services from the public school, your child will be required to undergo testing and evaluations to prove that he or she actually needs them.
7) If you have withdrawn a special needs student receiving special therapies from the public school, will the school still require your child to receive those services?
They might try to intimidate you into thinking that you must continue with their recommended therapies, but special needs homeschooled students and their parents have the right to refuse any special services offered by the public school.
However, it is highly recommended that you privately obtain equivalent special needs therapies.
It has been our experience in NY, (and I think this is true in most school districts) that the public school was glad to be rid of us because when we withdraw our special needs daughter from the school district we were no longer a financial burden to them!
Our school district has never bothered us or required anything more from us other than the regular IHIPs that all typically developing homeschoolers are required to submit. They’ve never even asked us to have our special needs daughter undergo annual assessments.
You might also be interested in:
NYS Homeschooling Regs for Special Needs Students
Homeschooling Your Special Needs in NYS
Recommended Reading:
*Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. This post is not to be considered as legal advice. Please consult with a lawyer and/or your State Department of Education for your state’s homeschooling laws, regulations, and policies.*
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