Lesson 1: Could I...Should I...How Would I?
Should You Request Services From the School?
With the laws changing dramatically and being challenged in courts, it is difficult to say if your child will be able to receive services while he is homeschooling. The first step is to simply ask the school. This is easiest if your child is already receiving the services and you have maintained a good relationship with the school.
If your child is not receiving services, ask for an evaluation. It appears that children are still entitled to these. Take with you copies of any laws pertaining to evaluation in your state, as well as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act. When the evaluation is completed, the school will be required to hold an IEP meeting. IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. For a basic introduction to IEPs, visit LDOnline. This article is not specific to homeschooling: Your Child’s IEP: Practical and Legal Guidance for Parents
At this meeting you will need to discuss homeschooling. Remember that you do not have to receive special education services from the school. If you have any reason to believe the school will create trouble, don’t have an IEP meeting. IEPs are most successful if the child is working well above average, so that the school is aware that the homeschooling environment is successful. Homeschooling may be successful even if the child is not advanced, but the schools will ignore this. If you choose to hold the IEP, which must be done to receive services, bring with you all legal documents related to homeschooling, your curriculum plan, samples of the child’s work (called a portfolio) and other material to show what you are doing with the child. You should emphasize that the IEP is not to focus on what he is doing at home. Instead, you want to concentrate on the services the school can provide. You will have to repeatedly, but politely, remind them to stay on topic. Remember that you have the right to invite people to your IEP, so invite school personnel who like you. At my first IEP, I invited the speech therapist who taught my younger children. Even though she did not work with the child having the IEP, she liked me and approved of me as a parent. I knew she would be kind. In the end, she was the person who created the solution to our biggest issue.
Once you have gotten approval for services, you will need to decide whether or not you want to accept them. Accepting services means that the school will be monitoring you. On one hand, it may mean that you will develop advocates who will spread the word that you are doing a good job at home. Happily, this is what happened to me. On the other hand, the school may choose to blame you for every unmet goal and try to put a negative spin on the work you are doing at home. Your decision must be based on several factors. Decide how essential the service is, whether you can obtain it elsewhere, and how supportive the staff is.
Suggested assignment: Make a list of services your child is or should receive. Evaluate how supportive the person providing those services is. Find out if there are other ways to receive the services. Decide if you want to accept services or testing from the school.
Remember that you have several choices. You can accept testing without accepting the services. You can accept some services, but reject others. You are in control!
