[blindkid] Homeschooling

[Carlton Anne Cook Walker]

Hi,

I'm finally getting back onto this list, and I saw Denise's recent post
about homeschooling.

On the Federal level, there is no requirement for special educational
resources to be provided to students who are  home schooled.  The IDEA
guarantees a free, appropriate PUBLIC education.  In fact, even though
services are required for students in private school, those students don't
have a particular right to the services (lots of legal mumbo jumbo by the
courts, but it can be tricky to nail down).

Now, there are ways around this.
* For example, some states (I believe Kansas in still one) consider each
home school environment a charter school.  Charter schools are public
schools, so children in Kansas who are home schooled should have full IDEA
rights.
* Some states, under state law, provide special education rights to
children in private schools and/or home schools. This is done on a
state-by-state basis, and you'll have to check your own state's policies on
this matter.
* Other states, like my own Pennsylvania, do not provide anything to home
schooled students (private school students get some services, but ensuring
sufficient services can be difficult).  The workaround here in PA is cyber
charter schools.  Again, these are considered to be public schools.  With
the cyber aspect, the curriculum is delivered via computer (which is
provided by the cyber school) and the entire schooling is at no cost to the
student.  I have not had any experience with cyber charter students who are
blind/visually impaired, but I see no reason why such an option would not
work.  In this cyber arrangement, parents would still have many of the
advantages of home schooling and retain the services and access to
equipment provided by the IDEA.

Another consideration is access to textbooks and other equipment under
Federal Quota funds.  Federal Quota requires that a student, "be enrolled
in a formally organized public or private, nonprofit educational program of
less than college level" http://www.aph.org/fedquotpgm/fedquota.htm
The private, charter, and cyber charter options fill this requirement.
 Pure homeschooling may or may not, depending on state law.  Thus, going
the pure home schooling route could shut the student out of eligibility for
Federal Quota funds.


Please note that I am NOT pro- or anti-homeschooling.  I considered
homeschooling myself, but I determined that it did not best meet the needs
of my child or myself.  I know others for whom homeschooling has been
terrific.  Just like an IEP, this decision needs to be made on a
case-by-case basis.  I just wanted to provide some information that might
be helpful in making the decision.



Carlton




-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Voice: 717-658-9894
Twitter: braillemom