When March rolls around, parents and kids start counting the weeks until school ends and summer begins. March is also the month when parents who homeschool their kids with special needs make preliminary plans for a new year in the fall. Experienced homeschool mom and guest blogger Sylvia Phillips is here to give parents a head’s up about what to do now so next year begins on the right foot.

Plan Now for Next Year’s Special Needs Homeschooling

Spring’s the time of year when schools generally begin doing their annual IEP reviews. But what if your special needs child doesn’t attend the local public school or even a private school/ What if you homeschool your special needs child?

In New York state you are not required to file an IEP with your school district, but you are required to file an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). Please visit Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) or your state’s Department of Education to find out what your state requires if you plan to homeschool your special needs child.

Even though I am not required to file a formal IEP for Bethany, I do write her IHIP as if it were an IEP also. I include in Beth’s IHIP the specialized life skills goals and objectives that I would like for her to work on. This assures me that I am providing her with a well-rounded and individualized quality education.

Special Needs Homeschooling Reflection

At this time of year I usually take a few days to analyze and reflect on how our school year has been going so far. I review Bethany’s current IHIP to be sure that we are still on track and on schedule with the goals and objectives that I have reported we’d be attempting to accomplish this year. If I have added anything new or made changes to our IHIP I will notify the school district in my next quarterly report.

By the third quarterly report I must let our Committee on Special Education know what type of annual assessment I will be administering to Bethany and whether or not I will be continuing to homeschool her for the next year.

Because Bethany is not capable of completing a standardized test, our school district has always permitted me to send in a written narrative of Bethany’s accomplishments as an alternative to testing for our year end assessment. I could also choose to have her tested by an independent professional or ask for the school district to test her for me.

Each spring, my thoughts also turn toward planning for next year. I contemplate what educational activities and learning experiences I would like for Bethany to participate in for our next school year.

Special Needs Homeschooling Goal Writing

In preparation for writing Bethany’s IHIP for the upcoming school year, I begin scouring the multitudes of homeschool publishing companies, hands-on learning supply companies, and even other homeschooling bloggers on the internet for fresh, new, exciting and creative ideas. I even request copies of paper catalogs so that I can scan them for inspiration at my leisure.

In my new IHIP I will also include all activities and field trips that Bethany will be attending with her special needs social clubs or her personal aide, and any exciting activities that we may do together as a family that could also be considered educational, such as gardening, cooking, taking a trip, going to the park…etc.!

If Bethany is going to be receiving any private services such as occupational, physical, speech, or hippo therapies I also include these in her IHIP. In New York state, homeschoolers can request that the school district perform speech, occupational, and physical therapy evaluations. They must also offer to provide these services if it was determined that a homeschooled child needs them.

Special Needs Homeschooling Planning Deadlines

After I have compiled all the information that I need, have planned out all the learning activities and educational experiences that Bethany will be participating in and have decided upon the books and materials we will be using, I can then begin writing Beth’s IHIP which must be received by our school district in August to be approved before the next school year begins.

The Committee on Special Education will notify me if our IHIP has been approved or if I need to make any changes to our plan. But they cannot refuse to allow me to homeschool Bethany or force me to send her to school for any reason other than educational neglect, which would have to be proved.

Special Needs Homeschooling Resources

If you are thinking about homeschooling your special needs child I highly recommend getting in touch with and/or even joining the Homeschool Defense Association prior to informing your school district just to make sure you know where you stand legally. You can also check out these online resources for more ideas and information:

• How to Use an IEP for Homeschooled Children
• Nationally Challenged Homeschooling Associated Network
• NATHHAN Resource Room
• The IEP Manual

Disclaimer: The information in this post is not to be misconstrued as legal advice. Sylvia not a lawyer. If you plan to homeschool your special needs child please contact your school district, HSLDA, or a lawyer before commencing your homeschool program to ensure that you are doing so legally!

How Do You Manage Special Needs Homeschooling?

Are you a special needs homeschooling parent? How do you plan for a new year? Are there special conditions in your state? Share your expertise in the comment box.

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