If you’re thinking about homeschooling and your child utilizes special needs services while enrolled in their previous public school, you’re probably wondering how you will continue accessing and paying for services and therapies that they may need in their new educational environment.
Don’t be discouraged. There are more options than you may know to continue accessing special needs services while homeschooling. We’ll cover state rules about special education funding for homeschooling students, along with links to other helpful homeschooling resources.
To learn more about special education and school choice in Montana, including the process of special education, check out our post about special education and our guide to the Special Needs Education Savings Account.
What is an IEP?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan that helps ensure that children with disabilities receive specialized instruction and services in school. IEPs are created after a Local Education Agency (LEA) determines that a student has a learning disability, developmental disability, or emotional or behavioral disability.
Creating an IEP is a collaborative process involving family members, school personnel, advocates, and educational specialists. This collaborative team works together to create an evaluation report that lays out the framework for the student’s current level of performance, needs, and educational classification. Parents have the right to review the evaluation report before the IEP is finalized. Parents have the right to disagree with the IEP; IEPs are not considered finalized without the parent’s signature. Once finalized, the IEP plan will outline the annual learning goals, accommodations and modifications, related services, and progress monitoring needed to meet the student’s needs. IEPs are updated yearly and testing is updated every three years if applicable to the student’s disability.
Funding for Special Needs Students
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides funding for students with special needs. Funding for special needs homeschooling students varies by state. In Montana, special needs homeschooling students are considered privately schooled students and are eligible for the same services they would receive if enrolled in a private school.
Specific services provided by the district vary by district. Contact your local school disrtict for more information on what is offered near you and begin developing an IEP for your child.
Montana special needs homeschooling students may be eligible for the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account program if they were enrolled in public school the prior school year. This ESA program provides families with around $5,500 to $8,000 in funding for educational expenses like therapeutic therapies, online software, testing fees (including college entrance exams, college tuition, and more).
Implementing an IEP at Home
Parents do not need to create a new Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan if they decide to homeschool their child. However, if they want to, they may need to adjust the current IEP goals and strategies to fit the homeschooling environment. This may involve significant schedule adaptations on your part, so your child can receive approved related services at the school. Parents should collaborate with their local school district to create a service plan outlining the special education and related services the district will provide while homeschooling. It’s worth noting that some of these services may be provided in a public school setting.
Additional Resources
More resources can be found at HSLDA, SPED Homeschooling, and Navigate School Choice as well as active Facebook groups, such as Special Needs Homeschooling.
*This resource was created in partnership with the Navigate School Choice.
