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Homeschooling kids with LD or AD/HD: The pros and cons
Page 3 of 3
By Kristin Stanberry
What kind of support can I expect from the public school district?
State laws and requirements regarding homeschooling vary tremendously from state to state. It's critical for you to understand your legal rights and responsibilities before you start homeschooling. You will want to learn about the laws governing general education as well as special education.
Many parents want to know how to translate a child's IEP at a public school into a homeschool curriculum — and to otherwise address the child's specific learning disability and/or impairments related to AD/HD. Depending on the homeschooling laws in your state, your public school may or may not be willing and able to assist you in bridging that gap.
As you research your state law regarding homeschooling:
- Find out what you are required to communicate to your school district and/or state department of education before, during, and after your child's homeschooling experience. This might include oversight by the state and/or accountability to the state through reporting, standardized testing, etc.
- Learn what kind of support and collaboration your school district is required to provide you and your homeschooled child. Very few states provide special education support to homeschoolers, although there are exceptions.
Resources to help you learn about the homeschool laws in your state include:
- A local homeschool networking group. This is a great way to connect with other parents who are knowledgeable about the laws in your state and policies in your school district. This can help streamline your research into your legal rights and responsibilities.
- Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
- Your state department of education
Do your homework
There is no magic formula for homeschool success, and your decision to homeschool (or not) will be as individual as your child and family. As with any decision concerning your child's education, we encourage you to tap into trustworthy resources and information (such as those mentioned in this article). Talk with parents of other homeschoolers in your community. And, above all, trust your good judgment about the well-being of your child.
