Special Needs Homeschooling Guide
Having an IEP doesn’t mean you can’t homeschool. In every state, parents have the right to withdraw their child and educate at home. Here’s what you need to know.
Key Things to Understand
- The IEP generally does not transfer. When you withdraw your child from public school to homeschool, the IEP, which is a contract between your family and the school district, typically does not follow your child into the home setting.
- FAPE rights usually end upon withdrawal. Your child’s right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) through the public school generally ends when you withdraw them. This is the biggest tradeoff families face.
- Child Find still applies. Under IDEA’s Child Find mandate, your school district must still identify and evaluate children suspected of having disabilities, even if they’re homeschooled. You can request an evaluation at any time.
- Some states offer ways to access services. Several states provide dual enrollment, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), or special needs scholarships that let homeschooling families access therapies, specialized instruction, or partial public school services.
- Charter school homeschooling can preserve IEP services. In states like California, enrolling in a charter school's independent study program keeps your child as a public school student with full IEP rights. The school must provide speech therapy, OT, and other services in your child's IEP. Learn about charter school homeschooling
States with Notable Special Needs Provisions
Not every state leaves homeschooling families on their own. These states have provisions that may help families with special needs children access services, funding, or both.
States with Strong State-Level Protections
These states go beyond the federal minimum and provide state-mandated rights for homeschooled students with disabilities.
Massachusetts
Strong state protectionsDESE: privately enrolled students, including home-schooled students, have an individual entitlement to an IEP and special education services from the district where they live.
Read the full Massachusetts special needs guide →New York
Strong state protectionsSpecial education services for home-instructed students under Education Law 3602-c (NYSED Home Instruction Q&A).
Read the full New York special needs guide →Washington
Strong state protectionsSchool district boards shall permit enrollment and provide ancillary services for part-time students, including students receiving home-based instruction (RCW 28A.150.350).
Read the full Washington special needs guide →States with ESA / Scholarship Funding
These states offer Education Savings Accounts or scholarship programs that can fund private therapies and services for children with disabilities.
Florida
ESA / scholarship fundingFor students with disabilities, Family Empowerment Scholarship funds may be used for tuition and fees for full-time or part-time enrollment in a home education program (Fla. Stat. 1002.394(4)(b)). A district may provide ESE related services to a home education student who enrolls in a public school solely for those services (Fla. Stat. 1002.41(10)).
Read the full Florida special needs guide →North Carolina
ESA / scholarship fundingPersonal Education Student Account (PESA) scholarship for students with disabilities under Article 41 of Chapter 115C (N.C.G.S. 115C-592).
Read the full North Carolina special needs guide →Ohio
ESA / scholarship fundingJon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship for a child with a disability and an IEP (ORC 3310.51, 3310.52)
Read the full Ohio special needs guide →Additional States with ESA Funding for Special Needs
These states offer Education Savings Accounts where students with disabilities may receive higher funding amounts or where the program specifically targets special needs families.
No specific homeschool provisions for special needs students. Withdrawing from public school forfeits IEP and public school special education services. Parent assumes full responsibility. Some services may be available through the Promise Scholarship ESA for eligible special needs students.
Primarily for students zoned for bottom-25% performing schools. Income limits apply (household income at or below 400% FPL). Must be Georgia resident for at least 1 year. Additional priority categories: students with special needs (IEP/504), foster care, active-duty military children.
Indiana counts home school students as parentally placed nonpublic school students. The IEP does not continue after you withdraw, but your public school district must locate, identify and evaluate students with disabilities in home schools within its boundaries and make special education and related services available to them, funded from its proportionate share of federal funds. No home school student has an individual right to the services the child would receive in public school.
A student with legal settlement in Indiana who is at least 5 and under 22 on October 1 of the school year, whose household meets the Choice Scholarship income limit, and who either has a disability requiring special education with an IEP, a service plan or a choice special education plan, or is the sibling of a student who has an ESA account (IC 20-51.4-2-4). Homeschooled students can take part: the law's only enrollment limits are that the student may not attend a school that receives state tuition support or be counted in a school corporation's enrollment (IC 20-51.4-4-1(a)(5), (c)).
LDOE guidance says students in a BESE-Approved Home Study Program or a nonpublic school not seeking state approval do not qualify for special education and related services under IDEA, or for modifications and accommodations under Section 504 or the ADA. Federal IDEA child find still requires that every child with a disability residing in Louisiana be identified, located and evaluated (34 CFR 300.111).
A Louisiana resident at least 5 and not older than 21 by September 30, 2026 who was in LA GATOR in 2025-26, is entering kindergarten, was enrolled in a public school on both October 1 and February 1 of 2025-26, or has household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Not available to a child in a BESE-approved home study program or in a nonpublic school not seeking state approval (LDOE home study and nonpublic school guidelines).
When a student with an IEP leaves public school for home instruction, the IEP services do not continue. Federal IDEA child find, adopted in Mississippi's special education policy, still requires that every child with a disability residing in Mississippi be identified, located and evaluated. Mississippi law does not clearly say whether a home instruction program counts as a private school for the federal services set aside for private school students.
Children who live in Mississippi, have had an active IEP from a public school district within three years of applying, and have been accepted into an eligible private school. Not available while homeschooling: a home instruction program under Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91 is not an eligible school, and the parent agrees not to file a home instruction certificate of enrollment while in the ESA (Mississippi Department of Education).
Missouri's special education regulation (State Plan Regulation XIII) defines private school to include home schools under RSMo 167.012 and Family Paced Education schools under RSMo 167.013. Your district must evaluate and identify homeschooled students with disabilities who live in the district, and it serves eligible homeschooled students through Individualized Service Plans paid from a set-aside share of federal funds. There is no individual right to any particular service.
A Missouri resident elementary or secondary student, lawfully present in the United States, who has an IEP, or whose household income is at or below 300% of the free and reduced-price lunch income standard and who also attended public school full time for at least one semester in the past 12 months, is eligible to begin kindergarten or first grade, or is a sibling of a current scholarship recipient (RSMo 166.700(9)). Not available to a child in a home school under RSMo 167.012: a home school may not enroll MOScholars participants. The student must attend a qualified school, which includes an FPE (Family Paced Education) school under RSMo 167.013 (RSMo 166.700(8); 167.012.1(4)).
IEP services from the public school end when you withdraw, and parentally placed private school children have no individual right to services (TEA, Parentally Placed Private School Children with Disabilities Quick Guide (2025)). Child Find, including evaluation, extends to home-schooled children. A homeschool that uses an adopted curriculum designed to meet basic educational goals, with a scope and sequence of courses and formal review and documentation of progress, is treated as a private school, so your child may be considered for IDEA equitable services.
A child who is a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States and is eligible to attend a Texas school district, open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program, with a parent who is a Texas resident. Homeschooled children can take part (at $2,000 a year). If applications exceed funding, a lottery by priority group decides placement.
Children with disabilities may be homeschooled under the same one-time notification. Your school district is responsible for locating, identifying and evaluating home schooled students in its boundaries (USBE Special Education Rules VI.D.1). A child home schooled full time has no individual right to special education services, but the district may write a services plan for any services it decides to provide; if you dual enroll your child in a public school, your child is entitled to special education services under an IEP for the time or courses enrolled (USBE Special Education Rules VI.D.4 to VI.D.8).
For students with disabilities. Check the program's official website for current eligibility and whether it applies to home-based students.
States with Special Needs Scholarships
These states offer scholarship programs that may help offset the cost of therapies or specialized services for homeschooled children with disabilities.
Arizona
When you withdraw your child to homeschool, the IEP does not continue. Arizona counts homeschooled pupils among private school pupils for federal special education services, so a district that receives federal money for these services must serve homeschooled pupils in the same manner as private school pupils. This is not an individual right to the services your child would receive in public school. Your district must still identify and evaluate children who may need special education. If you sign an Empowerment Scholarship Account agreement, you release the school district from all obligations to educate your child, except that the school your child last attended must still conduct an evaluation.
Read the full Arizona special needs guide →Dual Enrollment
Some states allow homeschooled students to enroll part-time in public school for specific courses or services. This can be a way to access speech therapy, occupational therapy, or other specialized services your child may need, without giving up the flexibility of homeschooling.
48 states currently allow some form of dual enrollment for homeschoolers:
On request, a school district must allow a child who is home schooled or a correspondence student to enroll as a part-time student, subject to the exceptions in AS 14.03.095(b). This does not cover interscholastic or extracurricular activities (AS 14.03.095(d)).
Each district must adopt a policy that lets a homeschooled student who lives in the district enroll in academic courses at a public school; the policy may limit enrollment (6 CAR § 33-106).
Independent study students are public school students, so ask the school about its course offerings. For other pathways, ask your local community college about enrolling high school students.
A child in a home-based program may also attend a public school for a portion of the school day, and the district may count the child for school finance purposes (C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(6)(a)). Ask your district which classes are open.
Ask your local school district whether homeschooled students may take part in public school classes.
Ask your local school district whether homeschooled students may enroll part time in public school classes.
Home education students may participate in dual enrollment programs under Fla. Stat. 1007.27(4) and 1007.271(13) (Fla. Stat. 1002.41(6)). Ask the college about its admission and course requirements.
Georgia Dual Enrollment program (formerly Move On When Ready) allows eligible high school students, including homeschoolers, to take college courses at no cost. Covers tuition, fees, and textbooks at eligible Georgia postsecondary institutions. Administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Students must meet age and readiness requirements.
Ask the college directly about admission for high school students.
Under Idaho Code 33-203, homeschooled students may enroll in courses and programs at their local public school. Each school board adopts procedures for dual enrollment. Dually enrolled students follow the same rules, requirements, and standards of conduct as full-time students, and when classes are full, full-time students get priority.
Ask your local school district about part-time attendance and driver's education options for home-schooled students, and how to request them.
IDOE says whether a homeschooled student can take classes at the local public school is up to the local school corporation. Ask yours about its policies.
Under Iowa Code 299A.8, a child receiving competent private instruction is registered in a public school for dual enrollment on the parent's request, may take part in any academic activities in the district, and may take part in extracurricular activities on the same basis as public school children. Parent-provided CPI families who request dual enrollment file Form A and complete the annual evaluation (Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.7(5)). IPI students can use an approved driver education course, annual achievement testing, and district-to-community college concurrent enrollment (Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.7(6)).
K.S.A. 72-3120(h) requires each school district to allow a child enrolled in a nonaccredited private school to enroll part-time for any courses, programs, or services the district offers. Districts must adopt and publish a part-time enrollment policy and make a good faith attempt to accommodate scheduling requests, though they do not have to accommodate every request.
Ask your local community college or university about dual enrollment for homeschooled students, including placement tests and costs.
Under 20-A MRSA §5021(1), a home instruction student may enroll in one or more public school classes after applying in writing and receiving superintendent approval, which may not be unreasonably withheld. The student must show prior satisfactory academic achievement, follow the same rules as other students, complete the same assignments and tests, and arrange transportation. Credit is awarded when the student meets the course standards (§5021(2)).
Maryland law does not guarantee homeschooled students access to public school courses on a part-time basis. Access is determined at the local school district level and varies significantly by county.
DESE says each school district may set its own policy on whether home-schooled students may join district-provided courses, programs or extracurricular activities. Districts are not required to allow it, and DESE does not review these local decisions.
Under Minn. Stat. 124D.09, subd. 4, home-schooled students in grades 10 through 12 can take part in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) as alternative pupils after registering with the commissioner of education. A 10th grader qualifies by enrolling in a career or technical education course and having a passing score on the 8th grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment or another reading assessment the institution accepts. After earning a C or better in that course, the student may take additional courses.
Under MCA 20-5-102(2)(e), a child enrolled in a nonpublic or home school may enroll on a part-time basis in a public school.
NRS 392.074 requires school boards to authorize homeschooled children to participate in any classes (excluding sports, which are covered separately) at a public school in the district, provided: (1) space is available, (2) the parent demonstrates the child is qualified, and (3) a participation notice is filed under NRS 388D.070. This is a mandatory right ('shall authorize').
Under RSA 193:1-c, home educated pupils have access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs offered by their resident school district, under participation policies no more restrictive than those for resident public school pupils. A declaration of home education is required to use these programs (RSA 193-A:3).
NJDOE says the local board of education is not required by law to let a child educated elsewhere than at school take part in the regular school curriculum; participation is at the board's sole discretion. A child educated at home who lives in the county may apply each year to the county shared-time vocational school, which may admit the child as space allows; once enrolled, the child becomes a public school student (Homeschooling FAQ, Questions 10-11).
NMPED says part-time participation in courses at the local school is at the district's discretion. If the district allows it, your child enrolls with the assigned STARS ID and would likely be considered a part-time student.
DNPE says homeschool students may be able to take classes part-time at a local public or private school or college, depending on the student's age and the school's policies. Contact the school or college directly.
Your statement of intent lists any public school courses your child intends to take and the district offering them (NDCC 15.1-23-02). Under NDCC 15.1-23-19, the district counts your child in its membership for the days or portions of days the child attends public school. Contact your district about available courses and enrollment.
College Credit Plus lets students in grades 7 through 12 earn high school and college credit at participating Ohio colleges and universities (ORC 3365.01). Tuition is free for home-educated students at public colleges; private colleges may charge modest fees. Home-educated students notify the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce if they want to participate.
Under 24 P.S. 13-1327.1(f.2) (Act 55 of 2022), your school district of residence must permit your home-educated child to take academic courses equaling up to at least one quarter of the school day, and to join cocurricular activities such as band or orchestra, under district policies and on the same basis as enrolled students, if your child meets the eligibility criteria.
Under SDCL 13-28-51, your resident school district must admit your child to a public school on a partial basis at your request, while your child continues alternative instruction. Separately, students in grades 11 and 12 can join the state's reduced-tuition dual credit program at public universities and technical colleges (SDCL 13-28-37.1). Alternative instruction families need a notification on file and a signed memorandum of understanding with the Department of Education (SD DOE Alternative Instruction FAQ 6.2).
Home school students may use public school facilities with the approval of the principal, but this does not confer a right to use them (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(a)(1)). A public school that offers an advanced course (such as AP) or a preparatory college entrance exam (PSAT/NMSQT, Pre-ACT or CLT10) must allow a home school student to take it if space is available (T.C.A. 49-6-3050(f)(3)).
Tex. Educ. Code 130.008(e) requires a public junior college to use the same admission criteria for home school students seeking dual credit courses as for students from public, private and parochial schools.
Under Utah Code 53G-6-702, a school-age child attending a home school may enroll in a public school part time, in the same manner and to the same extent as other part-time students, with all the rights and privileges of other part-time students.
Under 16 V.S.A. 944, homeschooled students who have completed grade 10 may take part in the Dual Enrollment Program if dual enrollment is in their personalized learning plan and the institution deems them academically prepared. Students may take up to two tuition-free dual enrollment courses before high school graduation. For public school courses, contact your local school and the Agency of Education.
Under Va. Code 22.1-253.13:2, students receiving home instruction under 22.1-254.1 who enroll in public school part time in courses such as mathematics, science, English, history, career and technical education, fine arts, foreign language, or health and physical education are counted in the division's enrollment on a pro rata basis. Contact your school division about part-time enrollment.
Under RCW 28A.150.350, school district boards shall permit enrollment and provide ancillary services for part-time students, including students receiving home-based instruction, if they would otherwise be eligible for full-time enrollment. Every district must allow eligible students to participate in Running Start, which covers eleventh and twelfth grade students in home-based instruction (RCW 28A.600.310).
With county board approval, a child receiving home instruction may attend any class the county board offers, subject to normal registration and attendance requirements (W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c)).
Ask your local school district whether it allows part-time enrollment for homeschooled students.
Extracurricular Access
Many states allow homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities: sports, band, drama, clubs, and more. For children with special needs, these opportunities can be important for social development, building friendships, and staying connected to their community.
45 states currently provide some level of extracurricular access for homeschoolers:
Find Your State
Select your state for a detailed guide on homeschooling a child with an IEP, including withdrawal steps, service access, and who to call.
Resources
You’re not alone in this. Many families successfully homeschool children with special needs, and there are communities built around supporting them.
- SPED Homeschool : A nonprofit community offering resources, coaching, and support for families homeschooling children with special needs.
- COPAA : Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. Find a special education attorney near you.
- Wrightslaw : Comprehensive special education law encyclopedia and advocacy resources.
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