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Homeschooling a Child with an IEP in Virginia

What happens to your child's special education services when you homeschool in Virginia, and how to reach the services that remain available.

What happens to your child's services

Virginia counts home-instructed and home-tutored students as parentally placed private school children for special education (8VAC20-81-150). There is no individual right to services, but your child can be considered for services set out in a services plan, which the school division decides through consultation. The division must also locate, identify and evaluate your child under Child Find.

Primary source: 8VAC20-81-150, Code of Virginia 22.1-254.1

How to access services while homeschooling

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Child Find

Each school division must locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities parentally placed in private schools in the division, which in Virginia includes home-instructed and home-tutored children (8VAC20-81-150(C)(2)).

8VAC20-81-150(C)(2); IDEA, 20 USC 1412(a)(3); 34 CFR 300.111

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Equitable services

Home-instructed students are counted as parentally placed private school children. There is no individual right to services; the division decides services through consultation and a services plan (8VAC20-81-150).

8VAC20-81-150(C); IDEA, 20 USC 1412(a)(10)(A); 34 CFR 300.130-144

Before you withdraw

  1. 1

    Request complete copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports before you withdraw.

  2. 2

    Consider requesting an IEP meeting to discuss the transition. This is optional.

  3. 3

    File your homeschool notice as your state requires. Our wizard prepares it for you.

  4. 4

    Arrange any private therapies or services your child needs before withdrawal takes effect.

Keep copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports. You'll need them if you re-enroll.

Special education help

COPAA

copaa.org · Find a special education attorney near you

Wrightslaw

wrightslaw.com · Special education law encyclopedia

Common questions

What happens to my child's IEP when I start homeschooling in Virginia?
Virginia counts home-instructed and home-tutored students as parentally placed private school children for special education (8VAC20-81-150). There is no individual right to services, but your child can be considered for services set out in a services plan, which the school division decides through consultation. The division must also locate, identify and evaluate your child under Child Find.
Can my child still get special education help from the school if we homeschool in Virginia?
Child Find: Each school division must locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities parentally placed in private schools in the division, which in Virginia includes home-instructed and home-tutored children (8VAC20-81-150(C)(2)). Equitable services: Home-instructed students are counted as parentally placed private school children. There is no individual right to services; the division decides services through consultation and a services plan (8VAC20-81-150).

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Requirements sourced from Va. Code Section 22.1-254.1. Last reviewed October 2026