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Homeschooling a Child with an IEP in Vermont

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

What happens to your child's services

Vermont treats home study children the same as children enrolled by their parents in an independent school, so your district must find and evaluate your child and must include home study students when it spends its share of federal special education funds on equitable services (Vermont Special Education Rule 2367.1). Your child no longer has a right to the full IEP services while in home study, and any services the district provides are written in a services plan. For a child with a documented disability, your enrollment notice includes an attestation that you will provide adaptations (16 V.S.A. 166b(a)(5)(C)).

Primary source: Vermont Special Education Rule 2367; 16 V.S.A. 166b(a)(5)(C); 34 CFR 300.111, 300.130-300.144

How to access services while homeschooling

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Child Find

Each district conducts Child Find for non-publicly-enrolled students ages 3 to 21, including home study students, comparable to what it does for public school students (Vermont AOE, IDEA Proportionate Share Requirements).

How to request: Request an evaluation in writing from your school district.

IDEA, 34 CFR 300.111; Vermont Special Education Rule 2367.1.1

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Equitable services

Vermont deems home study children the same as children enrolled by their parents in an independent school, so your child may receive equitable services paid from the district's proportionate share of federal IDEA funds. Services are decided through consultation and written in a services plan; there is no individual right to them (Vermont Special Education Rule 2367.1; 34 CFR 300.137).

How to request: Request an evaluation from your district; eligible home study students are counted for equitable services.

Vermont Special Education Rule 2367.1; 34 CFR 300.130-300.144

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 Vermont?
Vermont treats home study children the same as children enrolled by their parents in an independent school, so your district must find and evaluate your child and must include home study students when it spends its share of federal special education funds on equitable services (Vermont Special Education Rule 2367.1). Your child no longer has a right to the full IEP services while in home study, and any services the district provides are written in a services plan. For a child with a documented disability, your enrollment notice includes an attestation that you will provide adaptations (16 V.S.A. 166b(a)(5)(C)).
Can my child still get special education help from the school if we homeschool in Vermont?
Child Find: Each district conducts Child Find for non-publicly-enrolled students ages 3 to 21, including home study students, comparable to what it does for public school students (Vermont AOE, IDEA Proportionate Share Requirements). Equitable services: Vermont deems home study children the same as children enrolled by their parents in an independent school, so your child may receive equitable services paid from the district's proportionate share of federal IDEA funds. Services are decided through consultation and written in a services plan; there is no individual right to them (Vermont Special Education Rule 2367.1; 34 CFR 300.137).

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Requirements sourced from 16 V.S.A. Section 166b (Home Study Program). Last reviewed October 2026