Number of children ages 6-17 requiring IDEA services for autism.

Parents of special needs children and learning disabled children may homeschool legally. Homeschool parents of learning disabled or special needs children have the same rights as parents of private school children.

The “Fact Sheet for Home Schooling in Arkansas” published by the Arkansas Department of Education, refers to the following regarding home schooling a special needs child:

“…Parents/guardians may home school a student with disabilities. Home school students will be given the same consideration for special education services as private school students in Arkansas; this does not guarantee an individual student services. There are no certification requirements for parents/guardians who teach their special needs child(ren)….”

Special needs children have slightly different rules under the Arkansas homeschool law. Most of these children will qualify for an exemption from the state mandated testing requirement. In order to qualify for an exemption a valid IEP is required. An IEP is an individualized educational program. It is a legal agreement between the parents, the provider of the educational program and the student. For homeschooled students, obtaining an IEP will require assistance from a third party such as a physician, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist or other specialist. A copy of the IEP will need to be filed with the state testing department.

Although the state of Arkansas is not required to provide services to learning disabled and special needs homeschool families, it is always a good idea to contact the Arkansas Department of Education’s Homeschool Office to research what options are available to your student. For example children who are hard of hearing may be entitled to free TTY services. The Department of Education may be able to help you locate valuable resources.

Another place to look for help homeschooling a learning disabled or special needs student is the Education Alliance. They have an office in Little Rock, Arkansas. The contact information is located on their website.

Parents of special needs children should not feel bullied into sending their children to public school if they feel it is not in the best interest of their child. Arkansas has plenty of resources for parents to provide a rich and rewarding educational experience for their child with disabilities.

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