Generally, no.
Public school districts are not required to provide special services to homeschooled students.
However, homeschooled students are entitled under federal law to disability assessment by their public school district, at no charge.
A federal law called IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) has several provisions that require certain funding and special services for students with special needs or disabilities. Most of IDEA applies only to students enrolled in public school, with some specific funding provisions for children parentally placed in private schools. Under Wisconsin law, homeschools are not private schools; homeschools are a distinct legal category of legal schools in Wisconsin. Therefore, most of IDEA does not apply to homeschoolers.
However, one provision of IDEA, called Child Find, does apply to homeschoolers. Child Find is a general requirement that states make efforts to identify, locate and evaluate every child through age 21 in need of special services. (34 C.F.R. §300.111). This mandate includes children with disabilities or special needs who require early intervention (before age 6) or special education services. Strategies for identifying kids are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. §300.111), and some examples have been given in court cases. The Child Find Mandate is meant to identify kids who need further evaluation.
The Child Find mandate does apply to homeschoolers, in that school districts must make efforts to identify all children in need of special services, whether or not those children attend public schools.
A child may be identified for evaluation through screening by many different agencies, and many different people – including doctors, teachers, social workers, and parents – may refer a child to a school district for an evaluation (Wis Stat 115.77(1)(a-c)). A parent may choose to identify their own child to the district, in order to request an evaluation. Once a child is identified, the district must provide the parent with an assessment plan and a copy of procedural safeguards within 15 days of receiving the referral. Parents have 15 days to approve the plan and return the informed consent form, or decline the assessment. (Wis Stat 115.77(3)(a-e)).
If a child is identified as needing assessment, or if a parent requests an assessment, and a parent consents to that assessment, the public school district must convene an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to create an IEP Service Plan for the student.
Other provisions of IDEA include the requirement that public schools provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to every child, and that every child who has been found to be eligible for special services is provided with the services outlined in their individualized educational program (IEP).
However, the provisions of IDEA that require a school district to fulfill the IEP – that is, to provide services – apply only to students enrolled in public school.
This means that in Wisconsin, homeschooled students are entitled, under the Child Find mandate, to an IEP evaluation and a copy of their child’s Individualized Education Plan. Once a parent has an IEP in hand for their child, they can decide whether or not to enroll their child in public school. If they choose not to enroll their child in public school, the school district has no obligation to fulfill the IEP.