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Home | What if my homeschooled child with special needs / disability is also taking a class or participating in extracurricular activities at our public school?

What if my homeschooled child with special needs / disability is also taking a class or participating in extracurricular activities at our public school?

The public school would be required to meet some federal law, but not to provide your child with a FAPE, under IDEA.

The public school would not be required to provide the homeschooled child with all the services mandated under IDEA (including providing FAPE or fulfilling an IEP), because those requirements apply only to public school students. A homeschooled student attending class or participating in a public school activity is not a public school student.

However, the public school would be required to provide the services required by Section 504 of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which gives certain specific protections to every person with a disability in any program or activity that receives federal funds.

WHPA provides information about homeschooling in Wisconsin. WHPA does not provide specific legal advice to any specific individuals in the context of any specific matters. It is the responsibility of each homeschool administrator/parent or guardian to read original source material and make decisions on compliance for themselves. When you file the PI-1206 Homeschool Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, you take full responsibility for understanding and complying with the laws outlined on that form. WHPA does not endorse or provide curriculum suggestions or specific materials for any particular educational approach.