ALBANY — School districts across the state will soon be ordered to stop providing special education services to home-schooled students, according to state Education Department officials who say the change is mandated by federal law.

"Some parents are going to be very concerned about it," Deputy Education Commissioner Rebecca Cort said Monday after explaining the changes to the state Board of Regents.

Because of revisions in 2004 to the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, public schools aren’t supposed to pay for services to students with disabilities whose parents choose to home-school them, according to an Education Department memo. The memo also says officials will soon notify districts of the change.

 The policy, according to the memo, stems from federal law that allows money for home schools only if they are recognized by the state as schools. New York state law does not do that. The new policy does not apply to private and parochial school students.

The issue recently came to the state’s attention when parents in the Colton-Pierrepont school district in St. Lawrence County requested a hearing on whether the district should provide physical therapy for their home-schooled daughter. The girl was born with clubfeet and other physical impairments, according to court papers.

John Munson of Niskayuna, who runs an online network for home schoolers, takes notes at the state Education Department building. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
John is also the New York Coordinator of LFN

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Uriah Pissalidis, 16, a drummer from Baldwin, has played a modest concert for family with other members of his fledgling rock band.

But he hasn’t had the chance to perform before cheering crowds with his school district’s jazz or marching bands.

Because Uriah and his sister Rebecca, 12, are home-schooled, they aren’t permitted to participate in extracurricular activities in the Baldwin Union Free School District.

"It’s like pushing your nose against the glass," Uriah said. "It’s there, but you can’t get it."

Their father, Alex, 45, said he has tried for a year to get permission for his children to participate in activities, arguing that they are entitled to because he pays more than $5,000 yearly in school taxes.

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NYHEN
New York Home Educators’ Network

To support the freedom of families to educate their children at home; To improve and strengthen connections and communication among home educating families;

FUN
Fingerlakes Unschoolers Network

201 Elm St, Ithaca, NY 14850
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