Do you always have to buy curriculums or are you able to create your own?

Question

IS it legal to home school starting mid-year in a public school? Also, I have an eight year old learning disabled child currently in an IEP program.(learning nothing) and a seven year old on a 3.5 grade level. Could I teach both children on a third grade level?

Answer 1

Check your state's laws at HSLDA. Some have approved curriculum lists (or else you have to get approval of your curriculum from the local school district), but many don't have this limitation, which allows you to choose whatever curriculum you desire.

As long as they're both able to handle the work and are being challenged, I see no reason not to keep them both at the same level. I wish I could do that with my two, but, alas, they're 5 years apart!

Answer 2

I think you need to google your state's education department to find out what you can and can't do legally. Each state is in control of the educational systems for that state and the state controls the home schooling programs as well. I am not surprised that your disabled child is learning nothing if s/he goes to a public school. I was amazed at how special ed worked in reality when I taught and how many times an IEP did not include the family as it is supposed to. I would imagine that you could teach both on the third grade level so long as you disabled child is meeting the benchmarks. I have the number for the Parent Education Network: 800-522-5827. If they can't give you the answers, they may be able to send you to someone who can. I also have a number for the Bureau of Special Education ConsultLine: 800-879-2301. I am in Pennsylvania so they may only be talking about Pennsylvania, but they still may be able to answer some questions.

Answer 3

Ok... I want to answer this question using the California laws... but go to the HSLDA website to make sure about the curriculum question in your state. In California, you are not required to submit any of your curriculum plans to anyone. So.. that means you are free to do what is called a unit study. Konos is a curriculum that you can buy to help you set up a non-curriculum school... pretty funny, but still good! A unit study is where you decide that in November you are going to study pilgrims. You go to the library and buy pilgrim history, pilgrim novels, pilgrim cookbooks and then look for crafts regarding pilgrims. You have your history, reading, art and homecrafts taken care of. Then you decide that you want to do pilgrim math. You have your child draw a pilgrim village... to scale... then walk out one of the buildings in your yard/park to see how big that would really be. You map out Jamestown and calculate distances and dimensions. You do the same for England and Holland... calculate ship time. You cook using only measuring devices pilgrims would have had. You also do your regular math facts... to keep fresh. You check out pilgrim movies to watch... see how this works? You assign a pilgrim diary every day and then write a letter to Grandma pretending to be a pilgrim. It is alot of work for you, the teacher... but alot of fun!

In California, Special needs kids can be on whatever level they need to be on to progress within their needs. An IEP... a goal of achievement... can really help... teach what you can... teach what this child needs... let it go if the child can't do it.