If the caregiver wants to educate the child in the home, the regional education specialist must review the proposed home schooling program to determine whether

 •  it meets the child's academic and social needs and goals;

 •  it is consistent with the federal requirement that a child remain in the school the child was attending at the time of removal or placement change unless it is not in the child’s best interests to remain; and,

 •  for a child who receives special education services, whether the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be carried out in the home environment.

Review of the Proposed Home School Program

The regional education specialist must review the proposed home school program to determine if it meets the child’s academic and social needs and goals.

If the home school program meets the child’s academic and social needs and goals, the regional education specialist documents the decision to allow the schooling in the home environment and notify the caseworker.

If the proposed home school program does not meet the child’s academic and social needs, the regional education specialist notifies the CVS program director to direct the caseworker to request a court hearing to ask the court to issue findings that the child must be enrolled in the local public school.

Review of the Home School Environment and School Stability

The regional education specialist must review and determine whether education in the home environment is consistent with the federal requirement that a child remain in the school the child was attending at the time of removal or placement change unless it is not in the child’s best interests to remain.

If the regional education specialist determines that the school change would not meet federal requirements and be in the child’s best interests, the regional education specialist forwards the recommendation to the CVS program director for final decision. If the CVS program director agrees, the PD directs the caseworker to enroll the child in the school the child was attending at the time of removal.

Review of the Proposed Home School Program for a Child Receiving Special Education Services

The regional education specialist must review the proposed home school program for a child who receives special education services and determine whether the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be carried out in the home environment.

If the IEP cannot be carried out in the home environment, the regional education specialist forwards the recommendation for a school setting appropriate for the IEP to the regional CVS program director for a final decision. If the CVS program director agrees, the PD directs the caseworker to enroll the child in the local public school in order to implement the child’s IEP.

For more information, see the Education for Children Resource Guide, under Education in a Home Setting.