Indiana Homeschool & IEP: Special Education Services for Homeschoolers

One of Indiana’s most valuable—and least understood—special education rights is that homeschooled children can continue to access public school special education services. If your child had an IEP in public school, you can convert it to an ISP and receive free services while homeschooling. If you suspect your child has a disability, the school district must still evaluate them. Understanding these options is critical.

Key Takeaways

• Homeschooled students with disabilities can access free special education services through IEP-to-ISP conversion
• Indiana districts have a “Child Find” obligation; they must identify and evaluate students with suspected disabilities, including homeschoolers
• INESA (Indiana Education Scholarship Account) provides up to $20,000/year for special needs but requires waiving IDEA rights
• You can choose to access public school services, INESA funds, private services, or a combination depending on your child’s needs
• ISP services can include speech therapy, occupational therapy, resource support, or specialized instruction at no cost

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Understanding Indiana’s Special Education Framework

Indiana recognizes three categories of school placement:

1. Public school students: Enrolled in public school; receive IDEA services through IEP
2. Nonpublic school students: Attending private school or homeschooling; can access public school services through ISP
3. Special needs funding through INESA: Alternative to public school services; requires state contract and waiving IDEA rights

Homeschoolers fall into the nonpublic school category. This means you’re not required to have an IEP or follow special education regulations, but you can access services if you want them.

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Transitioning from Public School IEP to Homeschool ISP

The IEP-to-ISP Conversion Process

If your child is currently on an IEP in public school and you’re transitioning to homeschooling:

Step 1: Notify the school district Write to the special education director stating you’re withdrawing your child and beginning homeschooling. Mention that you’re interested in continuing services through an ISP.

Step 2: Request an ISP meeting The district is required to convert the IEP to an ISP within a reasonable timeframe (typically 30–45 days).

Step 3: ISP development The district and you will develop an Individualized Service Plan that mirrors the IEP’s goals but is structured for service delivery outside the school building (typically at your home or a neutral location).

Step 4: Service delivery decisions Together, you’ll decide:

• Which services to continue (speech, OT, PT, counseling, etc.)
• Where services will be provided (your home, the school building, community location)
• Frequency and duration of each service
• How progress will be monitored

Key Differences Between IEP and ISP

| Aspect | IEP | ISP | |——–|—–|—–| | Legal requirement | Required if in public school | Voluntary; you choose to accept services | | Curriculum | Public school curriculum applies | You design curriculum; district doesn’t mandate it | | Instruction | Public school teacher provides | Parent homeschools; district provides supplemental services | | Testing | Subject to state assessments | Not required to take state tests | | Goals | Academic and behavioral | Typically focused on specific skill areas (speech, motor skills, etc.) | | Flexibility | Follows public school calendar and structure | Flexible; you determine timing and pace |

The ISP Advantage

The ISP approach is often ideal for homeschoolers because:

• You maintain full curriculum freedom and pacing control
• You get free specialized services (speech, occupational therapy, resource support)
• You avoid state testing mandates
• Services are tailored to your homeschool schedule
• You can modify services mid-year without the bureaucratic burden of IEP amendments

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If Your Homeschooled Child Has Never Been Evaluated

Child Find Obligation

Even if your child has never attended public school, Indiana’s school districts retain a “Child Find” obligation. This means:

• Districts must actively identify children with suspected disabilities
• This includes homeschooled children in their geographic area
• You can request a free evaluation at any time

How to access evaluation:

1. Contact your local school district — ask for the special education director or Child Find coordinator
2. Express concern — explain why you suspect your child has a disability (difficulty with speech, motor skills, learning, behavior, etc.)
3. Request evaluation — ask for a comprehensive evaluation to determine if your child qualifies for services
4. No cost — evaluation is free; there’s no catch
5. No obligation — if your child qualifies, you can choose to accept or decline services

The Evaluation Process

The district will:

• Conduct assessments in suspected areas of disability (cognitive, speech-language, physical, behavioral, etc.)
• Gather information from you and other sources
• Hold an eligibility meeting to determine if your child qualifies under IDEA
• If eligible, develop an ISP with you

Timeline: From referral to eligibility determination typically takes 60–90 days.

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INESA: The Alternative to Public School Services

Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA) is a separate special education funding program specifically for students with disabilities. It’s not an IEP/ISP program; it’s a state-funded account.

How INESA Works

• Eligibility: Child with documented disability
• Amount: Up to $20,000/year for the eligible student; up to $8,000/year for siblings
• Use: Preapproved items and services only (curriculum, tutoring, therapy, assistive technology, testing, etc.)
• Contract: Requires a contract with the state specifying how funds will be used
• Flexibility: More flexibility in choosing services/items than traditional IEP services
• Tradeoff: Must waive IDEA rights—cannot receive INESA and public school special education services simultaneously

INESA vs. Public School Services: Which to Choose?

Choose ISP (public school services) if:

• You prefer free specialized services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, resource support)
• The district’s available services match your child’s needs
• You want professional evaluation and service planning from district specialists
• You’re unsure what services your child needs (the district will assess)

Choose INESA if:

• You’ve found excellent private therapists or specialized curriculum you want to fund
• You want maximum flexibility in choosing services
• You don’t want to interact with the public school system
• You’ve already identified specific needs and solutions

You cannot choose both simultaneously. If you want INESA, you must formally decline public school services and waive IDEA rights.

Applying for INESA

Contact: Indiana Department of Education www.in.gov/isdm

Application requires:

• Proof of disability (IEP, evaluation, medical diagnosis, or documentation)
• Service plan outlining how funds will be used
• Signed contract

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Special Needs Homeschooling in Indiana: Your Choices

You have more flexibility than you might realize. Here are your options:

Option 1: Public School ISP Services Only

• Evaluation through district
• ISP developed collaboratively with district
• Free specialized services (speech, OT, PT, resource support, etc.)
• Zero cost for services
• Limitation: Limited to services the district provides; you cannot customize extensively

Option 2: INESA Funding Only

• Private evaluation or district evaluation
• Self-directed service plan
• Use funds for providers and resources you choose
• $20,000/year available
• Limitation: Must waive IDEA rights; more planning/management required on your part

Option 3: Homeschool Without Public School Services

• Full curriculum freedom
• No interaction with school district
• All services/supports funded privately out of pocket
• Maximum autonomy
• Limitation: All costs fall on you

Option 4: Combination Approach (Most Common)

• Use public school ISP services for intensive needs (speech therapy if that’s a primary concern)
• Use INESA for other needs (curriculum, tutoring, assistive technology)
• Cannot do this—you can access one or the other, not both

Clarification: Indiana law currently restricts families to either ISP services or INESA, not both simultaneously. If you’re already receiving ISP services and want to add INESA, you’d need to discontinue ISP services first.

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Documentation and Your Rights as a Parent

What You Control

When homeschooling a child with special needs:

• Curriculum choices: You decide what and how to teach; ISP services supplement your instruction
• Pacing: You control the pace; the district doesn’t mandate grade-level standards
• Educational approach: You can use specialized methods (Orton-Gillingham for dyslexia, ABA for autism, etc.)
• Instruction: You’re the primary teacher; district services are supplemental

What Remains the District’s Responsibility

• Evaluation: If requested, the district must evaluate free of charge
• Service planning: The district must help develop an ISP if services are accepted
• Service delivery: The district provides the services listed in the ISP
• Progress monitoring: The district monitors progress in areas where services are provided
• Confidentiality: Special education records are protected under FERPA

Documentation Best Practices

Keep records of:

• Original IEP (if applicable)
• ISP documents
• Evaluation reports (yours and district’s)
• Service logs (dates/times services were provided)
• Communication with district
• Progress monitoring data
• Any assessment results
• Medical documentation of disability

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Resources

• IAHE (Indiana Association of Home Educators): Special needs directory and resources; www.iahe.net
• Your local school district: Contact special education director for Child Find information and ISP details
• Indiana Department of Education: www.in.gov/isdm — INESA program information
• Indiana Department of Education OSHS: Office of Special Education and High School Services
• HSLDA: National legal organization with Indiana-specific special education resources for homeschoolers

The key principle: Indiana law gives you significant freedom to homeschool children with special needs while also accessing public school services. You get to choose which combination of supports works best for your child. That flexibility is valuable.