Nebraska
Special Needs Concerns
In an effort to locate school age children with special needs, one Nebraska school district placed an advertisement in a local newspaper. HSLDA has seen such “child find” methods used around the country and these ads can be unnerving to home schoolers.
In this case, the advertisement offered testing and evaluation for any child suspected of having learning problems or special needs. Some people perceive this as a good thing, looking out for the welfare of children in the community. Others find it an invasion of privacy.
But the burning question is “What happens if one of my children is reported to the school district as having special needs? Am I legally obliged to present my child for testing and evaluation?” The answer is “No.”
While the public school has a mandate to locate children with special needs and “offer” services, parents are not obliged to have their child tested or accept public school services.
Member families concerned that their child may have special needs and/or learning disabilities may be able to find local private resources for testing and evaluation. If you need some counsel in this area, contact HSLDA’s Special Needs Coordinator, Betty Statnick. — J. Michael Smith
HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION
