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LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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ACROSS THE STATES
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Problematic question added to Form A
The Iowa Department of Education has made several changes to this year's "Form A."* The most problematic is question number 9, newly added to the "optional" section of the form. It asks whether the child "requires special education services."
If you answer "yes" to this question, officials may insist that you obtain approval from the local Area Education Agency before you homeschool. Home School Legal Defense Association recommends that you disregard question 9 entirely.
If a child needs special services, we recommend that most parents obtain these privately rather than through the school system. If private special services are not practicable for a family, however, they are entitled to special services through the school system if they dual-enroll their student. We do not recommend enrolling in a Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) to obtain access to special services, since HSAPs are public school programs and not parent-controlled home education.
Several published studies document the success parents have when they homeschool their special needs child. For many special needs children, homeschooling truly is the best choice.
— by Scott A. Woodruff
* See "A plethora of forms".
Assessment deadline confusion
The Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Clinton Community Schools sent a letter dated May 18, 2004, to all homeschool families in Clinton, asking them to report by May 27 whether their children were making adequate progress.
Since year-end assessments are due by June 30, not May 27, families operating in compliance with the homeschool law should feel free to disregard this letter. Homeschool families generally do not need to submit any information to the school district besides Form A at the beginning of the year and, if they are not using a supervising teacher, an assessment at the end of the year.
The director's letter also stated that, beginning next year, all students not working with a certified teacher "must take a standardized test." This is not correct. Families will still have the option of submitting a portfolio review.
— by Scott A. Woodruff
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