School and IEP (US only)

📚 School Information 📚

IEP & Homeschool Informational Post‼️

💒 Individualized Education Program (IEP)

If you have a child with special needs an IEP will help both you and the school ensure your child's educational success. Contact the school directly to request a meeting to establish the IEP. The IEP should act as a road map to direct the education team in following the appropriate routes to follow.

⚖ Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), your child is entitled to a “free appropriate public education” in the “least restrictive environment.”

💼 Information from the diagnosis, doctors, therapists, and caregivers/daycare, as well as the school evaluation should all be considered when building the IEP. Things that could be included to help ensure your child's educational needs are met:

• Incontinence needs

• Medication

• Therapy needs

• Behavioral concerns

• Extra time:

• assignments

• restroom breaks

• eating

😤 If the school rejects your request for an IEP, you will want to contact an attorney or an advocate to assist you‼️

📋 IEP Timeline/Steps

1. Request evaluation to determine eligibility

2. Prepare for evaluation

3. The evaluation

4. Prepare for the initial IEP meeting

5. Initial IEP meeting

6. Review/modify IEP

7. Monitor/dispute IEP

8. Annual IEP meeting/update

📒 Here's a link to a guide that has very helpful information about the entire process:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/.../guide-individualized...

🏡 Homeschool There are many different ways to accomplish homeschooling and the requirements vary state to state. Here are some different ways parents homeschool: - Some parents purchase homeschooling kits from companies like Calvert Education or K12 Inc - Taking courses provided by a public school. They may do all classes online, or they may complete a few courses within a classroom - Some private schools run online-only programs for their students - Run traditional classrooms on standard timetables (designated learning space, work on their lessons all day with a short break for lunch, or break up classroom time with plenty of outings) - Run non traditional classes and use a variety of curriculum sources such as online learning and work/textbooks - Unschooling is a style of home education that allows the student's interests and curiosities to drive the path of learning. Rather than using a defined curriculum, unschoolers trust children to gain knowledge organically. --------------------------------- 🏠 When homeschooling, you have a lot of flexibility and options for how to measure progress. The best way to assess progress for kids on the spectrum may not be with tests, grades, and report cards. So, here are some other options: ◾Progress Through a Curriculum ▫️There are many options for curriculum that you can purchase, but you can also put together your own curriculum by making individual lessons and activities. ◾ Portfolio Assessment ▫️a portfolio is a collection of samples of your child's school work and activities for the year. A portfolio can give a visual overview of what you've learned, and can even be like a scrapbook of your memories for that year. It could be fun and educational for your child to participate in putting together the portfolio as well. Some items you might include in the portfolio are: ▫️ Basic information: Your child's name, date of birth, and the dates of the beginning and ending of your school year. ▫️ Samples of your child's work for each subject area, put in chronological order (from the start of year to the end of the year). ▫️Samples of your child's work that reflect growth. You don't have to choose only your child's best work. You want your portfolio to show growth through the year, so choose work that demonstrates this. ▫️ Logs of what your child worked on (can be daily or weekly). ▫️ Lists and descriptions of field trips and extracurricular activities, including photos of your child participating in these activities. ▫️Any legal documents required by your state, such as medical records. 🔺️ NOTE: Please check with a local homeschooling organization in your area to find out if your state requires any other specific documents to be in your portfolio. --------------------------------- 💒 Make a Homeschool IEP - You can create your own homeschool IEP for your child for any subject. This is a written document that contains your child's current skill levels (present levels of performance), goals for the school year, and which special education and related services that you child will receive. You can apply this to your homeschool by setting goals for your child for the school year. If your child is receiving any other services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy or lessons, etc., you can list them in your IEP and portfolio. Make sure to list how often your child receives each service (for example, one 60 minute session per week). --------------------------------- 🌟 Additional information: [https://www.elemy.com/.../homeschooling-pros-and-cons/...](https://www.elemy.com/studio/autism-and-education/homeschooling-pros-and-cons/?fbclid=IwAR1Z5l6c17ALXUOJiYoClpo-ZY1_BgM1YZ_NV-2EYZFOYfxI7KjMdrzdiE8#:~:text=A%20homeschool%20autism%20program%20puts,their%20education%20on%20all%20fronts) [https://www.autismhomeschoolsuccess.com/](https://www.autismhomeschoolsuccess.com/?fbclid=IwAR2HOxZ7N2yg0szIvTM7EmRjduXO9gVYBFJZUwvxccsqTtpV53e43s3nZwo) --------------------------------- 🏛 In most states, parents must demonstrate that their children are learning and progressing toward defined goals. Test scores and similar benchmarks offer proof that the lessons work. These requirements vary, and some have very lax rules. --------------------------------- ⚖ To check your state homeschool laws: [http://HSLDA.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FHSLDA.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0cF8MXRWj_cyj41gVXTcCV7C7zynCluyev_T8IJ8UALxSYEYmzEEShilE&h=AT3dFJTdOGiokqcW2gwa2LlAZF7yrLbg1eA_NT-UaLEfxXFm4tuVI5j_hkCfB1y9sCqW3HUnYjLNOcKCrvXzgJ60OIFp28sbzNXEbDWrctI5I6assgyAbc-TuGYSE4J6ujPN&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0uwZK0DWYVGDy2awPdyzllPa171IuDxXsa1Jd9fSY3aX2Wkqo7Ns0NWx13R0JkCSf7WmVW6oQmDR62gf09sn2LfL7JuCuqkL8LJmw7E-11KOL8-UkUzLmWmaGFEwzaSCzvc9r-TyJI9HJaQPcff0QtfVChhuj3cgd-HBg) [#school](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/school?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXZsTulZy2uneEu5UTY8JEJw4I5ZFFkL135DUJVhD8ktbDRH5Ye1Lz1jVm23At0J7vz6JvRSMVySg2UrgB4eB8mm8r6zAkaVwnJWNseTzgyfT_r94M27tBqA4eWGiGzCtJ-a2kbkf6o7bZ56azH17EE&__tn__=*NK-R) [#Homeschool](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/homeschool?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXZsTulZy2uneEu5UTY8JEJw4I5ZFFkL135DUJVhD8ktbDRH5Ye1Lz1jVm23At0J7vz6JvRSMVySg2UrgB4eB8mm8r6zAkaVwnJWNseTzgyfT_r94M27tBqA4eWGiGzCtJ-a2kbkf6o7bZ56azH17EE&__tn__=*NK-R) [#iep](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iep?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXZsTulZy2uneEu5UTY8JEJw4I5ZFFkL135DUJVhD8ktbDRH5Ye1Lz1jVm23At0J7vz6JvRSMVySg2UrgB4eB8mm8r6zAkaVwnJWNseTzgyfT_r94M27tBqA4eWGiGzCtJ-a2kbkf6o7bZ56azH17EE&__tn__=*NK-R)