DISTRICT LETTERHEAD

Date: [ ]

Re: Special Education Services for Students with Disabilities who are Home Schooled

Dear [PARENT NAME]:

According to our records, I understand that you have filed an Individual Home Instruction Plan (“IHIP”) with the Superintendent for the 2008-2009 school year. Because my records also indicate that your child has been identified as a child with a disability under Part 200 of the Commissioner’s regulations, I write to advise you that Governor Paterson just signed a new law which returns special education services to children whose parents elect to home school them. The new state law provides that children with disabilities who are home schooled have the same rights and protections the New York State Legislature provided to children placed by their parents in nonpublic schools. I have enclosed a copy of the legislation for your review.

If you are planning to home school your child next year and wish to secure special education services from the District, the new law requires that you notify your District in writing no later than August 7 2008. If you are interested, I urge you to send your notice to me as soon as possible so that we can begin the process. Even if we previously developed an IEP for your child for next year, you will need to complete a request if you are home schooling your child and seeking special education services.

In order to simplify the process, I enclose a Request Form for your signature. If you are interested in securing services for your child and have submitted an IHIP to the Superintendent for review, please sign and return it to me as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. As soon as we receive your request, we will be contacting you to convene a meeting, to the extent necessary, to develop a plan for the 2008-2009 school year.

Sincerely,

CSE Chair

Enc.: Chapter 217 of the Laws of 2008

DISTRICT LETTERHEAD

REQUEST FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Please complete the form below and return to me at the address listed above

As the parent of ___________________ who has filed an IHIP with the Superintendent for

[Name of Student]

review and approval for the 2008-2009 school, I request that my School District arrange to

provide him/her with special education services in accordance with New York State law.

____________________________ ________________________

Signature Date

____________________________

Name (Print)

____________________________

Address

____________________________

City

____________________________

Daytime Telephone Number

Home Instruction Plan Filed (Please check as appropriate)

_____ Yes If yes, please include date: ___________________

_____ No