Services for Homeschooled/Private School Students with Disabilities

Dear Parents/Guardians,

You are receiving this letter because you are a parent/guardian of a homeschooled or parentally placed private school student who attends school in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The purpose of this letter is to clarify the role of the Fort Mill Schools Office of Special Services in your child’s continued education.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that districts allow homeschooled or parentally placed private school students to participate equitably in IDEA programs. The IDEA also requires that districts spend a proportionate share of funding on homeschooled or parentally placed private school students. Therefore, the Fort Mill Schools has an obligation to provide your homeschooled or private school students with disabilities the opportunity to participate equitably in certain services.

Based on the district’s annual consultation with homeschool and private school associations, the Fort Mill Schools Office of Special Services has determined that the following related services will be made available to our population of homeschooled or parentally placed private school students during the current school year: mental health counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech/language therapy.

If your child received the above related services through his/her previous Individualized Education Plan (IEP), he/she may be eligible to receive those services as a homeschooled/parentally placed private school student through an Individualized Service Plan (ISP). Please be advised that district funds to provide these services are available to the extent consistent with the number and location of all children with disabilities enrolled in homeschool programs or private schools throughout the district.

If you are interested in pursuing an ISP for your child to receive related services through the Fort Mill Schools at a Fort Mill Schools site, please contact the Director of Psychological & Related Services in the Office of Special Services at #(803) 548-2527 within 10 days of your child’s withdrawal date. Best wishes for a successful school year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Amy Maziarz

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