What Happens to an IEP if You Homeschool? (And Why Schools Fight Dyslexia Eligibility)

[Lisa Lightner]

I have two daughters, ages 11 (dyslexia and ADHD) and 7 (mild dyslexia; attention issues but not considered ADHD). 

 

My eldest has an IEP (obtained in late 3rd- Spring 2023/early 4th grade Fall 2023; private diagnosis of dyslexia and ADHD was done outside of school by Oct 2023-Jan 2024 to have a specific name for her struggles). When I switched from the choice school she was attending at the time of her initial IEP (who seemed to have a good reputation on paper), back to our district school, she was reading approximately 3-4 grades below level.

 

 I switched b/c the school team was dragging their feet about helping her  (Just read to her/Response to Intervention purgatory for a couple years before finally evaluating her etc., then , using weak IEP goals and interventions, while simultaneously telling me how talented and skilled they were, and 'that she was being educated by the best...she's smart, maybe she'll catch up someday...etc.' 

 

I also noticed that my youngest (who was in kindergarten at the original school) was starting to struggle a bit with reading as well, and didn't want to face a similar process with her at the choice school. 

 

I enlisted the help of a mom who was getting training in Orton Gillingham the summer of the school switch (2024), then placed her in an online private tutoring program, Dyslexia On Demand-CALT tutors; Take Flight Program, by Fall 2024. The private interventions made the most difference. I started seeing progress with her reading improving by the Fall of 2024, even with just the mom helping her in the summer. She's also done really well with the Dyslexia on Demand tutors, and has improved by several grade levels in a year with them (reading at around a 4th grade level; up from K-1st or so when we left the previous school).

 

The original school district (transfer school area), has been  slightly more helpful for my eldest ( took temporary services from pro-bono lawyer and advocate), but got her IEP  goals straightened out somewhat). I still wrestle with the schools a bit with appropriate programs, intensity, fidelity, etc. but it's a little better than the previous school. Eldest is currently in middle school in Jr Beta Club and orchestra etc., along with her core classes. 

 

I have struggled a bit more, however with advocating for my youngest. She is currently in the 2nd grade and I can't get an IEP for her. I had an advocate last year at transfer school (advocate no longer available this year, and I'm back to being gaslight more again this year).

 

In May 2024 before we transferred, I had a CALT do a dyslexia screening which indicated struggle. School evaluated her, and explained away signs of struggle on her testing, and said no IEP needed (Fall/Winter 2024). Had an IEE via the district, which also found struggle, and she received a diagnosis of mild dyslexia and attention issues (Spring of 2025; school didn't meet with me before end of year to discuss it).  

 

Fall 2025: School data and evaluations indicate poor oral reading fluency, as well, but the school team said, that because her IQ was above average, high processing speed and grades were good so far, no IEP needed (despite IEE results as well as standardized testing indicating reading struggle). 

 

I feel that time is of the essence. I'll do what I can to keep trying to get her an IEP, but I'm also looking into homeschooling. I am getting weary of wrestling to meet my girls' basic needs, being gaslit, delayed, denied, and wasting more precious time for them. I also want to customize their learning experience a bit more, improve their self esteem etc. (They often make comments about not being smart enough, and my eldest also sees a psychologist  weekly for support after her experiences at the previous school).

 

 

Question:

What happens to the IEP when one goes the homeschool route? 

 

Can my eldest still access the school (name) Club and orchestra if in homeschool? Or would we need to seek community resources for this? 

 

I look forward to your thoughts. 

[Lisa Lightner]

You are doing the work of three systems—parent, advocate, and tutor—because the school system keeps failing both of your girls. And you’re right: time really is the most critical factor for dyslexia intervention. Everything you’ve described (gaslighting, “she’s smart so she doesn’t need help,” Response-to-Intervention purgatory, private interventions doing the heavy lifting) is extremely common in dyslexia cases.

Let’s break down your actual questions, because they’re the part you can take action on right now.

What happens to an IEP when a child is homeschooled?

An IEP only applies to public school enrollment.
If you withdraw to homeschool:

• The IEP becomes inactive, not “closed” or “deleted.”

• The district still has Child Find obligations, meaning they must evaluate a homeschooled child if you request it.

• You do not receive special education services automatically while homeschooling.

• Some states allow limited services through “equitable services” plans—look at your state's regs to find what is available to you

So: If you homeschool, the IEP stops being implemented. You become the service provider. You essentially are waiving your right to FAPE.

That doesn’t mean you’re shut out of supports forever—you can always re-enroll later and the district must evaluate again.

Can your eldest still participate in "this" Club and orchestra while homeschooling?

This part varies by state and by district policy.

In Missouri:

• The state does not require districts to allow homeschooled students to participate in extracurriculars.

• Many districts do allow partial participation (especially band/orchestra), but it’s local policy, not a right.

You would need to check your district’s board policy under “homeschool participation” or “nonpublic student activities.”

If the district says no, you’d look at:

• Community orchestras

• Youth music programs at local colleges

• Church or community clubs

• Online or homeschool academic competitions

• 4-H, Scouts, or STEAM clubs

• Dyslexia-friendly book clubs or enrichment groups

Middle-school extracurriculars can be rebuilt, but you’ll want clarity before you make any decisions.

Why your youngest “doesn’t qualify” — even with an outside dyslexia diagnosis

This is another common pattern:

Schools over-rely on:

• High IQ

• Good grades

• Processing speed

• “She’s not failing”

• “She’s doing well enough”

But IDEA does not require a child to fail to qualify.
It requires:

• A disability

• AND an educational impact

The IEE showing dyslexia is educational impact. Poor oral reading fluency is educational impact. Needing 2–3 hours of private tutoring weekly is educational impact. Schools simply don’t want to open IEPs for kids who appear “bright,” because they mistakenly assume dyslexia can be outsmarted.

You are not imagining the gaslighting. You are not imagining the delays. And you are not imagining the difference private tutoring makes—because fidelity and intensity matter, and that’s exactly what schools often avoid providing.

If you homeschool now, can you return later with an IEP?

Yes.

If you re-enroll:

• You immediately request evaluations

• The district must respond within legal timelines

• Your previous IEP and IEEs still matter as data

• They cannot require you to “try RTI again” before evaluating

You are not locked out for life.

Is homeschooling the only way to get them what they need?

Not necessarily, but many dyslexia families choose it because:

• They’re already doing the tutoring

• They’re already providing the curriculum

• They’re already filling all the gaps

• They’re exhausted from fighting for basic literacy

Your youngest is getting more structured literacy at home and with private tutors than most districts ever provide.

Your eldest is thriving academically because of what you arranged outside of school—not because the school delivered structured intervention consistently.

Homeschooling may reduce the daily battles, but you’d be trading those battles for the responsibility of designing their academic roadmap.

Big picture: what you’re experiencing is a systemic failure, not a parenting failure

This is the dyslexia cycle many families fall into:

• School delays evaluation

• School minimizes results

• Child falls years behind

• Parents privately tutor

• School uses the private progress to deny services

• Child internalizes “I’m not smart enough”

• Parents become the only consistent intervention provider

• Eventually the whole system feels unsustainable

You’re not wrong to consider homeschooling. You’re also not wrong to keep pushing the district. Either path is valid; the right choice is the one that protects your girls’ mental health, self-esteem, and access to structured literacy.