Homeschooling a Child with an IEP in North Carolina

This is general guidance based on North Carolina law. For your specific IEP, consult a special education advocate.

Having an IEP doesn't mean you can't homeschool in North Carolina. You absolutely can. Here's what you need to know about services, rights, and the withdrawal process.

What happens to your child's services

ESA / scholarship available

PESA program provides $9,000-$17,000 for students with disabilities. Homeschool eligible. Requires Eligibility Determination from NC public school.

North Carolina does not guarantee special education services for homeschooled students, but your district must evaluate your child under Child Find. Contact your local Exceptional Children's Program office to discuss available services. The NC PESA program may help fund private therapies.

No specific provision in NC homeschool law for special needs students. Homeschools classified as nonpublic schools per NCGS 115C-563.

Federal protections

✓Child Find: Your district must evaluate your child for disabilities if you request it, even while homeschooling.
✓Proportionate share: The district must set aside a share of federal special education funding for children in private schools, including homeschools.

Primary source: NC GS Article 41, Session Law 2017-57 (PESA)

How to access services while homeschooling

✓

Child Find evaluation

Districts must identify and evaluate children suspected of having disabilities.

How to request: Contact your local Exceptional Children's Program office.

IDEA — 20 USC 1412(a)(3); 34 CFR 300.111

✓

Equitable services (IDEA proportionate share)

As nonpublic school students, homeschoolers may access proportionate share services.

How to request: Contact your local school district's Exceptional Children's Program office.

IDEA — 20 USC 1412(a)(10)(A); 34 CFR 300.130-144

Dual enrollment for services

Availability varies by district. No statewide statutory right.

Therapy access

Speech therapy:: May be available through district proportionate share or PESA program
Occupational therapy:: Through private providers or PESA program
Behavioral therapy:: Through private providers or PESA program

NC PESA covers speech therapy, tutoring, educational technology. Students with documented disabilities may qualify for additional PESA support.

Where services are typically delivered: Location varies (school, home, or another setting depending on the service)

Before you withdraw: step by step

These are the steps we recommend before withdrawing from North Carolina public schools.

1
Obtain Eligibility Determination document from public school (required for PESA)
2
Apply for PESA during priority window (February 1 - March 1)
3
Request copies of all IEP documents and evaluations
4
File Notice of Intent with Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)

Important deadline: PESA priority application: February 1 - March 1. Rolling after.

Starting mid-year? Obtain the Eligibility Determination document BEFORE withdrawing — this is required for PESA applications and may be harder to obtain after withdrawal.

If you want to re-enroll

Homeschooling is not a one-way door. Your child can re-enroll in public school at any time.

In North Carolina: 90 calendar days from written referral to complete evaluation, IEP meeting, and eligibility determination

New evaluation needed? It depends on how long you've been homeschooling and how recent the last evaluation is.

Keep copies of all IEP documents, evaluations, and progress reports. You'll need these if you re-enroll.

Who to call

You don't have to navigate this alone. These organizations help families with special education questions.

Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC)

877-235-4210 · disabilityrightsnc.org

State disability rights organization

ECAC (Exceptional Children's Assistance Center)

800-962-6817 · ecac-parentcenter.org

Parent training and information center

COPAA

copaa.org · Find a special education attorney near you

Wrightslaw

wrightslaw.com · Special education law encyclopedia

Common questions

Can I homeschool a child with an IEP in North Carolina?

Yes. Parents in North Carolina have the right to withdraw their child from public school regardless of disability status. No IEP team can block your withdrawal. However, the IEP itself typically does not transfer to the home setting. Run our free wizard to see exactly what services are available in North Carolina.

What happens to my child's IEP when I start homeschooling in North Carolina?

In most cases, the IEP, which is a contract between your family and the school district, ends when you withdraw. However, federal Child Find obligations still apply, meaning the district must evaluate your child if requested. Some states offer additional protections. Use our wizard to see North Carolina's specific provisions.

Can my child still get therapy through the school if we homeschool in North Carolina?

It depends on North Carolina's laws. Under federal IDEA, districts must set aside proportionate share funding for children in private schools (including homeschools), but this doesn't guarantee specific services. Some states go further with mandatory part-time enrollment, ESA programs, or scholarship funding. Check our full guide for details.

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Requirements sourced from N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026