Homeschooling a Child with an IEP in Ohio

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

Having an IEP doesn't mean you can't homeschool in Ohio. 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

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship ($10,045-$34,000) and Autism Scholarship ($32,445) available to homeschoolers. District must provide IEP for scholarship purposes.

Ohio's Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship ($10,045-$34,000/year) is available to homeschooled students and is one of the most generous programs in the country. Your district must provide an evaluation and IEP (required for eligibility). The Autism Scholarship provides $32,445/year.

Parents who withdraw are generally not entitled to continue receiving services. The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship provides an alternative funding mechanism.

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: ORC 3310.52 (JPSN), ORC 3321.042

How to access services while homeschooling

✓

Child Find evaluation

Required for Jon Peterson Scholarship eligibility. Districts must evaluate children suspected of having disabilities.

How to request: Submit a written request to your local school district's special education department.

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

✓

Equitable services (Jon Peterson Scholarship)

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship provides funding for educational services from approved providers.

How to request: Contact your local school district for evaluation and IEP (required for scholarship eligibility).

ORC 3310.51 et seq.

Dual enrollment for services

Not a statutory right for special education specifically.

Therapy access

Speech therapy:: Available through Jon Peterson Scholarship from approved providers
Occupational therapy:: Available through Jon Peterson Scholarship from approved providers
Behavioral therapy:: Available through Jon Peterson or Autism Scholarship from approved providers

Jon Peterson: $10,045-$34,000/year. Autism Scholarship: $32,445/year. Both available to homeschoolers. Student must have current IEP from local district.

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 Ohio public schools.

1
Obtain current ETR and finalized IEP from district (required for scholarships)
2
Notify superintendent within 5 calendar days of commencing home education
3
Apply for Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship through Parent Portal
4
Find a participating JPSN provider through the Scholarship Provider Directory

Important deadline: JPSN: year-round (no fixed deadline). Renewal begins February 1. Home ed notification within 5 calendar days.

Starting mid-year? Obtain a current ETR (Evaluation Team Report) and finalized IEP BEFORE withdrawing — both are required for JPSN and Autism Scholarship eligibility.

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 Ohio: 30 days from receipt of prior evaluation to accept or conduct reevaluation

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

District must maintain IEP for scholarship purposes even during homeschooling.

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

Know your rights

Some districts push back when families withdraw children with IEPs. Here's what Ohio families have encountered and what the law actually says.

The district says: “We don't have to provide an IEP for homeschooled students”

The law says: The district IS responsible for child find, evaluation (ETR), and IEP development for homeschooled students. Required for JPSN and Autism Scholarship eligibility.

What to do: Cite ORC 3310.52 and request a referral for evaluation.

Who to call

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

Disability Rights Ohio

800-282-9181 · disabilityrightsohio.org

State disability rights organization

OCECD (Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities)

844-382-5452 · ocecd.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 Ohio?

Yes. Parents in Ohio 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 Ohio.

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

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 Ohio's specific provisions.

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

It depends on Ohio'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 ORC 3321.04; ORC 3321.042. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026