IEPs: CAN WE USE IEP FOR ONLINE SCHOOL?

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Gael:  My son’s IEP hasn’t been updated in months. He recently finished up his first semester of his sophomore year thru an online school. We can no longer afford the online school but do not want to send him back to public school where they were failing him miserably. We also had a long commute from home to high school. We would like to enroll him in a free online school thru the CA public school system (CAVA) but the county is not “eligible”. What options are available to us? Can we use his IEP to help gain or leverage a way into the free online school or something better than the public school? Thanks for any help or insight!!!

  1. My child’s virtual school model puts a lot of responsibility on the student and the families. Which sounded great upon enrollment, but I am realizing I am not very good as a “learning coach”. I’ve been doing some reading that because of this virtual schools are not always the best fit, and I am considering different options. But before a total school change, would it be reasonable to request the school provide a learning coach?

    • Most online schools are built the idea families will help out as learning coaches. You could request a virtual aide to help your student check in with, and I’ve seen some families find a neighbor or family member who will take over the role. I’ve even seen some hire out.

  2. Hello! I’m wanting to my son to stay home full time and do the online schooling through his SCHOOL DISTRICT. I was informed, if we chose this option, his IEP services will be stopped. Is this legal??? I’m in Colorado

  3. Hello everyone,
    Anyone have any recommendations for a good online high school,affordable, that works with kids on the IEP with depression and anxiety? So many and not finding any that will work. Help much appreciated!

  4. I also have an IEP son is a sophomore and has gone through a lot with this school district from being bullied to recently being a fight with a football player and was videotaped for the football player and everybody was videotaping him pound my son’s head in over 10 times very Visual and graphic very bad to where everybody saw it he will not go back to school and this is been going on for over 5 years and they still haven’t solved it will not go to school and is dramatically starting to fall behind this is a very smart child and I would like some advice we are in Orange County California any help on online IEP school high school start ASAP

  5. Hi my daughter is about to have a 504 plan per Dr request. She is currently being tested for an iep. She has failed all her core classes due to a learning disability. She has became majorly depressed and is being treated for the depression. I’m happy ingredients trouble getting her to return to school. If the iep is opened. Will the school be required to do online classes if I request through the iep? I have talked to the BOE and they claim there is no online available and have no clue what I’m talking about.

  6. Gael –

    You can certainly ask for your local district to pay for the virtual school, as a means of providing your son with a ” free appropriate public education” (FAPE). I see online learning routinely included in student’s IEPs.

    Like any thing we “ask” of the school, the likelihood of making this happen depends on your ability to advocate for your son and willingness to stick with the “fight.”

    From Emotions to Advocacy has some great sample letters and advice that can certainly help you out with this (https://www.wrightslaw.com/store/feta2.sm.store.html).

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