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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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OK moms...
What is the current stance of the state of OK Education department on public schools and homeschoolers? I have four children in speech therapy right now, but it is an hour's drive each way (and you know how expensive gas is getting). Two of my children are school aged. The local schools say that they are *not* required to provide therapy for homeschooled children.
I know in NC, it was policy that it didn't matter how you were schooled, you were provided services.
I am trying to find this out asap. If any of you have any information for me, I'd appreciate it.
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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Courtney
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Hi, Rachel. I found this on HSLDA's website
Oklahoma
There are no additional requirements for homeschool students with special needs. In addition, there is no policy which allows homeschool students to obtain special education funding.
I know in Texas, the state views homeschooling as a private school, and private school students are eligible for services...therefore hs are as well. When I was a speech path in Houston schools, I did treat private schooled and homeschooled students for speech. After 1997, the state changed the law to state that the public schools no longer had to treat students outside of the public school. I don't know when, but they have obviously changed the law back to providing for all students that live within the district. It only seems right sense we pay the same property tax and school taxes as everyone else. I'm sorry to see OK doesn't. Here's the link to where I found the info.
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Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94 
Mom to Candace 10/97 ,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 4:44pm | IP Logged
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Thank you, Courtney.
I'd not thought yet to search the HSLDA website, but I was about to head there.
It is very frustrating because we were able to use the public services in NC, and here, no...
Oh well. I'm not gonna put the children into ps just for the speech therapy...
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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How frustrating.
You might consider approaching the speech therapists at the school to see if they'd do private therapy.. the additional cost between someone local doing it and driving to do it might only be the amount of gas but you'd also save that time.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 18 2011 at 12:47pm | IP Logged
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Well, insurance will cover the therapists that they will cover. And that's it. Unfortunately, there are none closer than an hour away (each way). We've got two kinds of insurance (DH is retired military, plus we've got his civilian job), so we're not paying a dime out of pocket other than gas for the therapy. But if we went with someone local, who wasn't on either of our insurance coverages....well, obviously, that would change.
I know it seems like I am complaining about "pennies" compared to how much therapy costs, but really, we can use every penny we can these days (as so many others can, as well). It's a half tank of gas, just about, for one week's therapy sessions, and that isn't terribly cheap.
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
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MarieC
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If you have a flexible spending account you can get travel expenses/mileage reimbursed. At least you're buying gas with pre-tax money!
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Marie
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 19 2011 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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No such luck, Marie. Unfortunately, with BCBS of OK, and Tricare...ah, no. LOL.
Its particularly galling, cause the local schools are both within 5 miles of us. At most a ten minute drive.
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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JodieLyn
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a flexible spending account is seperate from other insurance.. it's through the employer so that some of your paycheck goes there before they take out taxes.. and then you can use it for medical stuff without paying taxes.. of course you can also list your medical expenses on your taxes and get some tax relief that way too.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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stellamaris
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| Posted: Jan 19 2011 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
How frustrating.
You might consider approaching the speech therapists at the school to see if they'd do private therapy.. the additional cost between someone local doing it and driving to do it might only be the amount of gas but you'd also save that time. |
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This can work out well. I have done this in the past for both language therapy and special education instruction. I just asked the therapists at school that I liked if they could come to the house and I could pay them. They have to come after school hours or on weekends, but if they are willing, it can be a positive experience. I always tried to be sure things were pretty well picked up, etc., just so that I didn't give them a negative impression of homeschoolers, so that put a tiny bit of extra pressure into the situation (as opposed to going somewhere outside the home).
ETA: I read on after I wrote this and saw that you are trying to keep the costs down. This arrangement probably won't work for you. I paid full price for the therapist for each hour of therapy and insurance did NOT cover it. Maybe you could reduce the cost by having the therapist combine 2 or more children at once?
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Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 19 2011 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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Well, the most severe of the problems, with the twins, takes one on one. And ideally, they'd be getting therapy more than once a week. That'd add to the costs immensely. The older of the two (dds #2 and #3), aren't as bad, but still need the help...so I'm kind of in a bind. And I certainly cannot afford therapy at home. Full price is waaayyy more than I can afford now.
That's a great idea, and if I only had one in, I might be interested in it more...but when each days' therapy for all four, runs me over $250... 
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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Topic: Speech therapy, homeschooling, and OK
