[sonya47]

My DH and I have been considering homeschooling our children and wanted to know if we are allowed to homeschool foster children.
Does anyone else homeschool?

[jphollen]

I am actually in IL, you can't homeschool foster children here and in most cases you can't use private school either even if you pay for it yourself. You can do either for your adopted children.

Just in case there isn't a MO poster to get back to you...You could call your agency and ask for the state education regs. Our agency has one cw who is the educational contact person. Maybe your agency has one of those too?

[Becki_in_IN]

No, you can't HS foster kids in IN. I did know a family that got permission back in the early 90's to do it, but they were close to adopting these kids. And frankly would it really be the best for them iIf they're going back home?

BTW, I'm a big HS advocate. My girls were HS for years when they were little. I even tried to get permission from the state to HS our first foster dd, but it was denied.

[Sonialei77]

Hi Becky,

Maybe you'd be able to help me out... IN never let me HS while they were still fosters, but I'd seriously like to do HS my son who has ODD,RAD,ADHD.

He is struggling in school and is actually a very bright kid but is so easily distracted, and defies any kind of instruction! I'm fortunate to work from home so I'm able to go when called from school but after making 4 visits before lunchtime, I'm ready to tear my hair out and ask myself why the school staff can't deal with it.

He's currently (and has been since last yr) in the Behavior unit which is the most restricted area in school and although he is allowed to socialize with the other kids, he is easily ticked and his rages begin and work gets thrown in the garbage.

We were told our son would never read and did so over the weekend with us... but refuses to do it at school, even after being told that he'd fail this yr if he continued to refuse to cooperate... so I'm thinking HS is our only other option.

[Becki_in_IN]

Sorry, I didn't get an email of your post and haven't been over here for awhile.

I won't lie to you. HS kids with issues is tough. There's a chance it won't get better at home. You have to think outside the box, let things slide off your back, and not take it personally. You won't fix all his educatinal problems at home.

My eldest just came back home. She doesn't have the learning problems that my youngest dd has, but does have a lot mental health type issues. She's smart, but could not stay focused on why she was at junior high. Her grades went down the tubes. If she had gotten a grade in friends and boys then her grades would have been stellar. KWIM She was warned at the end of the 1st 9 weeks and she chose not to do what needs to be done so she is back home. She has a pretty good attutude which is major for a kid with RAD inhibitive, but she is still trying hard not to work. It's too bad, but you just can't always fix it all.