Using public school speech services

[ceridwen]

I'm hoping someone can answer my question (I've also posted this in Legal Issues). My 7-yr-old homeschooled daughter has stuttered since the age of 3 1/2. In 2004 she received speech therapy at the local public elementary school. Last year we decided to bring her to a private speech clinic (Dearborn Speech and Sensory). My husband would like to save money this year by bringing her back to the elementary school for therapy; however, when I talked to the Speech Services person at the district Admin. Building, she said we would need to register with the state of Michigan as home schoolers before they help us. We did not have to do this two years ago, so I am skeptical about her !!!!. She didn't have any idea if the laws have changed, but !!!! me that "their lawyers" have told her this is the way things are. We're in Van Buren Township; my daughter would be receiving services at Savage Elementary (Belleville).

Can anyone here help?

[dean]

I would call HSLDA for a letter on this one. There is no requirement to register in Michigan, but they have some loophole that makes you register to use the services.

See: http://inch.org/joining/

or

http://www.hslda.org/

[purplemommy]

Two years ago would have put your child under the compulsory school age -- which, I believe, is 6 in MI. You can register with the state, and if you have other children, you would just register the one getting services. We did this for the past two years and received absolutely no problems from the state. I must, however, add that public school speech therapy is far inferior to that which you will receive in the private sector.
_________________
Blessings to you!
Ruthanne

[SillyYakMom]

I live in Jackson County. Our school district does requires that a family registers with the state in order to receive special ed/speech services. I can say that having used both public school and private therapists that the therapist he has now with the public school far surpasses what he received in the past with a private therapist we paid. It all depends on the individual speech therapist. I am so thankful for the therapist we have now. My 10 y.o. has been in speech since age 4. I do not have a problem registering with the state personally. The individual school gets funding to pay for his services that way.