That’s a sticky area isn’t it? In fact one of the ‘battle cries’ here on FR is that pulling your child from the public schools starves the system of needed funds, therefore possibly causing the system to eventually implode. But then, when funds aren’t available for special needs, folks want to know why their tax dollars aren’t being used for this when their kids aren’t enrolled.
We don’t homeschool to starve the school system. We homeschool because it works best for our children.
But, it is a sticky situation because homeschool parents are stuck with paying into a system they don’t want to use.
Here in my state, even though we pay the highest property tax rates in the nation, homeschoolers warn each other not to use public school services. There are no regulations here, so, as the thinking goes, why invite intrusion?
But - and here’s the key point I keep making - in New York, homeschoolers not only pay school taxes, they’re required by law to report to the public schools. They must report to the superintendent, file forms and test with the district, and follow a schedule established by the state, or risk “probation”. So, New York goes “above and beyond” in its homeschool regulations, too.
From the point of view of a homeschooler living in absolute freedom, there is no homeschooling in NY. All children in NY are wards of the state. NY homeschoolers are forced to use the public school system.
That’s why it’s not right: NY forces them into school for reports, tests, etc., but then turns around and denies access to special ed services.