Home schoolers lose special education aid; Federal mandate means public school districts won't pay for services to students with disabilities.(Main)

Byline: RICK KARLIN - Capitol bureau

ALBANY - School districts across the state will soon be ordered to stop providing special education services to home-schooled students, according to state Education Department officials who say the change is mandated by federal law.

"Some parents are going to be very concerned about it," Deputy Education Commissioner Rebecca Cort said Monday after explaining the changes to the state Board of Regents.

Because of revisions in 2004 to the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, public schools aren't supposed to pay for services to students with disabilities whose parents choose to home-school them, …