6:150-AP1 Homebound/Hospital Instruction (HHI)
Guidelines:
1. Home/hospital services are provided to a student when a licensed medical physician determines that the student, will or is anticipated, due to medical condition, be out of school for 10 consecutive school days or more or on an ongoing intermittent basis totaling at least 10 days or more of absences. The two questions that must be answered within the order are as follows:
- What accommodations are required for the student to access education?
- How does the diagnosed medical condition render the child incapable of attending school in any fashion?
2. Home or hospital instruction may commence upon receipt of a completed and sufficient written physician’s statement, but instruction shall commence no later than five school days after the school district receives the completed and sufficient medical statement. The medical statement must be signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches (as determined by the Medical Practice Act of 1987) or by a PA or by an APRN. Physician orders must be submitted every 9 weeks (quarterly).
3. Special Education and related services must be implemented as part of the student’s home or hospital instruction, unless the IEP or federal Section 504 plan team determines that modifications are necessary during the home or hospital instruction due to the student’s disabling condition. Teachers who provide home/hospital instruction to students with disabilities must be certified to teach special education.
4.Section 1.520 of 23 Illinois Administrative Code requires that “the amount of instructional or related service time provided through HHI shall be determined in relation to the child’s education needs and physical and mental health needs.” It is recommended that a student without an IEP receive at least one hour of instruction each school day or five hours in each school week unless the student’s medical statement indicates that the child should not receive that many hours in a week or day.
For students with IEP’s: The IEP team for a student with disabilities shall consider the need for home or hospital services per Part 226.300 of the Special Education Administrative Rule. Such consideration shall be based upon a written statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, PA, or APRN that specifies: i. The child’s medical condition, including diagnosis; ii. The impact on the child’s ability to participate in education (the child’s physical and mental level of tolerance for receiving educational services); and iii. The anticipated duration or nature of the child’s absence from school. If an IEP team determines that home or hospital services are medically necessary, the team shall develop or revise the child’s IEP accordingly. The amount of instructional or related service time provided through the home or hospital program shall be determined in relation to the child’s educational needs and physical and mental health needs. The amount of instructional time shall not be less than five hours per week unless the physician, PA, or APRN has certified in writing that the child should not receive as many as five hours of instruction in a school week. Services required by the IEP shall be implemented as soon as possible after the district receives the physician’s statement and can be rendered before the IEP team meets and makes IEP revisions.
5. If hospital based services are provided, the district does not have responsibility to provide homebound tutoring. Educational services provided by a hospital prior to receipt (or date of) the medical statement of need are the responsibility of the hospital.
Procedures:
Updated procedures requiring parents to provide an updated Physician’s Certification every nine (9) weeks: Home instruction is the most restrictive and isolating form of instruction provided by a public school system. It is intended to be temporary in nature and not a long term placement or program for a student. All of the rich and varied experiences available to students in a school day cannot be replicated in a home instruction program. The District has added the requirement for updated information from the student’s physician to promote collaboration with the physician and others treating the student’s medical condition preventing the student from attending school in person. The District is requesting a Release of Information from the parent/guardian to streamline the communication. Through this collaboration, the educational and medical personnel supporting the student can work together to remove barriers that prevent the student from attending school. The District’s goal is to promote student attendance in school when the student is able. The district also desires to work with those treating the student’s condition to support their treatment. The District’s goal is to build a plan promoting the student attendance at school in a manner deemed appropriate by the student’s physician, treatment providers and the educational team.
1. Building obtains information/knowledge of medical conditions or treatment that will create consecutive or “ongoing intermittent” absence. Primary building contact (counselor 6-12; administrator/building nurse EC-5) communicates with the family to share the ISBE physicians form, release of information, and critical questions for comprehensive response by the treating medical provider.
- What accommodations are required for the student to access education?
- How does the diagnosed medical condition render the child incapable of attending school in any fashion?
2. Building contact submits completed physicians form and google form to district department of Student Services for review.
3. The Student Services Department reviews all documentation for completeness and approval. If additional information the building based contact will be responsible for communication with the family/physician to obtain the needed information. If the student is IEP/504 eligible, a team must formally convene a meeting and discuss the type and duration of services communicated to the district Student Services department.
4. The Student Services Department secures appropriate tutor provides the tutor with the student’s approved services, parent contact information and building contact information.
5. The student’s primary building contact notifies the attendance secretary, building nurse, and other staff with a legitimate educational interest that the student is receiving home/hospital instruction, tutor contact information, and the duration of tutoring.
6. The tutor contacts the parents to set up a time and location for tutoring. Tutoring may only take place on days when school is in session and students are in attendance (no holidays, weekends, institute days, summer, etc).
7. The tutor contacts the student’s teachers directly for instructional materials and assignments.
● The tutor will contact the building based contact should they have difficulty acquiring instructional materials.
● Should any courses need to change in the students schedule due to the duration of the homebound or nature of the course, changes will be made in collaboration with building administration.
8. The classroom teachers shall assign and record all grades and make determination of required work and assessments.. In cases of long-term homebound instruction, the team should consult with the building administrator regarding arrangements for final exams and grade recording.
9. The “primary building contact person” will notify the team when tutoring has ended.
10. The tutor forwards time-sheets and mileage reimbursement to the Student Services Department.
11. The Student Services Department will maintain documents required and adjust attendance records to notate dates of instruction received.
Date Adopted: January 11, 2012
Date Amended: July 23, 2014; September 22, 2026