Chapter 7: Students Unable to Attend School for Medical Reasons

The District will provide homebound or hospital instruction to students receiving special education and related services who are unable to attend school due to verified medical reasons that may include mental health issues.

This should not be confused with instruction in the home, which is a placement along the LRE continuum.

The student’s treating physician shall provide a statement in writing directly to the District, on a form provided by the District, which states:

1. The student’s treating physician has consulted with school health supervisory personnel and has determined that attendance at school with reasonable accommodations is not feasible;
2. The student is unable to attend school due to a verified medical reason;
3. The student’s diagnosis with supporting documentation;
4. The student will be absent from school for at least 10 consecutive school days or the student’s condition is such that the student may be required to be absent from school for short, repeated periods of time during the school year; and
5. The expected date the student will be able to return to school.⁵⁸

The District will ensure that instruction will begin no later than the 11th school day of absence from school; provided the District has received notice in writing that meets the five requirements stated above. The District may begin services earlier if it receives adequate notice prior to the student’s absence from school. If the treating physician indicates that the student cannot receive instruction while they are absent, the student’s treating physician shall determine when instruction should begin and inform the District.

The PPT will modify, if necessary, the short-term instructional objectives in the student's IEP, while also taking steps to design a program that fosters the student’s return to his or her previous level of school integration and attendance. This may be documented on the Learning Mode IEP Implementation Plan (LMIIP) which is an addendum to the IEP. Provisions for frequently monitoring the student’s progress while being provided homebound or hospital instruction shall be included in the student’s IEP.

The instruction provided will maintain the continuity of the student’s general education program, and in the case of a student with a disability, will be provided to the student such that the student can continue to participate in the general education curriculum and progress toward meeting the goals and objectives in the student’s IEP to the maximum extent appropriate. “Maintaining the continuity of the student’s general education program,” means the student will receive instruction in core academic subjects required by the District for promotion or graduation.

The minimum standards for the provision of homebound instruction are as follows:

1. For any student with a disability from three to five years of age, the amount of time determined appropriate by the PPT;
2. Not less than one hour per day or five hours per week for students in Kindergarten through sixth grade; and
3. Not less than two hours per day, or ten hours per week for students in seventh through twelfth grade.⁵⁹

The location of the instruction may be the student’s home or the hospital or other sites such as a public library, taking into consideration the student’s medical condition.

Note: These minimum standards do not apply to students whose PPT recommended Instruction in the Home.

Students Who Are Pregnant or Who Have Given Birth

In the case of a student who is pregnant or has given birth, the same guidelines apply, as to those students who are unable to attend school for medical reasons. The homebound or hospital instruction to be provided to a student who is pregnant or has given birth will enable the student to remain in school or otherwise have access to instruction and support services. The District will consider the student’s individualized needs and will provide, as appropriate, services that may include transportation, a shortened school day, counseling, modified assignments or modified class schedule.

Students with Disabilities Who Are Medically Complex

“Medically complex” refers to a student who has a serious, ongoing illness or chronic condition that requires prolonged or intermittent hospitalization, and ongoing medical treatments or medical devices to compensate for the loss of bodily functions. In the case of a medically complex student with a disability who is not able to attend school due to medical reasons, the PPT will consider and make accommodations for the student’s program to be moved from a public school to home or health care facility, including but not limited to, a hospital, psychiatric facility or rehabilitation center and back to school when the student is able to return to school. Instruction for a student with a disability who is medically complex will begin no later than the third school day of absence, provided the student is able to receive instruction.

Chapter 7 Appendix

Add supplemental documents/information here

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58. (add link to district form)
59. Where evaluative data indicates that these time requirements should be modified, instruction time may be increased or decreased upon the agreement of the parent and the District or upon a determination made by the PPT as appropriate.