Homebound Education State-by-State Comparison

Alabama

Same as Special Education or Related Services Personnel

Same as Special Education or Related Services Personnel

Same as Classroom Teachers

Amount of instruction determined by school personnel in relation to each student’s educa-tional needs, physical and mental health, and the availability of teachers for the program.

IEP Team decides based on report from attending physician or psychologist, certifying severity of the condition prevents the pupil from attending less restrictive placement. Report must include a projected return to school.

Student is unable to spend full time in school. Verification of absence due to illness or disability shall be made by a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in Colorado.

Absence will be at least three weeks and: (1) Physician certifies child unable to attend school for medical reasons along with projected date of return; or

(2) Student has disability of such severity it prevents child from safely learning in a school setting; or

(3) Special Ed. program recommendation is pending and the child was home at the time of referral; or

(4) The child is pregnant or has given birth and a physician certifies homebound is in the child’s best interest for a specified period of time.

1. IEP Team may provide homebound in lieu of present placement if child with a disability is a danger to self or is so disruptive that behavior substantially interferes with learning of other children; or

2. Absence due to medical condition requires documentation by a physician, absence will be for two weeks or longer; or

3. absence due to severe adjustment problem requires documentation IEP team, that includes a licensed or certified school psychologist or psychiatrist, that such placement is necessary and temporary; or

4. for transitional in-school program, IEP team must document necessity for an orderly return to the educational program.

Same as Special Education or Related Services Personnel

(a) Certification by a licensed physician that the student is expected to be absent from school due to a physical or mental condition for at least (15) consecutive school days, or due to a chronic condition for at least (15) school days, which need not run consecutively, and will be able to participate in and benefit from an instructional program; and

(b) Student is under medical care for illness or injury, which is acute or catastrophic in nature; and

(c) Certification by a licensed physician that the student can receive an instructional program without endangering the health of the instructor or other students with whom the instructor may come in contact; and

(d) Student is enrolled in a public school prior to the referral for the homebound or hospitalized program, unless the student meets criteria for (special education ) eligibility;

(e) A parent, guardian or primary caregiver signs parental agreement concerning homebound or hospitalized policies and parental cooperation.

Referral form shall be completed and signed by a physician, who shall project that the student will be absent a minimum of 10 consecutive school days and is physically able to participate in educational instruction, unless the physician certifies that the student has a chronic health condition causing the student to be absent for intermittent periods of time, i.e., of greater than, equal to or less than 10 days on each occasion, during the school year. In case of the latter situation, re-documentation of the chronic or recurring condition is not required upon each period of absence.

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

Special education and related services provided at home, in a convalescent home, or in a hospital by special education personnel

When an eligible student has a medical condition that will cause an absence for two or more consecutive weeks of school or ongoing intermittent absences, the IEP Team for that child shall consider the need for home or hospital services. Such consider- ation shall be based upon a written statement from a physician which specifies:

A) the child’s condition;

B) the impact on the child’s ability to participate in education; and

C) the anticipated duration of the child’s absence from school.

Homebound instruction means instruction provided to students, including students without disabilities, who are unable to attend school.

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility along with a condition that precludes participation in general and special education provided in schools or related facilities

Homebound instruction means the delivery of special education and related services in the home of a child with a disability. Hospital instruction means the delivery of special education and related services to a child with a disability who is confined to a hospital for psychiatric or medical treatment.

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

Home or hospital instruction – refers to alternative education placements on the continuum for the provision of special education to a student with a disability in the student’s home environment or in a hospital, based on an IEP

Home instruction is usually appropriate for only a limited number of students, such as students who are medically fragile and are not able to participate in a school setting with other students

Initial service need is determined by:

1) Verification of the physical condition, including drug and alcohol dependency, by a licensed physician, or verification of emotional condition by a certified school, or licensed psychologist or licensed psychiatrist; and

(2) A statement by the physician or psychologist verifying that the current physical or emotional condition prevents the student from participating in the student’s school of enrollment.

Service need is subject to review:

(1) 60 calendar days after the initial determination of eligibility; or

(2) Sooner at the request of either the parent, guardian, or local school system.

C. Continuation of this service beyond 60 calendar days requires reverification of service need.

Upon physician’s written order verifying any student enrolled in a public school must remain at home or in a hospital for medical reasons for a period of not less than 14 school days in any school year, the principal shall arrange for provision of educational services in the home or hospital. If physician certifies student will be absent more than 60 days during the school year, referral will be made to special education for evaluation and IEP development

Homebound services shall be initiated within 15 school days after verification, by a licensed physician, of a medical handicap that requires the eligible special education student to be confined to the home. Such verification shall indicate the anticipated duration of the required confinement. Hospital service shall be provided for eligible special education students who cannot attend school because of hospitalization for a physical or medical impairment. Services shall be initiated when determined medically feasible.

Education services must be provided to a pupil or regular education student who is:

A. prevented from attending the pupil’s normal school site for 15 consecutive school days; or

B. predicted to be absent from the normal school site for 15 consecutive school days according to the placing authority, such as a medical doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, judge, or other court-appointed authority; or

C. health-impaired and in need of special education and predicted by the team to be absent from the normal school site for 15 intermittent school days.

Absence greater than 170 days, exclusive of summer school, district shall make available:

A. instruction necessary for the student to make progress to successfully complete the courses, programs, or classes the student would have been enrolled in if the student were not placed for care and treatment;

B. preferably a normal school day in accordance with the pupil’s IEP;

C. an average of at least two hours a day of one-to-one instruction; or D. a minimum of individualized instruction for one-half of the normal school day if it is justified in the pupil’s IEP. If the predicted absence is fewer than 171 school days, exclusive of summer school, the district shall provide either small group instruction for one-half of the normal school day or at least an average of one hour a day of one-to-one instruction Extended year services are optional unless the pupil has an extended year IEP.

Special Education or 504 Eligibility. Additionally, Mississippi Code provides that when (5) or more between the ages of (6) and (21) years who are capable of pursuing courses of instruction at secondary school level or below shall be confined in a hospital for an extended period of time, such children shall be eligible for and shall be provided with a program of education, instruction and training within such hospital, provided that the need for hospitalization for an extended period of time shall be certified by the chief of staff of such hospital and that the ability of such children to do school work shall be certified by qualified psychologists and/or educators approved by the State Board of Education.

Homebound services may be provided to both disabled and nondisabled students. Application must be submitted to State DOE for:

1. Students with disabilities who require homebound services for over nine (9) weeks with a diagnosed medical condition, (except in the case of a normal pregnancy which allows for six (6) weeks pre- and six (6) weeks post-partum);

2. Students requiring homebound services for the purpose of a reevaluation;

3. Students receiving homebound services who were long-term suspended or expelled;

4. Students who require homebound services when a court injunction has been issued. For all other students, with the exception of those listed above, the school district must still complete a homebound application form and maintain it in their files for a minimum of five (5) years.

Montana

Montana Code requires provision of a FAPE to students placed in residential treatment facilities or children’s psychiatric hospitals. District of residence is responsible for coordination of services

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility.

No minimum or maximum hours specified, however, teachers of pupils with orthopedic impairments and health impairments receiving special education services in a home or hospital may have no more than 10 students.

Provided for same period as regular school year. Minimally includes 10 hours per week of specially designed instruction as specified in the child’s IEP to allow progress in the general curriculum and meet all IEP goals; and Includes related services in addition to the 10 hours of specially designed instruction required.

Parent shall submit a written determination from a physician documenting the need for confine-ment at the student’s residence for at least a two-week period of time.

When the provision of home instruction will exceed 30 consecutive school days in a school year, the IEP team shall convene a meeting to review and, if appropriate, revise the student’s IEP.

When a nondisabled student is confined at home or to a hospital by a physician for more than 60 calendar days, the school physician shall refer the student to the child study team.

Minimum of five hours per week provided on three separate visits on three separate days.

When instruction is provided in a small group, the number of hours of instruction per week for the group shall be determined by multiplying the number of students in the group by five hours.

New Mexico School Health Manual requires a doctor’s statement explaining medical condition and expected dates of school absences.

Students with disabilities recom-mended for home and/or hospital instruction by the instruction by the special education committee shall be provided instruction and appropriate related services as determined by the committee in consideration of the student’s unique needs.

North Carolina

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility, however, Homebound placement shall be temporary with a goal in the IEP for returning the child to a less restrictive environment within the school year, unless there is medical information that would require extended homebound instruction.

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

Determined by IEP Team, when needs of student require IEP to be implemented in the home, hospital or other out of school setting, based upon the individual needs of the child.

Criteria for Placement: School districts that propose to place a student with a disability in a home, hospital, institutional, or other regularly scheduled program shall ensure that the following criteria are met: The student must be enrolled as a resident student of the school district; The home, hospital, institutional, or other regularly scheduled program shall be appropriate to the unique educational needs of the student; The student shall meet the minimum criteria established by the State Board of Education for determining eligibility to receive special education. Students are expected to be hospitalized for 5 days or more.

Request must be made in writing by the parent and supported by a statement of the physician attending the child, indicating the nature of the disability and the length of time the child will be homebound.

Minimum number of hours of instruction shall be five (5) hours per school week at the elementary level of education and six (6) hours at the secondary level of education unless physician recommends fewer hours Depending on the physical condition of the child, a number of instructional hours greater than the minimum number of hours required per week are permissible.

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

No specific eligibility criteria other than those for special education or 504 eligibility

Students served on a homebound or hospital bedside basis are expected to be confined for a minimum of four consecutive weeks as documented by a physician licensed to practice in the United States. Homebound or hospital instruction may, as provided by local district policy, also be provided to chronically ill students who are expected to be confined for any period of time totaling at least four weeks throughout the school year as documented by a physician licensed to practice in the United States.

Students served as homebound or hospitalized must be evaluated and classified according to one of the disability conditions as described in the special education rules. Classification of the student as eligible under one of the disability categories must follow the approved regulations for evaluating and determining special education eligibility. The services can begin as soon as possible, although the student must have an expected absence of at least two weeks Educational services for the homebound or hospitalized student with disabilities must be approved by the student’s health professional contingent upon the student’s health and ability to receive instruction.

(a) Children who are eligible for essential early education services who are homebound or hospitalized due to a medical condition and are unable to access the services outlined in their current IEP shall receive direct instruction.

(b) Homebound or hospitalized elementary special education students and elementary special education students whose IEPs call for tutorial services outside school shall receive instruction.

(c) Homebound or hospitalized secondary special education students and secondary special education students whose IEPs call for tutorial services outside school, shall receive instruction.

(a) Children who are eligible for essential early education services instruction as determined by the child’s IEP team.

(b) Elementary special education students-instruction sufficient to provide a FAPE pursuant to their IEPs, for no less than six hours per week unless inconsistent with medical recommen- dations

(c) Secondary special education students-instruction sufficient to provide a FAPE pursuant to their IEPs for no less than an average of two hours per subject per week unless inconsistent with medical recommendations.

For a child with a disability, the IEP determines the delivery of services, including the number of hours of services.

Requires the parent(s) of a student or the adult student to request the services and provide a written statement to the school district or other public agency from a qualified medical practitioner that states the student will not be able to attend school for an estimated period of at least four weeks, however, school district or other public agency is prohibited from paying the cost of the statement from a qualified medical practitioner for the purposes of qualifying an otherwise non-disabled student for home/hospital instructional services.

Follows federal definition of special education and included in continuum of placements

Same as Special Education or Related Services Personnel. Non-special education students do not require instruction by certified personnel.

Same as Special Education or Related Services Personnel