Homebound Services

Home/hospital instruction may be provided for students with a medical condition preventing them from participating in-person instruction. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has indicated that home/hospital instruction (to include remote instruction) is the most restrictive educational and social environment in which a student may be placed.  Students receiving home/hospital instruction will not have physical contact with their peers during the school day.  Medical certification for home/hospital instruction is required before such services will be provided. All medical certification forms are required to be updated every eight (8) weeks.

Home/Hospital Instruction is: 

• The most restrictive educational environment; 

• An out-of-school service for students who may have a documented medical condition preventing them from participating in tradition, in-person classroom instruction; 

• Students receiving home/hospital instruction are expected to attend school to the fullest extent possible (daily attendance will still be documented);  

• Designed to keep the student current with classroom instruction during the standard school year and to facilitate their return to the traditional, in-person classroom setting; 

• A temporary service that is designed to last no more than eight weeks; 

• This service is not to be used as a remediation service giving students time to make up previously missed assignments

A student may qualify for home/hospital instruction if they have a documented medical/mental health condition that affects their ability to attend in-person instruction on either a full-time or part-time basis. The diagnosis that restricts them from attending in-person, in-school instruction must be provided to the school district by a licensed medical doctor or psychiatrist. Home/hospital instruction may take place in an alternate setting (e.g. public library, home, hospital, etc.) or virtually/online. 

To establish eligibility for home/hospital instruction, the parent or guardian must submit a written statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches stating: 

1. The existence of a medical condition 

2. The impact on the student’s ability to participate in education  

3. The anticipated duration or nature of the absence from school 

Home/hospital instruction will be approved upon receipt of BOTH of the following forms:

1. Medical Provider Return to Learning Recommendations

2. HIPAA and MHDDCA Release Form 

• Serves as the liaison between home and school;

• Provides up to (5) hours of instruction (or consultation) weekly;

• When scheduling sessions, instructors take into consideration parent or guardian requests, but not all requests can be accommodated;

• Home/hospital instructional services can be provided virtually, in-person, or through an online program as determined by the educational team;

• Provide students with quality instruction and support (in-person or online as determined by the educational team);

• Home/hospital instructor will ensure assignments are turned in to classroom teachers upon completion

• Collaborate with home/hospital instructor to schedule days, times, and locations for weekly instructional sessions;

• Notify the home/hospital instructor 24 hours in advance if the session needs to be canceled and/or rescheduled;

• Inform the Director of Student Services if the student’s situation changes;

• Work with the school staff to obtain assignments for courses not supported by home/hospital instruction and return completed work to school;    

• Ensure the student is ready for instruction at the agreed upon time. A record of attendance will be documented. 

• Be prepared with materials for the instructional period at the scheduled times; 

• Participate actively during instruction;

• Communicate clearly with the instructor, parent, and school (if applicable); 

• Complete assignments during the allotted time frame;

• Complete coursework outside of the time scheduled with a home/hospital instructor;

• Seek help or clarification when needed and as soon as possible

• A meeting will be scheduled once a student has been released to return to school; 

• The team will develop a Return to School plan with the student/family.