Home Hospital Program Home/Hospital instruction is designed to provide continuity of educational services between the classroom for health care facility for students who have medical needs, both physical and/or psychiatric, that do not allow school attendance for a limited period of time. Homebound instruction may also be used to supplement the classroom program for student with health impairments whose conditions may interfere with regular school attendance. There are several requirements that must be met for us to assist in continuing the education of your child and to ensure that your child remains successful during his/her illness. Upon submission of the Home Hospital application, the committee will review the application and determine if the situation meets state guidelines and local criteria for home hospital placement.

Instruction

• Home/hospital instruction will be a minimum of two (2) visits per week (either in-person or virtual to meet the student’s individual needs) with one (1) hour of instruction per visit, which is equivalent to (1) child’s attendance in school for five (5) days. The teacher and student will not meet on days that school is closed (unless the students are participating in a #HCSatHome day). Absences will be considered unexcused unless prearranged and rescheduled with the homebound teacher during the same week. Only in emergencies or illness should an appointment be missed. All state compulsory attendance laws apply to the homebound program. One missed homebound appointment is equal to 2.5 school days.
• Since homebound instruction is limited to two hours per week, the student is expected to spend considerable time working independently on assigned work. Being on homebound does not lessen the work load, so students can easily fall behind in class. Therefore, it is advised that each student plan to work a minimum of 5 hours per day on school work. The student may find it necessary to put more effort into his/her studies while on homebound due to the fact that he/she will not be receiving full-time instruction, and many concepts will be learned independently. The role of the homebound teacher is to act as a liaison between home and school and assist with problem areas.
• The parent/guardian will be responsible for contacting the school to obtain any missed work due to absences prior to placement in the homebound program. The homebound instructor will not be responsible for any assignments prior to the approved start date in the program.
• Due to the nature of the work, some classes may have to be dropped. Also, if a student is unable to grasp the concepts presented in a particular subject with the limited instruction available on the homebound program, it may be necessary to arrange for a private tutor or to drop the class until the student is able to return to school for full-time instruction. The student may not receive all credit(s) being attempted.

Parent/Student Responsibilities

• A responsible adult must be present in the home during the homebound visit. If an adult is unable to be present, the parent/guardian may reschedule the homebound appointment for later in the same week. If the parent/guardian will be unavailable for the homebound visits, the homebound appointments may be scheduled at the school or a public place such as the public library. Parents must provide transportation for the student. Virtual homebound visits may also occur through teleconferencing.
• It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check with the student regarding completion of required daily assignments in order to be prepared for instruction at the next designated time.
• Parents/guardians should provide a suitable work-study area where the student and teacher can work with no interruptions. The area should be at a table with a neat, clean surface. TV’s, radios, and other distractions should be turned off and other children, visitors, and pets should be kept out of the room so the teacher has the student’s full attention.
• Students should be awake, dressed, and prepared with the books and materials needed when the homebound teacher arrives for the appointment.
• If students have a job, they are not permitted to work while participating in the homebound program. Also, students are not permitted to participate in athletic activities, extracurricular/co-curricular activities, or school events such as dances, homecoming, etc. while receiving homebound services. Eligibility for homebound shall cease if the student works or participates in athletic or extracurricular/co-curricular activities.

Special Circumstances

• A student with a communicable disease, as verified by a heath professional, shall be eligible for the Home/Hospital Program. However, should the student’s condition pose a serious health threat to the teacher, the student may receive virtual instruction through correspondence, computer assisted instruction, or video during the period of contagion.
• If the student is enrolled in the homebound program during the state assessment window, he/she will be required to return to his/her school for testing unless extenuating circumstances prevent the student from going to school. The parent/guardian will be responsible for the transportation to and from school.
• Students on homebound for psychological/psychiatric diagnosis (anxiety, depression, bi-polar, school phobia, etc.) may be required to do his/her homebound after regular school hours in the student’s school of regular attendance, other public location, or through virtual instruction. The parent/guardian must transport and remain with the student during instruction.
• Students requiring homebound for extended periods of time (more than three months) may be assigned to take courses through an online provider supplied by the district if the student has access to a device and internet access.
• Homebound students who miss four scheduled instructional sessions (counts as 10 school days unexcused) may be dropped from the program and reported as truant to the DPP and court system.
• Any child who is excused from school attendance more than six (6) months must have two (2) signed statements from two different local health personnel which can be a combination of the following professional persons: a licensed physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, chiropractor and health officer. If a medical professional certifies that a student has a chronic physical condition unlikely to substantially improve within one (1) year, then the one signed statement is sufficient for services that extend beyond six (6) months. This exception does not apply to students with mental health conditions.
• Exemptions of all children under the provisions of subsection (1) (d) of this section must be reviewed annually with the evidence required being updated, except that children with disabilities certified by a medical professional to have a chronic physical condition unlikely to substantially improve within three (3) years may continue to be eligible for home/hospital instruction services, based on the admissions and release committee’s (ARC) annual review of documentation to determine if updated evidence is required. Updated documentation of evidence of need for home/hospital services for children with chronic physical conditions shall be provided as requested by the ARC, or at least every three (3) years.
• Pursuant to 704 KAR 7:120, the condition of pregnancy is not to be considered a physical or health impairment in and of itself, and the nature and extent of any complication shall be delineated prior to consideration of home/hospital instruction for this condition.

Contact the Director of Pupil Personnel office if you have questions or need assistance:

320 South Seminary Street

Madisonville, KY 42431

(270) 825-6000