Union County Schools HospitalHomebound Program General Guidelines and

Union County Schools Hospital/Homebound Program

General Guidelines and Procedures Union County Schools provides Hospital/Homebound services for students grades K 12.

What is Hospital/Homebound Instruction (HHB)? Hospital/Homebound instruction is an alternative method of instruction for students who are expected to be out of school for 10 consecutive school days or longer due to a physical or mental condition. The intent of homebound instruction is to keep students connected to the school based curriculum until they return to the classroom setting.

Who is eligible for HHB instruction? ¡Students enrolled in Union County Schools ¡Students whose illness is not contagious ¡Students with a high risk pregnancy that involves abnormal restrictions ¡Chronically ill students

Who is not eligible for HHB instruction? ¡Students attending school for half-day or more ¡Students with communicable diseases ¡Students who have instruction provided by other sources (i. e. mental health facility)

Who initiates an HHB referral? Homebound can be initiated by: ¡parent, ¡medical facility, ¡school administrator, ¡teacher, ¡guidance counselor, ¡instructional/curriculum support teacher, ¡social worker, or ¡cluster/special education nurse.

What is the referral process? ¡Once a referral has been initiated, a licensed treating physician must certify that the student cannot attend school as a result of the medical condition and that the student will benefit from instruction given at a mutually agreed upon location. ¡The treating physician must complete the HHB form.

What is the referral process? (Continued) ¡If services are approved, a GA certified teacher(s) will be assigned to the student. Students eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) shall be served by appropriately certified personnel. ¡The assigned teacher will make arrangements with the family to begin instruction at a mutually agreed upon date, time and location (i. e. home, hospital or online learning courses via the Internet) ¡A responsible adult must be in the home during the entire time of instruction. ¡If a student does not return to school as originally projected, a medical extension is required to continue services.

There are 2 types of Hospital/Homebound services: Regular Hospital/Homebound Intermittent Hospital/Homebound

Regular Homebound Services ¡For students that are anticipated to be out of school for 10 or more school days due to accident, surgery, etc. ¡You do NOT have to wait until they have missed 10 days to apply ¡A Regular Homebound form is required in order to place a student in this program.

How to complete a Regular Homebound form ¡The school completes the first page (Principal must sign) ¡The parent signs…(Includes the medical release--VERY IMPORTANT!) ¡The physician completes the last portion of the 2 nd page. The physician that is actually treating the condition must complete it. ¡The form is returned to us for review and investigation. If everything checks out and the diagnosis is a covered condition, then the form will be approved. ¡We notify the school and request work from teachers. ¡If the student is absent beyond the originally anticipated time, an extension from the physician is required. It CANNOT be extended based on the parent’s request alone.

Intermittent Homebound ¡Students with chronic illnesses such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, colitis, etc. that require intermittent absences may be placed in this program. ¡At a minimum, an annual medical update is required for chronic conditions. ¡Union County Schools may request medical documentation in addition to the HHB referral forms for Intermittent HHB students with a chronic illness and it is anticipated they will be out of school for periods exceeding 10 absences for the year, ¡Or for less periods of consecutive absences if additional voluntary HHB services are being pursued as outlined in the student’s IEP, IAP, SST Plan, or 504 Plan.

How does having a student on Homebound affect absences? ¡Students are NOT counted absent as long as they receive 3 hours of weekly instruction.

What happens when a Regular Homebound student returns to school? • Upon a student’s return to school, you will receive an attendance record sheet. • As long as the student participated in the homebound program, you will be asked to count them present for the covered H/H period. • If they partially participated in the program, the dates for which you can count them present will be indicated. • If they did not participate in the program, you will be asked to count them absent.

What happens when an Intermittent Homebound student returns to school? ¡At the end of the school year, you will be sent the same attendance record sheet as the Regular Homebound student.

e r o m r : o n F o i t a m r o f in Contact: Kim Terry (UCHS) Hospital/Homebound Coordinator kterry@ucschools. org