Home and Hospital Instruction
A student who is absent for an extended period of time or whose physician or licensed advanced practice registered nurse anticipates their absence from school for an extended period of time, or has ongoing intermittent absences because of a medical condition, may be eligible for instruction in the student’s home or hospital. For information on home or hospital instruction, contact your school’s nurse.
Appropriate educational services from qualified staff will begin no later than five school days after receiving a written statement from a physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse. Instructional or related services for a student receiving special education services will be determined by the student’s individualized education program.
A student who is unable to attend school because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, the fulfillment of parenting obligations related to the health of the child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence will be provided home instruction under the following circumstances:
- Before the birth of the child, when the student’s physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse indicates, in writing, that she is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction.
- For up to three months after the child’s birth or a miscarriage.
- When a student must care for his or her ill child if:
a. The child's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse informs the school, in writing, that the child has a serious health condition that would require the student to be absent from school for two or more consecutive weeks; and
b. The student or the student's parent/guardian informs the school, in writing, that the student needs to care for the child during this period.
4. The student must treat physical or mental health complications or address safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence when a health care provider or an employee of the student's domestic or sexual violence organization informs the school in writing that the care is needed by the student and will cause the student's absence from school for two or more consecutive weeks.
The school may reassess home instruction provided to a student under No. 3 or No. 4 every two months to determine the student's continuing need for home instruction.
Periodic conferences will be held between appropriate school personnel, parent(s)/guardian(s), and hospital staff to coordinate course work and facilitate a student’s return to school.