HOMEBOUND SERVICES

1. HOMEBOUND SERVICES GUIDELINES FOR WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS

2. PURPOSE • The purpose of Homebound Services is to provide education to students of SUSD who cannot attend school due to an acute illness, disease, accident or other health condition for 60 school days or more.

3. Qualifications • All students referred to or applying for Homebound Services must first be determined eligible under Section 504 by their home school. The team must consider accommodations for chronically ill students during the student’s extended absences (including Homebound) and a transition plan back to school. Parents should contact their school to begin this process.

4. PRIOR TO HOMEBOUND Action taken prior to HB Services: *504 Plan has been developed and implemented if student has chronic illness *Intervention Team at the school has implemented and documented strategies for keeping student in school (these may include): *part time schedule *accommodations in classes *counseling/social services referrals *special education consideration (for school phobia, anxiety, psychologically related conditions, etc) *home visit consideration *SRO home visit re truancy Student should not have accumulated absences w/out a plan having been in place prior to application to HB.

5. The 504 PLACEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE May Include: • SCHOOL REP – 504 COORDINATOR • HB REP • DOCTOR(S)’ APPLICATION(S) • STUDENT’S COUNSELOR • SCHOOL NURSE • FAMILY/STUDENT

6. Homebound APPLICATION PROCESS • PARENT AND DOCTOR COMPLETE APPLICATION AFTER WORKING W/ SCHOOL INTERVENTION TEAM • Doctor must indicate diagnosis and reasons why student can not attend school part time or full time • Doctor must state that student will be out of the classroom for no less then 60 school days • An anticipated date of when the student is expected to return to school must be noted on the application • HB WILL CONTACT DOCTOR TO VERIFY INFORMATION • HB INTERVIEWS FAMILY/STUDENT • PLACEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE REVIEWS APPLICATION, DATA, PREVIOUS INTERVENTIONS

7. THE LAW • Definition: “Homebound” or “Hospitalized” means a pupil who is capable of profiting from academic instruction but is unable to attend school due to illness, disease, accident or other health conditions, who has been examined by a competent medical doctor and who is certified by that doctor as being unable to attend regular classes for a period of not less than three school months or a pupil who is capable of profiting from academic instruction but is unable to attend school regularly due to chronic or acute health problems, who has been examined by a competent medical doctor and who is certified by that doctor as being unable to attend regular classes for intermittent periods of time totaling three school months during a school year. The medical certification shall state the general medical condition, such as illness, disease or chronic health condition that is the reason that the pupil is unable to attend school. ARS 15-901(B) (13)

8. DELIVERY OF SERVICES MAY INCLUDE: • SMALL GROUP AT LIBRARY • INDIVIDUAL TEACHER AT LIBRARY • INDIVIDUAL TEACHER AT HOME • ON LINE COURSEWORK • PART TIME SCHOOL/PART TIME HB • COMBINATION OF ABOVE • CO-TREATMENT OF SPED SERVICES

9. Homebound Services *HOMEBOUND HAS A CADRE OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS WHO SERVE OUR STUDENTS. *THEY COLLABORATE WITH THE HOME SCHOOL TEACHERS ON ASSIGNMENTS THAT WILL ALLOW THE STUDENT TO TRANSITION SEAMLESSLY BACK TO SCHOOL. *UPDATED CURRENT TEACHER WEBSITES ARE CONSULTED

10. STUDENT/SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY: • School assumes responsibility for attendance until a student is enrolled in Homebound. • Student absences prior to going onto homebound are maintained by the school • Parents who call for information about homebound qualification are encouraged to continue calling their child in as absent until they are “officially” enrolled in the HB program • Students who are absent for more then 10 days: School may account for medical circumstances per district/state/federal guidelines. • Once a student is enrolled in HB, HB will maintain all attendance for that student. - If a student attends school on a part time basis for more then 4 classes, then the school will maintain attendance

11. Who Determines Classes? • Classes in which HB students are enrolled are determined at the school level • Typically, the school counselor and parents determine classes • HB does not determine credit requirements – we work w/ the school to deliver the classes students need • The HB teacher contacts the family to set up when/where classes will be delivered after the schedule is determined

12. WHEN IS A CHILD “ENROLLED” IN HB? The first date that a HB teacher works with the student becomes the “official” HB enrollment date. The school is responsible for keeping the child current in their classes up to that date.

13. HB Procedures *HB teacher collaborates w/ teacher of record at home school *Core classes instructed by HB-generally, no electives (unless senior) *HB administers grades w/ consultation of tchr of record (the teacher of record may be the HB teacher) *W/drawl grades requested upon initiation of HB services *Lab sciences are not typically taught by HB *HB students may not be employed~indv. cases may be considered for special ed., seniors or for credit issues

14. TESTING *ALL State and/or standardized testing administered at school site *Consideration to be given to exceptions on case by case basis

15. Attendance in HB 3 cancellations or “no shows” may constitute rationale for discontinuation of HB services *Consideration given for specific illness of student(s)

16. It Takes the Village! • We value our relationship with each of you! • We appreciate the support of our schools who provide required accommodations to our SUSD chronically ill students …. • Thank you for your concerned efforts for your child. • Please contact us with any questions about this information……