Homebound Instruction is for students unable to attend school due to various physical, behavioral, or emotional difficulties. A Homebound Application must be approved by the Director of Special Services prior to this service being provided. To be considered, the homebound application must be completed & signed by a MD, DO, psychiatrist, or psychologist.

Homebound Instruction is not the preferred method of providing instructional services to students. As a rule, it is more difficult for students to succeed academically when placed on Homebound Instruction as opposed to receiving regular instruction in the classroom. Students may find the homebound instructor is not as well versed in the subject areas as are classroom instructors specializing in that area. Homebound Instruction is usually limited to core subject areas. Students may wish, or may need, to attend academic assistance as provided by the regular classroom instructor in addition to Homebound Instruction, if possible.

If approved, Homebound Instruction will be provided according to the current school year calendar. Instruction will not be provided during Christmas vacation, spring break, school holidays, or during the summer unless approved. Homebound instruction is typically five hours a week. Therefore, assignments left by the homebound teacher must be completed between visits. However, IEP Teams have some flexibility in determining weekly hours.

The length of time approved for Homebound Instruction varies depending primarily on the student's condition. In the event Homebound Instruction needs to be extended beyond the original approved application time, written notification from the attending physician, psychiatrist, or other state required professional must be submitted to the school district prior to the possible extension of homebound services. It then must be approved again.

To count a homebound student for full attendance, students must receive a minimum of five hours of instruction per calendar week (Saturday through Sunday). Full attendance means the possible attendance hours for that week if the student was at school. For example, our district has a seven-hour day, a student in full attendance would generate 35 attendance hours (7 hours per day x 5 days) for a one-week period. If the homebound student is receiving five hours of instruction per week, the attendance is reported as 35 hours. Attendance hours for students receiving homebound instruction for less than five hours per week reverts to time being counted as one hour of attendance for each hour of homebound instruction. In other words, for time less than five hours per week, a full week of attendance is not counted for the child.

To print a homebound application, click here