1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
   The Weber School District recognizes the importance of providing instruction to students who are confined to a home or hospital (medical facility) during a term of illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances. To assist students and their families in such circumstances, the Board establishes a Home and Hospital program with the objectives of alleviating concern over academic/work credit, to maintain the skills necessary for returning to the classroom, and to facilitate ongoing contact with the student and parent/legal guardian.
   
   
2. POLICY
   The Board delegates to the Administration responsibility for developing regulations for administering a Home and Hospital Instruction program consistent with these objectives, subject to review and approval by the Board. The Administration shall establish a program to provide instruction to convalescing students in grades one through twelve to alleviate concern over academic work/credit, to maintain the skills necessary for returning to the classroom, and to assure ongoing home/school contact during the term of illness, injury, or extenuating circumstances. 
   
   
3. DEFINITIONS
   1. “Program Consultant” means the educator providing the instructional support to students receiving home and hospital instruction.
   2. “Short Term” means school absences for at least two consecutive weeks, which is equivalent to ten (10) consecutive school days, due to a physical or mental condition.
   3. “Individualized Education Program (IEP)” means a written document with an education plan for a student with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with Part B of the IDEA and the SpEd Rules.
   4. “Home/Hospital Instructor” means a teacher holding a valid teaching license.
      
      
4. QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICES
   1. The student is enrolled in a Weber School District school.
      1. If a student on a boundary exception, pursuant to Policy 4160 returns to their boundary District during the school year, eligibility for continued Home and Hospital services, facilitated through Weber School District, will be determined by the school the student was attending at the time the student required Home and Hospital services, in consultation with the parent/legal guardian and the WSD Director of Student Services.
   2. The student is confined at home or in a medical facility due to physical or emotional illness, injury, or other short-term medical necessity. 
   3. The student has missed or expects to miss ten (10) or more consecutive days of school.
   4. The student’s physical and/or mental condition will prevent the student from consistently attending 50% or more of the school day on a daily basis.
   5. Home and Hospital instruction is generally considered to be short-term and must be requested by a parent or guardian.
   6. A written request for services is required from the attending licensed physician, licensed psychologist, licensed social worker, or licensed health care provider (“Health Professional”). A request for service must be accompanied by the Health Professional’s diagnosis. The request must include the exam date, diagnosis and /or condition, medication(s) that limit or affect learning, expected duration of confinement, impact of the condition on the student’s ability to attend school, and any other pertinent information, in addition to the estimated time that Home and Hospital services will be needed.
   7. Parents must make a request to the attending physician that appropriate and necessary information pertaining to the student’s medical condition be shared with the nurse or coordinator so that a determination of eligibility can be made. The nurse or school counselor may contact the physician for further verification and/or information as needed to determine eligibility.
   8. The student is not eligible for Home and Hospital instruction if the identified illness pertains to another family member.
   9. The student is not eligible for Home and Hospital instruction if they are employed and attending work.
   10. The District Student Services Team, Special Education Department, school nurse, and other members as deemed necessary may recommend Home and Hospital instruction at their discretion based on the educational needs of the student.
       
       
5. PROVIDING SERVICES
   1. Assessment of the need and eligibility for services will be determined by the Home and Hospital team which includes a minimum of a school administrator, nurse, and school counselor. Completed forms from a health care professional recommending Home and Hospital instruction is not a guarantee of that service. The school team may decide that other interventions or accommodations may be more appropriate for the student. In this case, every effort will be made to reach a consensus with the school team, physician, and parent.
   2. For students receiving services through an Individual Education Plan (IEP), placement on Home and Hospital will require an IEP meeting to discuss the delivery of educational services and any applicable amendments. The IEP team will determine the appropriate number of instruction hours to meet service goals.
   3. For students with a Section 504 accommodation plan, the 504 team will convene to review accommodations and Home and Hospital instruction services.
   4. In most cases, the duration of services shall be determined by the school administrator after consultation with the student’s parents and Health Professional. Minimum duration of services is two (2) weeks and maximum service is nine (9) weeks without additional follow-up with the referring medical provider.
      1. If the medical recommendation is to extend beyond two quarters, the team will reconvene to determine appropriate services on a regular basis. 
   5. If it appears that the program is being abused by the parent or student, the administrator will initiate a formal review with the program consultant and District Administrator administering the Home and Hospital Program.
   6. WSD Home and Hospital students are still enrolled in WSD and thus expected to adhere to Weber School District policies. 
   7. Students will be provided Home and Hospital Instruction services only during the weeks when their assigned school is in session.
   8. During the last two quarters of the school year, qualifying seniors who are on track for graduation and not involved in an extensive makeup program shall receive Home and Hospital Instruction services from their local school to enable the qualifying student to graduate from that school.
   9. Home and Hospital instructors are not expected to tutor students for “make-up” work for previous absences before the student was enrolled in the Home and Hospital program.
   10. Home and Hospital Instruction services may be discontinued for the following reasons:
       1. Lack of family cooperation with an instruction schedule;
       2. Lack of medical verification as to current confinement need; or
       3. Determination that services are worsening the student’s condition, increasing or prolonging school phobia or anxiety, are having a harmful impact upon the student, or are not in the best interest of the student.
          
          
6. INSTRUCTION
   1. Home and Hospital Instruction
      1. Instruction shall be provided at the student’s home or other designated public location (e.g., library, police, or fire station) during regular school hours. Generally, two one-hour instruction sessions shall be provided per week.  
         1. A remote option for instruction may be offered by the school subject to agreement with the parent/legal guardian.
         2. Remote instruction may be required for students who are living outside of WSD boundaries on a boundary exception.
         3. After regular school hours instruction is limited and will be determined by individual need for specialized instruction with approval from the District.
         4. Hours of instruction will be determined on a case-by-case basis for students not attending school full-time. 
   2. A parent or other responsible adult must be present in the home during the instruction session.  If the parent or guardian fails to provide proper chaperonage, the instruction session shall be canceled.
   3. Instruction materials shall be furnished by the school where the student is enrolled.
      
      
7. GRADES AND CREDIT FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
   1. Students who are receiving Home and Hospital Instruction for 120 minutes per week shall be counted as attending school.
   2. Elementary and Secondary teachers must prepare assignments for students in their classes who are receiving Home and Hospital Instruction. Assignments can be provided through the District's online educational platform. Substitute assignments will be provided if the regular class activities cannot be completed at home due to medical necessity or course content. 
   3. In the event the requirements of the course and standards cannot be met at home, the school administration will consult the parent/legal guardian to select a comparable course to meet the student’s needs to facilitate a course transfer.
   4. If a comparable course is unavailable, in consultation with the school administration, the teacher may give the student an “incomplete” for the course when it cannot be appropriately taught through Home and Hospital Instruction. In this case, the teacher would provide an opportunity for the student to make up the missed credit through alternative assignments. 
   5. If the student was on Home and Hospital Instruction for a full quarter, the student’s report card grades shall be determined by the Home and Hospital Instruction teacher.
   6. Concurrent enrollment courses are subject to university guidelines.

Approved May 2024