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Alleghany County Schools Homebound Services Handbook

Alleghany County Schools strive to meet the educational needs of all students. One way our LEA attempts to accomplish this is through our homebound program. The purpose of homebound service/instruction is to maintain continuity in the educational process for those students who, because of an extended illness or condition, cannot attend school. Homebound instruction is intended to provide short-term tutoring/instruction and should not replace or duplicate school-based instruction. Therefore, the school team should prioritize and limit the subject areas to be taught by the homebound teacher. Homebound instruction, although correlated with what the student is missing in the classroom, shall be geared to the student’s needs and what the student is capable of doing during the period away from school. Our goal is to return students to the school setting as soon as possible. Homebound education is provided by the school after 10 days of accumulated absences. If a student is expected to miss more than 10 days or two weeks, he/she would be eligible for homebound services by completing the appropriate referral form. Homebound materials provide modified and abbreviated education for core classes, with an expected 5-10 hours of weekly educational instruction. The goal of homebound education is to prevent the child from falling too far behind academically, so that he/she can successfully re-enter the classroom when he/she is able to return to school. The longer the child remains on homebound education, the more difficult this transition back to school will be. If homebound services will last more than 12 weeks, a new homebound referral form will need to be completed upon re-evaluation by the supervising physician. If the student has an IEP, the IEP Team will review the need for continued homebound services through the IEP process. If the student is a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) please contact the EC Director.

Who can receive homebound services/instruction? ● Regular or exceptional education students may receive instructional services in a homebound setting ● A student who is seen by a licensed medical physician and is expected to be away from the classroom (due to physical or medical reasons) for medical reasons for at least two weeks is a candidate for homebound services ● Homebound services are provided following a pregnancy for up to six weeks ● A student who is emotionally unstable and is under the care of a psychiatrist or licensed mental health provider Exit from Homebound ● The doctor releases the student to return to school ● The homebound teacher completes a summary of progress ● If the child is EC, an IEP team (to include the homebound teacher) will determine placement change ● If the child is 504, the 504 team (to include the homebound teacher) will determine placement change ● Students are exited from homebound at the end of each year. If homebound services are continued the following year, new paperwork must be completed. ● For EC students, at the student’s annual or re-evaluation IEP meeting during the school year, a new application is required. Responsibilities Course Instructor - Regular Education Teacher This is the student’s classroom teacher for the course that is being covered under homebound services. ● The course instructor is responsible for providing all materials, assignments and test/ assessments to the HB Teacher assigned to the student ● The course instructor is responsible for grading all assignments and tests This should be done in a reasonable timeframe as to provide adequate feedback to ensure the student is achieving academic progress in the subject area. ● The course instructor is responsible for posting student grades as appropriate at the end of the reporting period ● For EOC/EOG testing, the course instructor should work with the site Testing Coordinator, the Director of Student Services, and the EC Director if the student is EC to make arrangements for the student to be tested accordingly

EC Case Manager ● The EC case manager is responsible for providing all the materials, assignments and test/assessments to the HB Teacher assigned to the student for any special education classes/resource room classes the student is attending ● The EC case manager is responsible for grading all assignments and tests. This should be done in a reasonable timeframe as to provide adequate feedback to ensure the student is achieving academic progress in the subject area. ● The EC case manager is responsible for posting student grades as appropriate at the end of the reporting period ● For EOC/EOG testing, the EC case manager should work with the site Testing Coordinator, and EC Coordinator to make arrangements for the student to be tested accordingly Homebound Teacher ● Coordinate with the course instructor or EC case manager to acquire all course materials and requirements for the student who is on homebound ● Provide direct instruction to the student who has been placed on homebound ● Ensure that completed assignments and tests are turned in to the course instructor in a timely manner ● Promptly contact parent and schedule weekly meetings based upon the number of service hours provided to the student ● Document and report each visit on the Home Visit Records/Attendance Log ● Document and report any problematic homebound visits to Homebound Coordinator, Anne Marie Erhardt in a timely manner especially when there is a pattern of non-compliance ● Submit Timesheets along with Home Visit Record Log on a monthly basis. Submitted when timekeeper is due. Timesheets must be verified and signed by the Homebound Coordinator, Anne Marie Erhardt.

Parent Authorization for Homebound Services/Instruction Student Name: DOB: Parent(s) Name: Date: School: Grade: Explanation of Services/Parent(s) Homebound Responsibilities ● Homebound instruction is meant for acute or catastrophic health problems that confine a child or adolescent to home or hospital for a prolonged but defined period of time (2 consecutive weeks) and is not intended to relieve the school or parent of the responsibility of providing education for the child in the least restrictive environment. ● Homebound instruction does not duplicate the regular classroom experience and is determined by a team. The student is responsible for completing all course requirements within the NC Standard Course of Study and/or Extensions of the Standard Course of Study. ● Students who are physically able to be employed or involved in extracurricular school activities are physically able to attend s and would not be eligible for homebound services. ● In an effort to provide homebound instruction, it may be necessary for your child’s school to contact your child’s physician to obtain information pertaining to the planning and delivery of appropriate instruction. ● An individualized instructional program may be conducted in your home. It is your responsibility to provide a safe and sanitary environment conducive to learning. This includes the removal of pets from the learning area, the reduction of distractions such as visitors and television, and the provision of a smoke-free environment. ● It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide any necessary school supplies for your child. ● It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide supervision while the teacher is in the home. The parent/guardian mutually agrees upon an adult being in the home during each instructional session. The parent/guardian is responsible for the child’s attendance during the scheduled lessons and for supervising the completion of assigned classwork/homework between homebound sessions. If the student is under 18 years-old, then another adult MUST be in the home during homebound instruction sessions. ● Two consecutive absences, without prior notice, failure to do assignments, or a combination of the two will result in a suspension of homebound services. The homebound teacher will wait 15 minutes past the start time of the session and if at that time there is no answer at the door or the student does not arrive at the assigned location, the session will be cancelled and counted as an absence. Absences reported for these sessions will count as unexcused and could result in the student’s loss of credit. Services may also be suspended if the student is uncooperative or demonstrates aggressive or violent behavior during instructional sessions. For regular education, 504 and EC students’ homebound services will be suspended until a meeting is scheduled. ● Prior notification is necessary for any cancellation or rescheduling of services. If your child or another family member has a fever or contagious disease, please notify homebound teacher as soon as possible to cancel and/or reschedule. Students not available for instruction at the scheduled time will be considered to have earned an unexcused absence unless advance arrangements are made with the teacher. The team might need to contact the physician if absences are medically related. ● For long-term cases of 12 weeks, a new homebound referral form must be completed. I authorize my child to participate in the homebound instruction provided through Alleghany County Schools and agree to fulfill the parental responsibilities. I authorize the release of any medical or psychological information necessary to provide appropriate Homebound instruction, including treatment plans and length of disability. Parent(s) Signature:

Physician’s Referral for Homebound/Chronic Illness Student Name: DOB: Parent(s) Name: Date: School: Grade: NOTE TO PHYSICIAN: Alleghany County Schools require the following information when considering eligibility from a program that exempts a student from regular attendance requirements. Please indicate the areas of need for the above named student. Hospital/Homebound When a student is physically unable to attend school for a consistent period of time (10 days or more) Medically Fragile When a student is frequently absent from school and their absences are directly related to their severe or life threatening physical condition (Please specify below) _____ Chronic illness so severe as to affect the student’s school attendance; Specify: _____ Illness frequently places him/her in a life threatening situation; Specify: _____ Technology dependent for life support Specify: Pregnancy Student who may require altered schedule, intermittent absence, and eventual homebound instruction. Indicate Areas of Need Limitations on Instruction (i.e. not to exceed 1 hour per session, part-day schedule, keep arm immobilized, not physical education): Special Equipment or Transportation Needed: Behavior/Emotional Concerns: Time Required Out of School or in a Modified Environment: Date: hysician’s Signature: Office Phone:

Home Visit Record/Attendance Log (Please attach to your timesheet each month) Student Name: Instructor Name: DATE TIME IN REVIEWED MATERIAL TIME OUT PARENT SIGNATURE