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Health Services » Home & Hospital Instruction

Home & Hospital Instruction

Home & Hospital Instruction in The Lucia Mar Unified School District

Overview:

The purpose of Home & Hospital Instruction (H&HI) is to help students maintain continuity of instruction during a temporary, short-term disability.  Any student with a temporary, short-term disability that makes attendance in regular school or an alternative education program impossible or inadvisable may receive individual instruction provided by the student’s school district.

A temporary disability is a temporary physical, mental or emotional disability incurred while a pupil is enrolled in regular day classes or an alternative education program.  The student will be expected to return to regular day classes or an alternative education program without special intervention pursuant to Education Code 56026 (Education Code 48206.3).

Examples of temporary, short-term disabilities include, but are not limited to: broken limbs, hand injuries, or short-term impairments following an injury, surgery or medical treatments.

 

Eligibility:

  • Student must be a Lucia Mar Unified resident or Inter-district permitted student and enrolled in grade K-12. For permitted students, instruction must occur in Lucia Mar Unified.
  • Student has an anticipated absence of four weeks (20 school days) or more from regular school due to a temporary, short-term disability.
  • The licensed physician verifies in writing, including a written report of medical restrictions and/or needs, the student’s diagnosis, and need for H&HI services.
  • The referring physician must be responsible for continuing treatment and service while the student is out of regular school.

Referral Process:

Parents request the Home-Hospital Instruction (H&HI) Referral Form from the school nurse.  The referral form must be completely filled out by the doctor in order to be considered, and must include the diagnosis, medical restrictions, and the length of time the student is anticipated to be confined.  The parent must have the Medical/Psychiatric Referral Form completed by an MD, OD or clinical psychologist.

 

Many students with temporary health problems may still be able to attend regular school with modifications.  The modifications are determined through planning sessions with the family, student’s physician, school nurse, and other school officials.  In some cases, a temporary modification of the school schedule is sufficient to accommodate the student’s needs, and home instruction is not necessary.

Continuation of H&HI services is always subject to review and requires re-verification every 30 days with a new HHI Referral Form filled out and authorized by the student’s physician and a parent/guardian.

 

Service Options:

An eligible student for HHI may receive 300 minutes of instruction per week by a credentialed teacher, one hour per day per week.  It is the responsibility of the parent to be present in the home while the H&HI teacher is present or other family adult 21 years old and over.  It is also the parent responsibility to provide a quiet, appropriate learning environment for H&HI instruction in the home.  When the physician determines the student may return to regular school, the physician authorization must indicate the level of activity in addition to the limitations or instructions regarding the student’s care at regular school.

H&HI can also be provided to a student in a hospital or other residential health facility, or under other circumstances prescribed by the California State Board of Education.

The Student Services Office shall notify parents at the beginning of a school term of the availability of H&HI for students with a temporary, short-term disability (Education Code 48206.3[d] and 48980).

 

WHAT A PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT HOME HOSPTIAL INSTRUCITON (H&HI):

  • H&HI allows students to receive temporary, short-term instruction who are severely restricted and unable to attend school due to a temporary disability.  A temporary disability is a temporary physical, mental or emotional disability incurred while a pupil is enrolled in regular day classes or an alternative education program.  The student will be expected to return to regular day classes or an alternative education program without special intervention pursuant to Education Code 56026 (Education Code 48206.3).
  • The student will receive an hour of teacher instruction for each day school is in session, for a maximum of five hours per week.  The schedule of visits is arranged between the parent and the student and the HHI teacher.
  • The H&HI teacher will work to continue, as much as possible, the regular teacher class assignments.

WHAT H&HI IS NOT:

  • H&HI is not an alternative education program for your student.  The purpose of H&HI is to minimize the loss of instruction while a student is recovering from a temporary disability.  The severity of disability is determined through a physician diagnosis and educational alternatives are considered before H&HI is authorized.  The student will return to regular school or an alternative education program as soon as the student is healthy enough to do so as determined by a physician.
  • Instruction in the H&HI program is not the same as instruction at the regular school.  The H&HI teacher may not have the academic background to teach all subjects.  Therefore a student may be behind schedule in completing assignments and tests when the student returns to regular school.
  • Students enrolled in Advanced Placement Courses, Foreign Language or Lab Classes may be behind in their studies upon return to the regular program.
  • A physician does not authorize H&HI.  Only the Lucia Mar Unified Student Services Office can authorize H&HI.  In completing the Referral Form, a physician must provide medical information so a valid and proper student placement can be considered.
  • H&HI does not apply to students identified as individuals with exceptional needs pursuant to Education Code 56026 (Education Code 48206.3).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR H&HI:

  • Any regularly enrolled LMUSD student who will miss school for a minimum of four weeks (20 school days) due to a temporary disability may be eligible for H&HI.
  • Student placement is considered through careful review of the Medical/Psychiatric Referral Form and required documentation.

WHO DO PARENTS/GUARDIANS CONTACT FOR H&HI FORMS?

  • Please contact your student’s school nurse for forms and clarification of questions related to Home and Hospital Instruction.