Homebound & Hospitalization Services

Pupils must be enrolled in a public school in Michigan in order to receive homebound and hospitalized services. An enrolled pupil who is certified by a physician who is either an M.D. or a D.O. or a licensed physician's assistant, hospital, or licensed treatment facility, as having a medical condition that requires the pupil to be hospitalized or to be confined to the home during regular school hours for a period longer than five (5) consecutive school days, is eligible for services. This includes pupils in psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse centers, or pupils placed in other medical facilities by the parent or medical practitioners.  

The district must, within three days after being notified by a parent or legal guardian, plan to provide these services if the following conditions are met:  

1. The pupil is enrolled in the public school district and assigned to an appropriate general or special education program. 
2. The pupil is unable to attend school because of medical condition. Pupils who can attend school part-time are expected to do so and do not qualify for homebound and hospitalized service. 

Each district or intermediate district shall provide appropriate instructional services, as determined by the district or intermediate district, to an enrolled pupil who is certified by a physician who is either an M.D. or a D.O. or a licensed physician's assistant as having a medical condition that requires the pupil to be hospitalized or confined to his or her home during regular school hours and that is expected to require the hospitalization or confinement for a period longer than five school days.  

The district or intermediate district may provide the services itself or may contract with an intermediate district, a hospital, a treatment center, or another district to provide the services. In choosing a provider for the instructional services, the district or intermediate district shall consider which of those potential providers is best able to deliver the appropriate instructional services. The district or intermediate district shall pay reasonable costs as agreed upon between the district or intermediate district and the provider for services provided to a pupil under this section.  

The school is responsible for the delivery of all content of the homebound and hospitalized instruction, the textbooks required for the course and related materials, as well as course assignments and grading.  

The school district is required to provide a minimum of two 45-minute instructional periods per week for general education pupils; or a minimum of two nonconsecutive 60-minute instructional periods per week for pupils with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The two one-hour sessions for a pupil with an IEP may be on the same day; however, there must be an adequate break between the two sessions. 

These periods of instruction are the minimum requirements. When a district determines the amount of time for homebound and hospitalized services for a pupil with an IEP, the school district must consider a pupil’s entitlement to a free appropriate public education. 

Homebound services will be provided during regular school hours unless otherwise scheduled by the district. The district is responsible for making homebound and hospitalized service available when a pupil’s classes are in session. For most pupils, the program will begin in September and end in June with Christmas and spring breaks. Pupils attending school year-round or on a balanced calendar will receive service based on the schedule of the buildings. 

Homebound/Hospitalized Services Teacher Responsibility 

The homebound and hospitalized services teacher will work with the parent or guardian, and a physician who is either an M.D. or a D.O. or a licensed physician's assistant on the following items: 

1. Identify any physical limitations or learning impairments that will affect the student’s ability to study, including those imposed by the treatment program. 
2. Identify factors imposed by the treatment program that could limit or impede instruction. 
3. Identify ways to maximize the instructional experience. 
4. Determine precautions needed to protect the student and teacher from communicable disease. The local community health department can provide consultation. 
5. Maintain contact with the student’s classroom teacher to receive direction on instructional services provided. 
6. Deliver coursework to and from the student’s classroom teacher. 

The homebound and hospitalized services teacher will provide a minimum of two periods of instruction per week through the duration of the prolonged absence. The homebound and hospitalized services teacher will take assignments to the pupil, provide support to the parents or other care givers so they can help guide the pupil in the instruction, provide tutorial services to help the pupil gain basic information to complete assignments, and to provide other support that might be useful in helping the pupil maintain as much academic progress as possible while temporarily away from school. 

Classroom Teacher Responsibility 

The classroom teacher will identify the specific subject areas and content that the pupil should study while away from school. The classroom teacher will determine the priority of each subject matter, considering the pupil’s present level of achievement and instructional needs. The classroom teacher will provide all relevant course material to the homebound and hospitalized services teacher while the pupil is away from school. The classroom teacher will maintain the grade book, assignments, quizzes, and assessments for the teacher even if conducted using a separate homebound and hospitalized services teacher. 

Parent Responsibility 

Michigan law requires a parent, legal guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child aged six to sixteen to send the child to school during the entire school year, except under certain limited circumstances. The exceptions include but are not limited to, sending a child to a state-approved nonpublic school or educating the child at home in an organized educational program.  

A district or intermediate district is required to provide instructional services under subsection (1) to a pupil placed in a hospital, treatment center, or other treatment facility without the district's or intermediate district's prior knowledge only if the district or intermediate district is notified of the pupil's placement by the hospital, treatment center, facility, or the pupil's parent or legal guardian. Parents are responsible for notifying the school district when the pupil is going to be homebound or hospitalized for a period longer than five consecutive school days. Parents should notify the school administrator in writing with the name of the physician who is either an M.D. or a D.O. or a licensed physician's assistant or hospital and authorize the release of enough information to allow the school district to determine eligibility.  

When the pupil is homebound, the parent should:  

1. Provide access to the pupil’s home and help schedule teacher visits so they do not conflict with medical treatments. 
2. Provide an appropriate environment and the necessary supervision for their child to complete assignments. 
3. Help the child schedule time for study, ensuring appropriate instructional materials are available and at hand. 
4. Support the child with learning activities to the extent possible as agreed upon with the teacher. 

While parents should encourage their child to keep up with schoolwork, they should not do the work for the child. If the parent feels assignments are too difficult or feels the child does not have the prerequisite skills needed to carry out the assignments, the parent should discuss this with the homebound and hospitalized service teacher or the classroom teacher. 

Student Responsibility 

To ensure successful completion of the course or assignment(s), the pupil should: 

1. Ask for assistance and/or clarification as needed to complete assignments. 
2. Attend to the class activities to the extent that they are physically capable. 
3. Return materials and supplies after completing assignments. 
4. Continue to work with the teacher(s) of record to do any extra work needed so that the pupil has minimum competencies needed to complete the subject or grade, after returning to school. 

When a school learns of a pupil with a medical condition that could result in more than five consecutive days of absence, the school must first determine if the pupil is eligible for homebound and hospitalized service, and if eligible, arrange to provide services within three school days. If a school learns of a pupil who may require services in the future, it is the school’s responsibility to plan for providing those services.  

The enrolling district is responsible for initiating service. When it is anticipated the pupil will be out of school for more than five consecutive school days, the district will have the service begin as soon as possible but not later than three school days after being notified.  

Placement changes for a pupil with an IEP must occur in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that states that a placement decision is made by a group of persons, including the parents, and other persons knowledgeable about the pupil, the meaning of the evaluation data, and the placement options; and is made in conforming with the least restrictive environment provisions.