Homebound / Hospitalized

Levels of Available Services

Full-Time Homebound/Hospitalized Services

All instructional services are through a Homebound/Hospitalized teacher in conjunction with the student’s teachers. The student is CONFINED to the hospital or home and is unable to attend school.

Intermittent Homebound/Hospitalized Services

When intermittent attendance on a comprehensive campus is medically possible, students diagnosed with an acute or catastrophic illness or injury may be eligible for services. Such services would be contingent upon reoccurrence of the student’s medical condition. When the student is unable to attend school due to the diagnosed medical condition which CONFINES the student to the home or hospital, then the student may be entitled to Homebound/Hospitalized services.

Elementary] [Middle] [High School]

Eligibility Criteria

Students enrolled in St. Lucie County Public Schools who meet the following criteria may be eligible for instructional services through the Homebound/Hospitalized Program:

• A Licensed physician must complete the Homebound/Hospitalized Referral Form.
• The student is expected to be CONFINED to the home at least 15 school days from the date the Homebound/Hospitalized Referral is completed by a licensed physician,
  OR has a chronic illness requiring extended absences throughout the school year.
• The student is able to participate in and benefit from an educational program in the hospital or home.
• A medical condition requires confinement of the student to the hospital or home.
• A medical condition requires restricted activities for an extended period of time to include participation in community or extra-curricular activities.
• The student is not currently employed.

Referrals

The Homebound/Hospitalized Referral forms are available from the Exceptional Student Education District Office, School Guidance Counselors, or the form can be downloaded here:

• Homebound/Hospitalized Referral Form

There is no waiting period to initiate the process, and the processing beings upon notice that a child may be absent for 15 days or more.
Submission of a Homebound/Hospitalized Referral does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Eligibility status is determined during an Eligibility Determination meeting.
Parents must participate in the eligibility determination staffing. If the students is found eligible, parental consent must be obtained before Homebound/Hospitalized Services are initiated.
Homebound/Hospitalized teacher may not provide instructional service to the student outside the presence of the parent or guardian.

Academic Instruction

The Homebound/Hospitalized Program offers instructional services in a variety of courses. However, some electives, foreign languages, and laboratory courses, may not be available through the program, a modification to the student’s schedule may be made.

Pre-K Level: Pre-academics and developmental skills are the focal point of instructional services while receiving Homebound/Hospitalized instruction.

Elementary Level: The five basic subjects, reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies offered at this level will be commensurate with grade level promotion requirement

Middle School Level: The four basic subjects, language arts, math, science, and social studies offered at this level will be commensurate with grade level promotion requirements.

High School Level: Every effort is made to maintain the academic schedules of high school students ensuring the student has the opportunity to earn credits for the classes in which they are enrolled.

Staff

Crystal Keener
ESE Program Specialist
(772) 429-7537

It is the goal of the staff in the Homebound/Hospitalized office to work closely with families, a well as the administrative and instructional staff at the student’s home school to facilitate a smooth, successful transition for the student’s return to a school program on a comprehensive campus.

Pregnant Students