What We Do
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Jefferson Parish Schools Department of Special Programs provides Hospital/Homebound services to all Jefferson Parish students in grades K-12, who meet the eligibility criteria of the Hospital/Homebound program. Instruction will continue while a student is at home or hospitalized within the boundaries of the Jefferson Parish Schools because of medical, physical, and/or emotional problems.
Hospital/Homebound service provides instruction in core required subjects for grades K-12. The classroom teacher is responsible for providing the Homebound teacher a list of curriculum content that should be covered, including coursework, outlines, textbooks, and any other materials necessary to support the student’s instructional program. When possible, students will be enrolled in online instruction, and these materials will be used as supplemental resources. The Homebound teacher will provide completed coursework to the classroom teacher for all subjects taught outside of his/her area of certification for the classroom teacher to review and determine the student’s nine week grade(s). Homebound teachers will provide grades in their area(s) of certification.
The JP School must appoint a designee who will be responsible for notifying the Hospital/Homebound Department via a Hospital/Homebound School Referral Form HH1 (2 pages). The school designee must also provide a current copy of the Application for Hospital/Homebound Form (HH2 or HH3) to the family upon knowledge of a student’s request for Hospital/Homebound services. Students will not receive Hospital/Homebound services until all paperwork has been submitted by fax to the Hospital/Homebound office at (504) 484-8191.
In order to qualify for Hospital/Homebound services, the following criteria must be met:
- The student must live or be hospitalized withing the boundaries of the Jefferson Parish Schools.
- The student must be free from communicable disease.
- The student must be registered in a public school.
- The anticipated length of the student’s absence must be four weeks or more.
- Medical documentation regarding the student’s medical and/or emotional diagnosis, and anticipated length of time the student will be unable to attend school must be provided to, and approved by, the Hospital/ Homebound Department. The application form must be completed by a medical doctor (Form HH2) or a licensed psychiatrist/ psychologist (Form HH3). (Forms and Documents ).
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Regulations for the Hospital/Homebound Program
A regular program of study and preparation of lessons is required of each student. The amount of time will vary with the condition and needs of the student. This is to be determined by the teacher with input from the physician, nurse, psychologist, family, etc. An agreement between the parent, classroom teacher, hospital/homebound teacher and student will be made as to the amount of work to be accomplished by the student.
The physician’s documentation for the Hospital/Homebound services must be submitted to the Hospital/Homebound Department prior to approval of services. New physician’s orders must be resubmitted if the probable period of confinement requires an extension of services. Pregnancy leaves will only receive 6 weeks of Hospital/Homebound services, unless otherwise specified by the physician due to complications.
A Hospital/Homebound teacher is a certified teacher responsible for grades and assignments in their area of certification in core subjects (determined by the student’s schedule) in grades K-12.
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Responsibilities of the Parent
- To provide the Hospital/Homebound Department with physician’s orders (Forms HH2 or HH3) documenting the need for Hospital/Homebound services.
- To notify the Hospital/Homebound Department as soon as the student misses school due to planned or unplanned prolonged illness.
- To have a parent/guardian present in the home during the entire teaching period.
- To contact the school to obtain assignments in elective subjects not taught by the Hospital/Homebound teacher. Failure to obtain assignments may result in the failure of a course.
- To provide transportation to the library or agreed upon location where services will take place. If the student is unable to leave their home because of the seriousness of the student’s medical condition, the parent will provide an area in the home for learning which includes table and chairs, computer, internet access, and other supplies needed for the instructional period. The instructional time should be free from distractions.
- To notify the Hospital/Homebound teacher as soon as possible if it is necessary to cancel the regular visit. Absences will be dealt with on an individual basis.
- To notify the Hospital/Homebound teacher prior to a scheduled session if a member of the household has a contagious/communicable disease. (i.e. pink eye, lice, flu, infectious mononucleosis, etc.)
- To ensure all materials are returned to the school once services have been terminated.
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Responsibilities of the Referring School
- To appoint a School Hospital/Homebound Designee who will be responsible for completing the School Referral Form (HH1, both pages) and compiling all information requested to complete the referral.
- To notify the Hospital/Homebound Department of a student’s request for Hospital/Homebound services using form HH1 (School Referral Form) as soon as they are aware of the need for services, so that eligibility can be determined by the Hospital/Homebound Coordinator. A doctor’s referral does not automatically guarantee the student’s placement in the Hospital/Homebound program.
- To provide current Hospital/Homebound Physician Referral Forms (HH2 and/or HH3) to the families of students who are requesting Hospital/Homebound services. HH2 is for any medical reason students may need Hospital/Homebound services, and must be completed by a medical doctor. HH3 is for any student who may need Hospital/Homebound services for a psychological illness, and must be completed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. (Outdated Hospital/Homebound doctor referral forms will not be accepted.)
- To contact the Hospital/Homebound Department once a student’s pregnancy leave begins. No earlier than two weeks prior to the date pregnancy leave is to begin, the School Hospital/Homebound Designee should send in the School Referral Form (HH1), along with the packet of required information to the Hospital/Homebound Department so that a Hospital/Homebound teacher can be assigned to the student.
- To provide academic assignments to the family in subject areas not taught by the Hospital/Homebound teacher.
- To provide standardized test materials and manuals, and interval tests and scoring guides to the Hospital/Homebound teacher for any students receiving Hospital/Homebound services during standardized testing and interval testing.
- To give the Hospital/Homebound teacher Infinite Campus rights to students once placed on their caseload, and create a Hospital/Homebound schedule for the student. Then, to remove the Hospital/Homebound teacher from that student’s schedule at the end of the Hospital/Homebound services for that student.
- To count the student present on their school rolls when receiving Hospital/Homebound services because they are enrolled in a JPPSS instructional program.
- The school will send the following items with the School Referral Form (HH1) when referring students for Hospital/Homebound services:
- Copy of the current IEP for all students receiving special education services
- Copy of the Functional Behavior Assessment, Behavior Support Plan, and Progress Monitoring Data, when applicable
- Copy of the student’s schedule
- Provide assignments and textbooks in subjects to be taught by the Hospital Homebound teacher for the first four weeks.
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Responsibilities of the Classroom Teacher
- To count the student present while receiving Hospital/Homebound services.
- To provide assignments, textbooks and workbooks to students pending eligibility of Hospital/Homebound services until the Hospital/Homebound teacher is officially assigned to the student.
- To provide assignments, textbooks and workbooks to students whose illness dictates that they will be out of school for four weeks or less.
- To provide assignments and textbooks to the School Hospital/Homebound Designee, and the Hospital/Homebound teacher in subjects to be taught by the Hospital/Homebound teacher.
- To collaborate with the Hospital/Homebound teacher regarding specific GLEs, IEP goals/objectives to be addressed each nine weeks. This information should be provided no later than two working days of initial contact with the Hospital/Homebound teacher. Ongoing collaboration with the Hospital/Homebound teacher shall occur via email, phone call, or school visits at a minimum of every two weeks.
- To collaborate with the Hospital/Homebound teacher for students using online instruction programs to ensure proper GLEs are addressed.
- To provide assignments to the student and family in subject areas that may not be taught by the Hospital/Homebound teacher.
- To accept grades from the Hospital/Homebound teacher for the time that the student received Hospital/Homebound services and incorporate the grades into the student’s nine week average for students returning to the classroom prior to the end of a nine week marking period. Classroom teachers are responsible for assigning report card grades and/or Carnegie units for students assigned to their caseload as reflected on Infinite Campus (i.e. subjects in which the Hospital/Homebound teacher is not certified.)
- To work collaboratively with the Hospital/Homebound teacher, parent, student, and other relevant professionals to determine the amount of work to be accomplished by the student while receiving Hospital/Homebound services. This decision will be based on the individual needs of each student.
- To amend or complete a new IEP once the student returns to the regular school campus, in order to change the student’s placement from Hospital/Homebound back to a school campus placement.
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Responsibilities of the Hospital/Homebound Teacher
- To teach the student in all core subject areas. Electives taught will be decided on an individual basis, taking into consideration whether the student needs these electives to graduate or be promoted to the next grade.
- To contact the parent within two working days of receipt of the Hospital/Homebound referral.
- To contact the School Hospital/Homebound Designee, school counselor and classroom teacher within two working days of receipt of the Hospital/Homebound referral.
- To work collaboratively with the classroom teacher, parent, student and other relevant professionals to determine the amount of work to be accomplished by the student while receiving Hospital/Homebound services. This decision will be based on the individual needs of each student. Ongoing collaboration with the classroom teacher shall occur a minimum of every two weeks via email, phone call and/or school visits.
- To schedule an IEP conference at the student’s referring school within two days of receipt of the Hospital/Homebound Referral Packet, and amend or complete the Hospital/Homebound IEP within ten days of placement for all students currently receiving special education services.
- To accept grades from the classroom teacher for the time that the student was in the classroom, and incorporate the grades into the Hospital/Homebound student’s nine-week average at the end of a nine week marking period. Hospital/Homebound teachers are responsible for assigning report card grades and/or Carnegie units in subjects in which they are certified for students assigned to their caseloads as reflected on Infinite Campus.
- To notify parents as soon as possible when it is necessary to cancel the scheduled visit.
- To work collaboratively with the enrolling school to collect standardized testing materials and test manuals, administer standardized tests, and return materials and test manuals to enrolling schools for students assigned on their caseload during standardized testing time.
- To work collaboratively with the student’s school to collect interval tests and scoring guides, and to return the tests to the enrolling school or a designated drop off site for scoring.