Home Instruction Due to Health Needs
Our district provides home instruction for K-12 students, including those in general and special education, who can’t attend school due to a temporary or long-term health condition or treatment. This applies if they’re confined to home or another out-of-school setting.
Requesting Home Instruction
Parents should submit a written request to the Director of School Counseling Services. This request must include a doctor’s note stating the student needs to be out of school for more than ten consecutive school days or twenty cumulative school days in a school year.
The Director will send this note to the school physician, who will confirm the need for home instruction. The school physician may contact the student’s doctor for more information and will either approve or deny the request with reasons. Parents will be notified of the school physician’s decision within five school days of receiving the initial doctor’s note.
Providing Services
Instructional services will begin within five school days after the school physician approves. If approved before the student is confined, services will start during the first week of their confinement.
The district covers the costs of home or out-of-school instruction. This can be directly provided by the district, through online services (including necessary equipment), or by contracting with other educational organizations. This applies to students enrolled in public schools within our district’s area, or nonpublic schools located within our district’s area.
Home Instruction Standards
We have a written plan for delivering instruction, tracking student progress, and maintaining records.
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The teacher providing instruction must be certified.
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Instruction will be provided for enough days and time to ensure the student continues to make academic progress, depending on their ability to participate.
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For students with disabilities, home instruction will align with their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as appropriate and meet learning standards. If home instruction lasts over thirty consecutive school days, the IEP team will meet to review and potentially update the IEP.
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For students without disabilities, home instruction must meet state learning standards and district requirements for promotion. If home instruction exceeds sixty calendar days, the school physician will refer the student for an evaluation by the Child Study Team.
For further clarification, please refer to the North Hunterdon-Voorhees District & Board of Education Policies and Regulations.
