General Education Homebound Services
General Education Homebound (GEH) services provide instruction to eligible students who are at home or in a hospital setting.
Students served through GEH have a medical condition or extended illness that prevents attendance in school for at least four weeks, as documented by a physician licensed to practice in the U.S.
GEH instruction may also be provided to chronically ill students who are expected to be confined for a period of time totaling at least four weeks throughout the school year, as document by a licensed physician. Decisions regarding services are determined by a General Education Homebound committee.
When services are provided in a private setting, such as a home, there must be an adult other than the student and the teacher present in the home.
How Homebound Works
Who Qualifies? What Next?
Who Qualifies to receive General Education Homebound Services?
Any General Education student who is expected to miss 4 weeks or 20 school days (days need not be consecutive) due to a physician documented medical illness that keeps the student CONFINED to the home or hospital bed may qualify for homebound services, pending a 504 committee review.
Who do I speak with on my child’s campus to discuss Homebound services?
Please contact your child’s counselor and Assistant Principal to discuss the medical issue. In most cases, there are academic and medical accommodations that can be made on campus to help the student remain in school. All on-campus solutions must be tried before homebound is considered as it is the MOST-RESTRICTIVE learning environment. Only the campus Nurse will fax homebound forms to a doctor. No forms are given to a parent/guardian.
Who has the forms that the doctor must fill out for homebound services to be considered?
The campus NURSE has all the documentation that is needed and will fax the forms to your child’s doctor. The nurse will request that a Confidentiality Release be signed in order for paperwork to be sent to any doctor. Please visit the campus nurse to discuss medical accommodations that can be put in place at the campus. If homebound is needed the nurse will fax a Physician’s Information Report to the doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a student have to be absent for a certain number of days before homebound services can start?
My child attends an outpatient/treatment facility all day or part of the school day, can my child receive homebound services?
Homebound services cannot be provided in this situation as the student is not confined to the home or hospital. Per TEA Attendance Accounting policy:
3.11.28 Example 28 A student enrolled in your district goes to a treatment facility daily to attend a treatment program. The student returns to her home each night. District staff members would like to serve the student through the GEH program. The student is considered absent for funding purposes for those days she attends the treatment program. Because the student is not confined at home or hospital bedside, which is a requirement for GEH program eligibility, the student is not eligible for GEH services. District staff members should work with the student and the student’s parents to develop a plan for the student to meet academic requirements.
Does an adult need to be present at all times when a homebound teacher is instructing my child?
Can the parent leave the home to run errands while a homebound teacher is instructing the student?
My child is 18. Does another adult have to be present when the homebound teacher provides instruction?
I would like my child to be seen at another home (such as grandparent's home) for homebound instruction. Is this possible?
My child is currently admitted into Dell Children's Hospital (or another hospital not in RRISD attendance zone). Can the homebound teacher provide instruction at the hospital?
Why does the teacher only provide 4 hours of instruction each week when there are 5 days in a school week?
Per TEA attendance accounting handbook:
- Amount of Time Served per Week vs Eligible Days Present
- 1 hour 1 day present
- 2 hours 2 days present
- 3 hours 3 days present
- 4 hours 4 days present (if the week is a 4-day week)
- 5 days present (if the week is a 5-day week)
- More than 4 hours 4 days present (if the week is a 4-day week)
- 5 days present (if the week is a 5-day week)
Can my child work or participate in extracurricular activities while receiving homebound services?
No. The child is supposed to be confined to the home in order to receive homebound services. If a student has a job or participates in extracurricular activities homebound services will be discontinued.
What is intermittent homebound and how is it different?
Intermittent homebound is an option for students who have a medical condition that only keeps them out of school for short periods at a time throughout the year. For instance, a student who has sickle cell anemia will have flare-ups that cause so much pain that they have to miss school for a week several times a year. In this case, intermittent homebound would be appropriate. Upon placement on intermittent homebound the procedure is as follows: the parent would notify Homebound on the day of the first absence. If the student can return to school on the second or third day then no homebound services will begin. If the student cannot attend school on the third day a homebound teacher will see the student up to 4 hours each week until the student can return to the regular classroom.
