Homebound Instruction

Students are expected to attend school to the fullest extent possible, homebound services may be considered by school teams for students who have a medical condition preventing them from participating in classroom instruction because they are confined to their home or a healthcare facility.

Students who will miss 20 consecutive school days or more of classroom instruction may be considered for homebound services.  Approval of students for homebound instruction requires medical documentation submitted by an approved medical professional and information provided in consultation with the school team.  Approval is determined on the basis of the documented need for service per the VDOE and FCPS regulation. 

The goal of homebound services is to keep the student current with classroom instruction during the standard school year and facilitate the student’s return to the current classroom setting. Homebound instruction is not intended to replace school services and is, by design, temporary. It is not remediation services and is not designed to provide students with time to make up previously missed assignments.  For students expected to be out of school in excess of nine weeks, a homebound transition plan specifying steps planned to return the student to classroom instruction is needed.  

Roles and Responsibilities: Parents and/or Guardians 

Support Student's Academic Progress 

• Work with the school staff to obtain assignments for courses not supported by homebound instruction, and return completed work to the school.
• Schedule instructional sessions once instructors have been assigned. Family preferences for instructional setting cannot be guaranteed, but will be considered.
• Ensure the student is ready for instruction at the time agreed upon.
• Provide an appropriate learning environment if instruction is in the home including a clean, distraction-free work space.

A Safe and Comfortable Environment

• Understand that the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) applies to all students during school-sponsored activities regardless of venue. Homebound instruction is considered a school-sponsored activity.
• Make sure that an adult is in the home at all times.
• Provide a safe and welcoming environment for staff working with your student: be respectful, kind, and clearly communicate throughout the process. 
• Provide in-person teachers access to a restroom while working in the home.
• Parents must agree to follow the FCPS Non-Discrimination policy.

Documentation and Communication

• If instruction is provided in-person, sign paperwork necessary to verify instruction after each session.  
• If instruction is provided virtually, respond weekly to the verification email from the teacher confirming the instructional time.
• Keep all appointments with the teacher or notify the teacher at least 24 hours in advance if the student is unavailable.  
• Inform the school homebound/home-based coordinator if the student’s situation changes.

Roles and Responsibilities: Students

Instructional Engagement

• Be ready to meet with the teachers at the scheduled times.
• Participate actively in instruction.
• Complete all assignments, including homework assigned.
• Use Schoology to submit completed assignments (if applicable).
• Maintain an organizational system for assignments, as necessary.

A Safe and Comfortable Environment

• Be respectful, kind, and clearly communicate throughout the process. 
• Understand that the SR&R applies to all students during school-sponsored activities regardless of venue. Homebound instruction is considered a school-sponsored activity.
• Students must agree to follow the FCPS Non-Discrimination policy.

Courses Supported and Teachers

• Instructional support is provided for core academic classes: english, science, social studies, and mathematics.  For secondary students, foreign language may also be supported if required for the diploma being pursued.  
• Homebound teachers do not provide instruction in physical education (P.E.), fine arts and practical arts, and elective courses.
• Homebound teachers must hold a current Virginia license. They may be current Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) teachers or may work hourly for FCPS to provide this service.
• Assignments and materials provided by the classroom teacher must be used by the homebound teacher.

Hours and Location of Homebound Services

• Based on a five-day school week, secondary students are generally provided with up to two and one-half (2.5) hours of instruction per week for each core class.  Elementary students are generally provided with up to  five (5) hours of instructional services per five-day school week.  Students who do not normally attend a full day of school (early childhood) have a proportionally fewer number of hours.
• Homebound instruction is delivered during regular school hours, late afternoon, or early evening, and only on those days when school is in session.  
• When scheduling sessions, homebound teachers take into consideration parent or guardian requests, but not all requests can be accommodated.
• Homebound services can be provided virtually, in-person, or through the use of an FCPS approved digital curriculum.
• The location of services is designated by Out of School Support (OSS) and may be the student’s home or a healthcare facility.  If services are to be provided in the home, a home visit must be completed prior to the initiation of services, an adult must be present at all times, and all pets must be confined prior to the arrival of the homebound teacher.   

Missed sessions

• Sessions missed due to cancellation by the family will not be made up.
• Sessions missed due to cancellation of FCPS school activities are not made up.
• Sessions missed due to cancellation by the homebound teacher are made up.

Special Education 

• If a student is eligible for special education services and qualifies for homebound instruction, the individualized education program (IEP) must be amended to reflect the student’s temporary instructional needs.
• Homebound instruction cannot begin until OSS has been provided with a signed copy of the IEP giving consent for homebound services.

Grading

• Frequent communication is required between the classroom and homebound teachers, and all work completed by the student is turned in to the classroom teacher. 
• Students are responsible for submitting assignments via Schoology (If applicable).  
• The classroom teacher is the teacher of record and is responsible for assigning the quarter, semester, and final grades to the student.
• Every effort will be made to ensure academic progress; however, course credit must still be earned according to class requirements.

Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests and Other Required Testing

• The school homebound coordinator, the school testing coordinator, classroom teachers, and homebound teachers will collaborate to arrange for the administration of required testing.

Extension or Early Termination of Homebound Services

• If homebound services need to be extended, parents should contact their school social worker to begin the extension process.
• If the student is able to return to school before scheduled to do so, it is the responsibility of the parent to obtain a medical release statement and provide it to the school team.

End-of-Year Termination of Homebound Services

• Homebound instruction for all students ends on the last scheduled day of regular classes for FCPS students.