Homebound Instruction

Any student in grades K-12 may be considered for homebound instruction if the student has been absent or is predicted to be absent from school for fifteen (15) days or more due to physical illness, mental health treatment, or pregnancy.

• In the case of mental health treatment, a mental health professional may sign a Physician's Approval form requesting homebound service. (Minnesota Administrative Rules: 3525.2325, Subp. 5. Minimum service required).
• In medical situations, the school nurse sends (by mail or fax) a Physician's Approval form to the student's doctor to confirm the need for homebound instruction.

Starting Homebound Instruction

The Student Services Office contacts the parent/guardian by mail and phone to start homebound services. A parent/guardian or responsible adult must be in the home during homebound instruction. If an adult can't be present, instruction must take place in a public location such as a public library.

The assigned homebound teacher will contact the school to get assignments and books for the student.

Earning Credits

In calculating credits for advancing to the next grade level or for graduation, 60 minutes of homebound instruction is considered equivalent to one day of attendance in the regular school program. The combination of days the student has attended regular school and the hours spent in home or hospital instruction cannot, by law, exceed the total number of student days in a school year, which is 172 days for elementary students and 173 for secondary.

Refusing Services

Every Minnesota child between 7 and 17 years of age must receive instruction unless the child has graduated. If a parent/guardian refuses to allow District 623 to provide homebound instruction to a student who is under 18, Compulsory Attendance Law requirements and home-school issues arise.