Section 226.300  Continuum of Alternative Placement Options

Each local school district shall, in conformance with the requirements of 34 CFR 300.39 and 300.115, ensure that a continuum of placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services.  With respect to the home instruction and instruction in hospitals and institutions referenced in 34 CFR 300.39 and 300.115:

a)         The child receives services at home or in a hospital or other setting because he or she is unable to attend school elsewhere due to a medical condition.

b)         When an eligible student has a medical condition that will cause an absence for two or more consecutive weeks of school or ongoing intermittent absences, as defined in Section 14-13.01(a) of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-13.01(a)], the IEP Team for that child shall consider the need for home or hospital services. The provision of home or hospital services  shall be based upon a written statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches that specifies:

1)         the child's medical condition;

2)         the impact on the child's ability to participate in education (the child's physical and mental level of tolerance for receiving educational services); and

3)         the anticipated duration or nature of the child's absence from school.

c)         Special education and related services required by the child's IEP must be implemented as part of the child's home or hospital instruction, unless the IEP Team determines that modifications are necessary during the home or hospital instruction due to the child's condition.  (Section 14-13.01 of the School Code)

1)         The amount of instructional or related service time provided through the home or hospital program shall be determined in relation to the child's educational needs and physical and mental health needs.

2)         The amount of instructional time shall not be less than five hours per week unless the physician has certified in writing that the child should not receive as many as five hours of instruction in a school week.  In the event that the child's illness or a teacher's absence reduces the number of hours in a given week to which the child is entitled, the school district shall work with the IEP Team and the child's parents to provide the number of hours missed, as medically advisable for the child.

d)         A child whose home or hospital instruction is being provided via telephone or other technological device shall receive not less than two hours per week of direct instructional services.

e)         Instructional time shall be scheduled only on days when school is regularly in session, unless otherwise agreed to by all parties.

f)         Home or hospital instructors shall meet the requirements of 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.610 (Personnel Required to be Qualified).

g)         In accordance with Section 14-13.01(a) of the School Code, services required by the IEP shall be implemented not later than five school days after the district receives the physician's statement.

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 2220, effective January 13, 2016)