HOME/HOSPITAL TEACHING PROGRAM

Program Purpose and Goal

The purpose of the Home/Hospital (H/H) Teaching Program is to provide continuing instruction for students who, for health reasons, are temporarily unable to attend school for four weeks or longer. The state guidelines allow for a minimum of four weeks and sets the maximum at 18 weeks that teaching services can be provided.

The goal of the Home/Hospital Teaching Program is to provide instructional support in the home or hospital setting to maintain academic progress during the temporary absence from school.

Eligibility and Referral Process

Students residing within the boundaries of Spokane Public Schools are eligible to apply for services and may be referred by school staff, parents or primary health care providers.

Documentation from the student’s health care provider is required to provide specifics about the medical condition and the number of anticipated weeks the student will be out of school.

To access services, please contact Vicki Gorder, program specialist (contact information below).
The following information is needed by the program specialist:

• Student name, school and grade level
• School contact name and phone number (teacher, school counselor, principal)
• Primary health care provider’s name and number

Once this information is received, the program specialist will fax a documentation form to the student’s primary health care provider. When documentation is received back from the primary health care provider, a H/H teacher is assigned to the student.

Program Design and Performance Responsibilities

Teaching will comply with the responsibilities as set forth in Spokane Public School’s procedure #4161. Teaching services will include all subjects possible for a maximum of four hours per week (including coordination time with the home school and travel time). The student remains on the classroom teacher’s enrollment and is not removed during the illness; thus the student is not counted as absent.

The H/H teacher will obtain assignments and materials and will act as a liaison between the school and the student. The student’s classroom teacher(s) must provide lesson plans, assignments, handouts, tests and grades for the H/H teacher. The classroom teacher(s) may evaluate student performance on the basis of H/ H teacher observation and input.

H/H teachers serving elementary aged students generally work directly with the classroom teacher(s). School counselors are generally responsible for collecting assignments and facilitating communication with the teachers for students enrolled at the secondary level.

Once assigned to a particular student, the H/H teacher will arrange dates and times agreeable to the parent, student and H/H teacher. The parent must arrange for an adult to be present and provide as quiet a setting as possible if teaching takes place in the home.

If you have questions regarding the Home/Hospital Teaching Program, please contact:

Vicki Gorder, Program Specialist.
Phone: 354-7329 e-mail: vickig@spokaneschools.org

Program Director: Kathe Reed-McKay, 354-7298