A brief overview of basic, frequently asked questions regarding Homebound Instruction services in Arlington Public Schools

1. FAQ’s

2.  Home or Hospital
 Medical or Psychological
Condition
 Long-term, significant
impact on attendance

3.  Public Health Nurse at the
student’s school
 The nurse contact the Office of
Special Programs to process the
application
 If approved, a teacher at the
student’s school will work with
the assigned Homebound
Instructor throughout the
period of Homebound services.

4.  Medical certification by a physician or a
licensed clinical psychologist
◦ States the diagnosed condition
◦ Expected duration of inability to attend school
 Parental consent and agreement
◦ Allows APS to contact the certifying professional
◦ Verifies that the parent understands the conditions
required

5.  No set limits, but must be reviewed every 9
weeks.
 The frequency and duration of Homebound
Instruction sessions varies.
◦ 1 hour per day for elementary school
◦ 8 hours per week for middle school
◦ 2 hours per week per core subject for high school
 For students with disabilities, the nature and
amount of services is determined by the IEP
or Section 504 team

6.  Sometimes students are recovering from
serious conditions and may return to school
gradually.
 Homebound is not considered an appropriate
response for students with school avoidance
or truancy. Students may not choose to stay
home and attend only preferred parts of
school.

7.  Contact the school clinic or counseling office,
or the Office of Special Programs.
 Visit:
◦ Virginia Department of Education Guidelines for
Homebound Instruction