Program Description

The Home and Hospital program is a short-term or intermittent instructional service. The educational services provided to students enable them to continue their academic work while preparing for their eventual return to school. The instructional programs provided are teleclass, home teaching, or a combination of the two.

Teleclass teaching provides academic instruction as well as social interaction in a classroom environment through distance learning. Teleclass teachers follow the Baltimore County curriculum. Each subject is taught via conference call, and students are provided with speaker phones and books in their homes. Students are able to talk with and hear the teacher and the other students in class. Some higher-level math and science classes offer computer-to-computer teaching.

One-to-one teaching is provided by full-time and part-time teachers and tutors who instruct students on an individual basis in the home or hospital setting. Teachers are liaisons between the students, the parents, and the regular schools in helping students maintain the pace of their regular classes. The Baltimore County curriculum is followed.

* All programs provide differentiated instruction and supports for special needs students.

Student Eligibility
A student is eligible for Home and Hospital services if:

• The student is currently enrolled in a Baltimore County Public School and has a physician's verification of a medical disability or an emotional condition that prevents attendance in a school-based program. There must be an anticipated absence of four or more weeks. This means that a student must expect to be out of school for four or more weeks. The student does not have to be absent for four weeks before services are provided.
• The student expects to have frequent intermittent absences due to a chronic illness and has a physician's verification.
• The student is admitted to a hospital located in Baltimore County.

Location of Service

• Home:  Instruction can be provided in the student's home if the teleclass program is not possible.  For home visits, a parent, guardian, or designated supervising adult, 21 years of age or older, must be present during the entire visit.
• Other settings:  Some students are instructed while in the hospital.  Facilities such as libraries, group homes, therapeutic centers, or other Baltimore County public schools can also be utilized.