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 educational programs provided to students who have been approved for the Home and Hospital program are online instruction, home teaching, or a combination of the two.

The e-Learning Center offers online instruction to middle and high school students who have been approved for Home and Hospital services.  Teachers instruct through a blended-model approach that allows students to participate in direct instruction as a member of a class and also offers students the opportunity to work independently to complete assignments.  With 24/7 access to digital content, students can complete assigned work at any time of the day or night.  Online instructors follow the Baltimore County curricula and teach through the use of Moodle, a course management system, as well as Blackboard/Collaborate, a web conferencing tool.  One-to-one teaching is provided by 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. One-to-one tutors also follow the Baltimore County curricula.

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

Student Eligibility

A student is eligible for Home and Hospital program 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 online 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.