A student who is absent from school, or whose physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse anticipates that the student will be absent from school, because of a medical condition may be eligible for instruction in the student’s home or hospital. Eligibility shall be determined by State law and the Ill. State Board of Education rules governing (1) the continuum of placement options for students who have been identified for special education services or (2) the home and hospital instruction provisions for students who have not been identified for special education services. Appropriate educational services from qualified staff will begin no later than five school days after receiving a written statement from: (1) a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, (2) a licensed physician assistant, or (3) a licensed advanced practice registered nurse. Instructional or related services for a student receiving special education services will be determined by the student’s individualized education program.
A student who is unable to attend school because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, the fulfillment of parenting obligations related to the health of the child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence as defined in 105 ILCS 5/26A, will be provided home instruction, correspondence courses, or other courses of instruction under the following circumstances:
Before the birth of the child when the student’s physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse indicates, in writing, that she is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction.
For up to three months after the child’s birth or a miscarriage.
When a student must care for his or her ill child if:
The child's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse informs the District, in writing, that the child has a serious health condition that would require the student to be absent from school for two or more consecutive weeks; and
The student or the student's parent/guardian informs the District, in writing, that the student needs to care for the child during this period.
The student must treat physical or mental health complications or address safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence when a health care provider or an employee of the student's domestic or sexual violence organization, as defined in 105 ILCS 5/26A, informs the District, in writing, that the care is needed by the student and will cause the student's absence from school for two or more consecutive weeks.
The District may reassess home instruction provided to a student under No. 3 or No. 4 every two months to determine the student's continuing need for home instruction.
Periodic conferences will be held between appropriate school personnel, parent(s)/guardian(s), and hospital staff to coordinate course work and facilitate a student’s return to school.
LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/10-19.05(e), 5/10-22.6a, 5/14-13.01, and 5/18-4.5.
23 Ill.Admin.Code §§1.520, 1.610, and 226.300.
CROSS REF.: 6:120 (Education of Children with Disabilities), 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities), 7:250 (Student Support Services), 7:255 (Students Who are Parents, Expectant Parents, or Victims of Domestic or Sexual Violence), 7:280 (Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease)
UPDATED: May 2025