The Hospital/Homebound program allows students who are unable to attend school due to health reasons to continue receiving their education. Depending on students' needs and their abilities, the program varies a bit from one student to another. Hospital Homebound is not meant to be a permanent program and does not replace the traditional school setting. The aim of our program is to help your student get back to school as soon as they are able. This website will give you an idea of what to expect from the start of the application process throughout your child's participation as a Hospital Homebound student.

A homebound or hospitalized student is a student who has a medically diagnosed physical or psychiatric condition that is acute or catastrophic in nature, or a chronic illness or a repeated intermittent illness due to a persisting medical problem, which confines the student to home or hospital and restricts activities for an extended period of time. The corresponding definition is found in State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.03020, Florida Administrative Code (FAC).

In order to qualify for services in Alachua County, it must be anticipated that a student will miss fourteen or more days of school. These days do not need to be consecutive. If you suspect your student's health or medical condition may result in missing fourteen or more days of school, please apply before they have reached this number of absences! If your student will be having surgery, please apply once the surgery is scheduled if possible. This way, we can be prepared to offer services as soon as your student is ready to begin working with a hospital/homebound teacher and minimize the amount of learning time they may miss. We do have a teacher who works with students who are hospitalized for an extended time. If you expect your student to have a prolonged hospital stay, please apply for the program so they can receive services.