Home & Hospital Services

Carroll County Public Schools’ (CCPS) home & hospital program provides instructional continuity to students who are unable to attend their regular school of enrollment due to physical illness/injury, an emotional condition, pregnancy, or a chronic health impairment. Home & hospital is a short-term instructional service mandated by state law with specific guidelines for program implementation and delivery. Services will be provided virtually via a platform that provides both synchronous (live tutor) and asynchronous (independent computer work/projects) programming.

In order to qualify for home & hospital services, the student must be expected to be absent from school for a projected period of fifteen (15) consecutive school days or more as a result of a physical or an emotional problem or has a history of intermittent absences due to a chronic health impairment.

Elementary students will receive a maximum of ten (10) hours of services per week. Middle and high school students will receive a maximum of eight (8) hours of services per week. The classes offered and total hours of services provided weekly will be determined by the Home & Hospital Program Supervisor (some classes will not be offered).

Physical illness/injury, pregnancy, or chronic health impairment: Obtain a Medical Professional’s Recommendation for Home & Hospital Services (Physical Only) form. Complete the parent/legal guardian section and forward the form to the appropriate medical professional. The completion of the form authorizes CCPS staff to communicate with your medical professional. Please note that failure to sign the release of information will result in denial of home & hospital services.

     • Physical Illness/Injury: A licensed physician or certified nurse practitioner (CNP) must complete all information in the medical professional section, including the anticipated date the student will return to school.

     • Pregnancy: Pregnant students are expected to attend school during their pregnancy. The medical professional must provide an estimated date of delivery on the home & hospital recommendation form. Home & hospital services are provided for six (6) weeks postpartum.

     • Chronic Health Impairment: Students diagnosed as having a chronic health impairment (such as cancer, asthma, sickle cell anemia, kidney failure, juvenile diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or cardiac disorders) may be eligible for full-time, part-time, or concurrent home & hospital services. For concurrent approval, the physician’s statement must indicate that the illness will cause frequent intermittent absences of 20% or more of the school year. Concurrent home & hospital services are provided to the student during intermittent absences of at least three (3) consecutive school days due to the chronic illness.

Emotional Condition: Obtain a Medical Professional’s Recommendation for Home & Hospital Services (Emotional Only) form. Complete the parent/legal guardian section and forward the form to the appropriate medical professional. The completion of the form authorizes CCPS staff to communicate with your medical professional. Please note that failure to sign the release of information will result in denial of home & hospital services. The recommendation for home & hospital services must be made by a licensed psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or certified school psychologist. A treatment plan must also be submitted. The recommendation will be reviewed by the school psychologist assigned to the student’s school, as well as other school staff. A transition plan must be provided by the licensed psychiatrist/psychologist to plan for the student’s return to school. Failure to develop a transition plan will result in denial of services.

The medical professional should return the completed form to the Student Services Department by faxing it to 410-751-3695, Attention: Home & Hospital Services Office. Upon receipt of the form, CCPS staff will determine if home & hospital services are appropriate. If the service is approved, an instructional plan will be developed in consultation with the student’s home school. The assigned provider(s) will contact the parent/legal guardian directly to schedule services.

Maryland State Department of Education regulations require a review and re-verification of home & hospital services after 60 calendar days of service to determine if services will continue.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Maria Martin, Supervisor of Student Services – Student Support, at 410-386-1822 or MariaMartin@carrollk12.org

Note: Please be aware that home & hospital services do not replicate the classroom experience and is not intended to help students make up past work prior to the home & hospital approval period.
                                                                                                                                                                       Rev. 1/23