Homebound and Hospital Instruction in Vermont: A Guide for Families and Districts
Vermont has a short, clear rule for students who can't attend school because of a medical condition or pregnancy. It applies to both general and special education students, and it sets minimum weekly hours that differ by grade level. This guide explains how homebound and hospital instruction works in Vermont.
What the law says
The rule is Vermont State Board of Education Rule 1252, Instruction for Homebound and Hospitalized Students. Students are eligible for instruction at home or in the hospital whenever they can't attend school for 10 consecutive school days or more because of pregnancy or a medical disability.
The Vermont Agency of Education has confirmed that this rule applies to both general education and special education students, including students hospitalized for psychiatric care.
Minimum instruction hours
Elementary students: at least 6 hours per week.
Secondary students: an average of at least 2 hours per subject per week.
Either minimum can be lowered only if more hours would be inconsistent with medical recommendations. The secondary formula is unusual: because it's per subject, a high school student taking five courses would receive about 10 hours of instruction a week.
The school must also provide the instructional materials the student needs.
Students with IEPs
Vermont's special education rules (Rule 2364.7) use the same minimums, with an added requirement: instruction for homebound or hospitalized special education students must be sufficient to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under their IEP. The same standard applies when a student's IEP calls for tutoring outside school. In practice, that means the IEP team should plan for more than the minimum if the student's IEP requires it.
Psychiatric hospitalizations
When a student is hospitalized, their home school district remains educationally and financially responsible for them. A 2017 Agency of Education memo about students at the Brattleboro Retreat, Vermont's psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, reminded districts that Rule 1252 applies to these students, whether or not they're in special education. Families and hospital staff should contact the home district early so instruction can be arranged by the 10th school day of absence.
A checklist for families
Contact your child's school as soon as you know they'll miss 10 or more consecutive school days.
Ask what medical documentation the district needs. Bring a statement from your child's provider describing the condition and expected absence.
Confirm the weekly hours in writing: at least 6 for elementary students, or about 2 per subject for secondary students.
Make sure the school provides the books and materials your child needs.
If your child is hospitalized, connect the hospital's education staff with your home district.
If your child has an IEP, ask the IEP team to meet so services match the IEP.
For districts: staffing homebound instruction
Vermont's per-subject formula for secondary students can quickly add up to 10 or more hours a week, often across several subjects. Einstein Tutoring partners with districts and treatment facilities to provide in-person homebound and hospital instruction, with most students placed within 3 days. See our homebound instruction FAQ for common questions.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Check the current Vermont State Board of Education rules and your district's procedures.
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