Community Services

2012 – 2013 School Year Nurses’ Meeting Referral Process

Houston Independent School District Alternative and Charter Schools

Rhonda Cotton, Principal

What we do:

We provide temporary instructional services to eligible students who cannot attend school in a regular classroom setting.

We provide direct instruction and facilitate online classes for four hours per week.

We serve students in hospitals, agencies, residential facilities, and in their homes.

Process

A “Typical” Year for Community Services We will work with approximately 1,500 students

from local homes, agencies and hospitals Enrollment will range from 110-160 students at

any one time The student mobility rate exceeds 97% Ability levels range from developmentally delayed

students to the academically gifted and talented Teachers must be prepared to address needs as

diverse as pre-reading skill levels and number concepts through advanced foreign language studies and calculus

Additionally… We have contracts with seventeen sites We have 24 certified teachers on staff Our students may come from within the

district or from outside the state or country

Also we house the PRS program, serving students who are pregnant and parenting.

Who are our students? Our students may come from anywhere

(whether inside or out of HISD’s boundaries). Children may qualify for service by placement through CPS, The Texas Youth Commission, the juvenile justice system, counselors or medical professionals.

How is the program divided? We are divided into three

components Agencies Hospitals Homebound ------------------------------------- Pregnant and Parenting students

How do I secure services for a student?

Referral by the court Referral by a doctor Referral by the student’s home

school (point of contact: school nurse)

How long are students served? This will vary by student depending on factors

such as: Four to twelve weeks dependent upon - Severity of illness Continued requirement for treatment or

convalescence that precludes attending a regular school program

Duration of court ordered placement Qualification for graduation Reaching an age where public school services

are no longer required

Is this a ‘real’ school program? Yes, students enrolled with us receive

credit and take all district and state mandated tests such as: TAKS, TAKS M, TAKS ACC STAAR / STAAR EOC / STAAR - Alt TPRI / Tejas LEE HFWE LAT Stanford 10 / Aprenda 3 NNAT

Note: Students who remain enrolled at their home campus are tested by that campus.

Agencies Harris County Sheriff's

Office Inmate Education Program

Riverside General Hospital

Houston Area Women’s Center

Odyssey House Positive Steps Shamar Hope Haven

Hospitals Ben Taub Hospital Harris County

Psychiatric Center TIRR Intracare Hospital LBJ Hospital Memorial Hermann

Children’s Hospital Methodist Hospital Mentis Neuro

Rehabilitation

Ronald McDonald House

Shriners Hospital Texas Children’s

Hospital

Homebound Program One of the most crucial functions of Community Services is providing teachers for students who for medical reasons may not be served on their home campuses. Teachers travel to the students’ homes and provide instruction that allows children to keep current in their classes even when they are physically unable to attend.

Enrollment for General Ed Students Procedures

A medical statement is received from the home school or physician’s office and logged in by Community Services staff.

The GEH Conference will be scheduled the Wednesday following file completion as there is availability. This committee will determine student eligibility.

Any general ed. student who meets the following requirements may be eligible for services through the general education homebound/hospital program. The student is: expected to be confined at home or hospital bedside for a

minimum of four consecutive weeks, seeking placement for medical reasons only, under the documented care of a physician licensed to

practice in the United States. Students who do not meet the three criteria listed will

receive instruction through their home school, a charter school, private school or home schooling.

Once Eligibility is verified The GEH Committee meeting is scheduled by a Community Services. The

committee is comprised of (but not limited to): a campus administrator, a teacher of the student and a parent/guardian of the student, Community Services nurse consultant, social worker, principal or principal’s designee.

The GEH Committee may formally accept the student into the program, determine the type and amount of instruction to be provided, set the beginning and ending dates of service and discuss transition options upon program completion. The assigned homebound / hospital teacher will provide an instructional log (calendar). The committee’s determinations will all be documented on the GEH Committee Report Form, which is shared with the parent and home campus.

All enrollment forms will be completed at the time of the meeting unless the parents elect to participate by telephone conference or they are unable to attend. The homebound / hospital teacher will provide the appropriate forms for enrollment and withdrawal to the parents at the initial visit and obtain all necessary signatures. Parents will receive copies of all completed forms.

At the end of the student’s hospital / homebound instructional period, the transition plan will be implemented and the student will exit Community Services.

Requests for extension should be submitted two weeks prior to the end of service date stated in the GEH Report.

How does that look? Medical Received

GEH Conference Scheduled

Student meets eligibility requirements

Yes

No

Teacher is assigned and Attendance / grades sent

weekly to home school

Student makes alternate

arrangements

Testing arrangements made by home campus

GEH Committee Reviews Exit/ Transition Plan or Extension Request • Status documented • Plan put in place with home campus

Student is ready to return to home campus with

accommodations in place

The Forms (available online)

Checklist (doesn’t need to be sent to CS) Homebound Guidelines Consent to Release Medical Records Referral Data Most recent report card and schedule Physician’s Statement of Medical Information

Website: http://www.houstonisd.org

Enrollment for Special Needs Students The process looks essentially the same,

the primary difference being the GEH is replaced by the ARD committee and that meeting must be scheduled by the Special Ed chair of the sending school.

Withdrawing from the Program Upon completion of the homebound/hospital

instructional period the student is withdrawn form Community Services

Often a transitional plan is put in place to help a student re-integrate into the traditional school setting (depending on health needs)

Some students may elect to remain with a virtual school program, or move into another alternative setting (such as AVA Twilight or Texas Virtual School Network)

The best ways to reach us Phone Numbers

713 636 6488 Fax Number 713 636 6095

Speak to: Anyone on the GEH Committee (Antonia

Falcon, Samantha Rosenthal, Tammy Williams)

Thank you very much For allowing us to share Our program with you