Is independent study the same as home hospital?

Independent study is different from home hospital, as the two are commonly confused but are legally and practically very different.

Home hospital is legally recognized under IDEA as a temporary placement for students with medical or mental-health challenges that prevent them from accessing their education and attending school regularly. Home hospital typically requires medical documentation with specific instructions from the doctor to reduce instructional time — unlike independent study, which does not require medical documentation or medical or mental health challenges.

If a student is in the hospital for an extended period of time, the teacher and any service providers on the IEP can go to the hospital to provide instruction. Stamina is a major consideration — minutes are often significantly reduced because the student may not be able to tolerate longer sessions. Services are typically one on one rather than in a group setting.

For more information, see our full article Independent Study 101.