Who We Are

BACKGROUND

In 1946, the Carlson Home/Hospital School was named for Miss Berenece Carlson, a special education classroom teacher who worked at Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles. At that time, she worked primarily with children who had scoliosis. Miss Carlson was instrumental in the implementation of home and hospital teaching.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Carlson Home/ Hospital School provides services for eligible students who reside within the boundaries of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Carlson is staffed by fully credentialed contracted and retired teachers assigned to serve students in their homes or at hospital sites. Carlson teachers, to the maximum extent possible, provide instruction in subjects and courses correlating with the student's home school program. The intent is to maintain continuity of the student's instructional program during the period of his or her convalescence. It is important to understand that the service is designed as a temporary interim placement. It does not replace, over an extended period of time, the regular required instructional program. This service is also provided for students eligible for services with an IEP or a Section 504 Plan. Requests for Carlson services may come from the student's school of attendance, LAUSD personnel, parents, medical care provider or social worker using the appropriate district-approved form.

ELIGIBILITY

Students who reside within the boundaries of the Los Angeles Unified School District may be eligible for Carlson services if they have a noncontagious condition(s) or temporary physical disability that cannot be accommodated at their school. Students with chronic diseases are generally not eligible for Carlson services. Exceptions may be made in certain cases involving acute medical complications. School age students who are home or hospital bound are eligible for instructional services on their first day of confinement when such confinement is anticipated to result in an absence of at least ten school days, as verified by the medical diagnosis of a California licensed physician. Students in year-round schools are eligible for services during their "on-track" periods only. Students eligible for services under Special Education or a Section 504 Plan may receive services as determined by their IEP or 504 Plan if appropriate.

MEDICAL REFERRALS

Medical Referral for Home Instructional Program, (Form 34 AE60) must be completed and signed by a California licensed physician and include a medical diagnosis. General education students in grades K-12 may be eligible for service if: (1) they have a medically verified, non-contagious physical condition(s) or a temporary physical disability that cannot be accommodated at their home school; and, (2) the condition or disability will result in an absence of ten or more school days. Special education students or students with a Section 504 Plan may receive home instruction as determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan in conjunction with the required medical referral.

NON-MEDICAL REFERRALS

Carlson services may be offered to students for non-medical reasons, as approved by the Local District Coordinator of Special Education.  Non-Medical referrals may include, but are not limited to the following circumstances:

• Pending initial assessment for special education services
• Pending a District class placement
• Pending initial placement in a nonpublic school
• Pending reassignment from one nonpublic school to another
• Pending residential placement
• Pending a District IEP meeting when safety on campus is an issue
• Pending a pre-expulsion IEP meeting or expulsion hearing
• Pending a school or County Mental Health assessment
• Pending a due process/mediation/hearing agreement
• Compensatory education
• Court-ordered house arrest
• Witness protection program

IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICE

Carlson hospital services will be provided according to the availability of the student while hospitalized.  Carlson home instruction will provide five hours of instruction per week in a manner consistent with California laws governing home teaching. Secondary students are offered instruction in two basic subject areas unless additional courses are approved by an administrator. Elementary students are offered instruction each week following the Interim Elementary Course of Study. Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and students with a Section 504 Plan are offered instruction in accordance with their respective IEP or 504 Plan.  No instruction will be offered on weekends, legal or school holidays. Instruction must be arranged to take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays and will be given three to five times per week, depending on the needs of the student as determined by the teacher and/or administrator.  A responsible adult (18 years of age or older) must be present when the teacher is in the home.

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