District of Columbia Code
Subchapter IV - Students' Right to Home or Hospital Instruction
§ 38–251.03. Home or hospital instruction approval process

(a)(1) A parent of a student may submit an oral or written request for home or hospital
instruction to the LEA in which the student for whom the parent is requesting the instruction is enrolled; provided, that a request may not be granted until the parent submits a written application consistent with the requirements of this subsection.
(2) Upon receipt of a request for home or hospital instruction from a parent of a student enrolled in the LEA, the LEA shall document the request no later than 2 school days following receipt and shall provide information to the parent explaining the process for submitting a written application for home or hospital instruction and obtaining a medical certification of need.
(3) A student shall be approved for home or hospital instruction when the LEA in which the student is enrolled receives a completed written application and medical certification of need. An LEA may deny an application for home or hospital instruction only in the event that the application or a medical certification of need is missing or incomplete. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit an LEA, as part of its review of the application and medical certification, from proposing accommodations to allow the student to remain in school; provided, that the medical professional signing the medical certification of need shall agree in writing that such accommodations meet the medical needs of the student and permit in-school instruction.
(4) Upon approval of an application for home or hospital instruction pursuant to this subsection, the LEA shall commence the delivery of such instruction in accordance with § 38-251.06. During the provision of such instruction, the LEA may make reasonable requests for information concerning the student's continuing medical need for home or hospital instruction and work with a student's parent to develop accommodations or measures that would permit the student to return to school.
(5) OSSE shall promulgate regulations to define what constitutes a completed application and medical certification of need and any other regulations that may be necessary to ensure due deference to the medical opinions set forth in the medical certification of need while facilitating the return of the student to school when medically feasible.
[(b)](1) The LEA shall issue a written decision approving or denying a home or hospital instruction program application submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The decision shall contain a written explanation of the basis for the approval or denial, and if the LEA denies an application, the decision shall state specifically that the basis for its determination was a missing or incomplete application or medical certification of need.
(2) The LEA shall issue the written decision required by paragraph (1) of this subsection no later than 5 days after the receipt of the application for home or hospital instruction.
(Mar. 16, 2021, D.C. Law 23-204, § 4, 67 DCR 14756.)
Section 7201 of D.C. Law 24-45 repealed section 12 of D.C. Law 23-204 removing the applicability provision impacting this section. Therefore the creation of this section by Law 23-204 has been implemented.
Section 7201 of D.C. Act 24-159 repealed section 12 of D.C. Law 23-204 removing the applicability provision impacting this section. Therefore the creation of this section by Law 23-204 has been implemented.
Applicability of D.C. Law 23-204: § 12 of D.C. Law 23-204 provided that the creation of this section by § 4 of D.C. Law 23-204 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

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