Sec. 10-22.6a. Home instruction; correspondence courses.

540 words·~2 min read·/il/chapter-105/act-5/10-22-6a

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(a)To provide by home instruction, correspondence courses or otherwise courses of instruction for a pupil who is unable to attend school because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, the fulfillment of parenting obligations related to the health of the child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A. Such instruction shall be provided to the pupil at each of the following times:

(1)Before the birth of the child when the pupil's physician, physician assistant, or

advanced practice registered nurse has indicated to the district, in writing, that the pupil is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction.

(2)For up to 3 months following the birth of the child or a miscarriage.

(3)When the pupil must care for his or her ill child if

(i)the child's physician,

physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse has indicated to the district, in writing, that the child has a serious health condition that would require the pupil to be absent from school for 2 or more consecutive weeks and

(ii)the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian indicates to the district, in writing, that the pupil is needed to provide care to the child during this period. In this paragraph (3), "serious health condition" means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental health condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility or continuing treatment by a health care provider that is not controlled by medication alone.

(4)The pupil must treat physical or mental health complications or address safety

concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence when a healthcare provider or an employee of the pupil's domestic or sexual violence organization, as defined in Article 26A has indicated to the district, in writing, that the care is needed by the pupil and will cause the pupil's absence from school for 2 or more consecutive weeks.

A school district may reassess home instruction provided to a pupil under paragraph

(3)or

(4)every 2 months to determine the pupil's continuing need for instruction under this Section.

The instruction course shall be designed to offer educational experiences that are equivalent to those given to pupils at the same grade level in the district and that are designed to enable the pupil to return to the classroom.

(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or State law to the contrary, if a pupil is unable to attend regular classes because of the reasons set forth in subsection

(a)and has participated in instruction under this Section that is administered by the school or the school district, then the pupil may not be penalized for grading purposes or be denied course completion, a return to regular classroom instruction, grade level advancement, or graduation solely on the basis of the pupil's participation in instruction under this Section or the pupil's absence from the regular education program during the period of instruction under this Section. A school or school district may not use instruction under this Section to replace making support services available so that pupils who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence may receive regular classroom instruction.