Office of the Superintendent of Schools
Office of Academics
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Approval Of Waiver Requests Regarding 2025-2026 Remote Homebound Instruction For Eligible Special And Regular Education Students
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The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has a legal obligation to provide an appropriate education to all students, including those who are unable to attend school in person due to medical or other qualifying circumstances. To meet this obligation, HISD seeks approval to provide remote homebound instruction to eligible general and special education students during the 2025-2026 school year.
Pursuant to Texas Education Code (TEC) §7.056(a-e), which allows school districts to request waivers from State Board of Education and commissioner of education rules or statutory requirements that may inhibit student access to instruction, HISD is requesting School Board approval of the waivers described below. If approved by the School Board and subsequently authorized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), HISD will deliver instruction through remote conferencing and count this instruction as classroom time for Foundation School Program funding purposes. Eligible students may also be counted as in attendance, provided all TEA requirements are met.
HISD will implement this remote homebound instruction in full compliance with all applicable state requirements to ensure continuity of instruction and access to educational services for eligible students.
These requirements must be met for each request:
1. This waiver must be submitted for each individual student.
2. The student is unable to attend school because of temporary medical or psychological condition.
3. The student’s temporary medical or psychological condition is documented by a physician licensed to practice in the United States.
Remote Homebound Instruction Waiver - Regular Education Students
This waiver allows the district to provide remote instruction in which a student receives individualized instruction at an off-campus location through virtual participation in classes provided by a teacher on the student’s campus (Student Attendance Accounting Handbook Section 12.3.3.1).
Remote Homebound Instruction Waiver - Special Education Students
This waiver allows the district to provide remote homebound instruction in which a student receiving special education services with an instructional setting code of 01 - Homebound receives instruction through special education homebound instruction and in which all requirements related to special education homebound instruction are met except for in-person instruction from the homebound teacher (Student Attendance Accounting Handbook Section 4.7.2 Code 01 - Homebound for special education homebound requirements).
The following requirements must be met for special education students:
1. The student’s admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee must have determined, in a manner consistent with state and federal law, that the remote homebound instruction to be provided meets the needs of the student.
2. The ARD committee must have documented that determination in the student’s individualized education program (IEP).
3. All requirements related to the provision of special education homebound instruction must be met except for face-to-face instruction from the homebound teacher.
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COST/FUNDING SOURCE(S): |
None |
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STAFFING IMPLICATIONS: |
None |
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THIS ITEM DOES NOT ESTABLISH, MODIFY, OR DELETE BOARD POLICY.
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RECOMMENDED: That the School Board approves the requested waivers for submission to the TEA, effective January 16, 2026.