Please click here to sign on to JustChildren's petition asking the Department of Education to improve homebound education for Virginia's students with disabilities and serious medical needs.

JustChildren represents low-income students across Central Virginia in matters such as special education and student discipline. In representing individuals and working with other attorneys and service providers, we routinely encounter serious problems with homebound instructional services, including inadequately trained teachers, watered-down curricula, scheduling difficulties, and gaps in coursework.

We also see home-based instruction used as the default disciplinary placement for students with disabilities, regardless of whether their unique needs require a different placement. These factors make it so difficult for students to stay on track to earn their diplomas.

The Virginia Department of Education is seeking public comment on your experiences with homebound instruction. They need to hear from you on why change is necessary. Some students need and benefit from homebound instruction. But the current system is not effective and puts homebound students at a disadvantage compared to their peers in the regular classroom.

Sharing your individual thoughts and experiences on homebound instruction with the Department of Education will help to give color and shape to the very real need for reform on this issue.

The public comment period ends on December 28th, so please don't wait too long. Please sign the petition, add your story, and spread the word -- let your voice be heard.

Thank you for your continued support of the Commonwealth of Virginia's children!

LSC programs please note:  This request for public comment is not being conducted through Virginia's regulatory town hall, so the exception allowing LSC programs to participate probably does not apply.