Home-based vs. Homebound vs. Home-Schooled

The Virginia Department of Education recognizes three types of instruction that can take place in a student's home:

1. Home-based instruction means services that are delivered in the home setting (or other agreed upon setting) in accordance with the child’s individualized education program (IEP) (8 VAC 20-80-10). A child who withdraws from school and enters home-based instruction is assigned a W222 withdrawal code on the date after his/her last day of attendance. The student is also assigned a R219 entry code on the same date. R219 signifies entry into the home-based instructional program. When the child returns to school, he is assigned a W201 withdrawal code and a R218 entry code.
2. Homebound instruction means academic instruction provided to students who are confined at home or in a health care facility for periods that would prevent normal school attendance, based upon certification of need by a licensed physician or licensed clinical psychologist. Homebound instruction is typically used for students who have an injury or illness that prevents them from attending school. A child who withdraws from school and enters homebound instruction is assigned a W217 withdrawal code on the date after his/her last date of attendance in school, and is also assigned a R217 code on the same date. R217 means re-entry into homebound education within the same school division. When the child returns to school, he is assigned a W201 withdrawal code and a R216 re-entry code. Please note that a child who enters homebound instruction may or may not have an IEP. For a child with a disability, the IEP must determine the delivery of services, including the number of hours of services (8 VAC 20-80-10, 8 VAC 20-131-180).
3. Home instruction means instruction of a child or children by a parent or parents, guardian or other person having control or charge of such child or children as an alternative to attendance in a public or private school in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Virginia. This instruction may also be termed home schooling. (COV § 22.1-254.1, 8 VAC 20-80-10) A child who withdraws from school to be home-schooled is assigned a W313 withdrawal code.

The following table summarizes the appropriate withdrawal and entry codes for these three situations.