Hospital School Services

How to request services

Request services with our hospital educator and academic liasion team

Email us

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, our hospital educators and academic liaisons provide educational support to patients from preschool through age 18 (up to age 21 with IEP services). We serve students experiencing prolonged hospitalization, frequent absences, or academic challenges due to medical conditions. Educational support is available for patients with varying lengths of stay—from single visits to extended admissions and outpatient follow-ups. Our goal is to collaborate with families, schools, and care teams to keep children engaged in learning and prepare them for a successful return to school. 

Services we provide 

Our hospital educators and academic liaisons offer a wide range of individualized educational services, including: 

• Bedside and group instruction 
• School communication and coordination 
• Care team communication and collaboration 
• IEP/504 plan recommendations 
• Discharge and school re-entry planning 
• Transition planning and GED support 
• Family and school education 

How we work 

We use instructional interventions, collaboration, and communication to support academic continuity. Recommendations are tailored to each child’s needs and shared with school teams to promote long-term success.

Staffing and caseloads 

Staffing is based on patient age, academic needs, and other factors. Caseloads are monitored monthly to ensure productivity and quality care, with 60% of time dedicated to direct patient services. 

Frequently asked questions 

My child is experiencing extended hospitalization or frequent absences. What are the next steps? 

When a child is admitted to the hospital, a child’s care team can submit an inpatient school program order. If a child needs an excuse or letter of absence, the child’s care team can provide the note.

What are the enrollment requirements for school services? 

Children’s Colorado is not a school of enrollment, meaning it’s not a school that a student can register to attend. Instead, we offer supplementary school services where students remain in their school of enrollment and receive support from our staff.

Can my child get tutoring at the bedside?  

The school team completes a basic needs assessment to determine the level of support provided, which could include bedside learning support.

How do you coordinate with our child’s school? 

We receive a release of information for their school and provide care coordination. This coordination includes getting assignments, providing their school teams with return to school accommodations. Our team also participates in school re-entry meetings and collaborates with the care team to provide school-related medical needs.

If my child attends school online, can they still receive academic support in person? 

Yes, if they are inpatient, we can provide 1:1 support. If a child is in an outpatient setting, our team can collaborate with their school team to determine what support is needed.

Locations and hours 

Currently, these services are offered at our Anschutz Medical Campus, Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Other resources 

• Difference between 504 and IEP 
• How to enroll your child in public school