The Board of Education authorizes independent study as an optional alternative instructional strategy for students, including adult education students, whose needs may be best met through study outside the regular classroom setting. Independent study shall offer a means of individualizing a student's education plan and enabling students to meet curriculum objectives and fulfill graduation requirements. As necessary to meet student needs, independent study may be offered on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis in conjunction with part or full-time classroom study.
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
(cf. 6146.1 - Certificate of Proficiency/High School Equivalency)
(cf. 6200 - Adult Education)
Independent study entails a commitment by both the parent or guardian and the student. As the student gets older, he or she assumes a greater portion of the responsibility involved with his or her education. The Superintendent or designee shall approve independent study for an individual student only upon determining that the student is prepared to meet the district's requirements for independent study and is likely to succeed in independent study as well as or better than he/she would in the regular classroom.
An individual with exceptional needs, as defined in Education Code 56026, may not participate in independent study, unless his or her individualized education program specifically provides for such participation. (Education Code 51745(c)) Similarly, a student with a disability, as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, shall not participate in independent study, unless his or her Section 504 plan specifically provides for such participation. The procedures for determining whether a disabled student meets the essential criteria for placement in the independent study program, and for monitoring the student's progress after being placed in the independent study program, shall be consistent with those procedures governing educational placements made pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and State special education law and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
(cf. 6164.6 - Identification, Evaluation and Education under Section 504)
(cf. 6164.4 - Identification of Individuals with Exceptional Needs)
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
In computing the average daily attendance of the district, there shall be included the attendance of pupils participating in independent study conducted pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 51745) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 for five or more consecutive schooldays. (Education Code 46300(e)(1).)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that a written independent study agreement, as prescribed by law, exists for each participating student. (Education Code 51747)
The Board recognizes that independent study may be used as an option to encourage students to remain in school and that excessive leniency in the duration of independent study assignments may result in students falling so far behind as to increase, rather than decrease, the risk of students dropping out of school. Accordingly, supervising teachers should carefully set the duration of independent study assignments, within the limits specified below, and establish an appropriate schedule for student-teacher conferences in order to help identify students falling behind in their work or in danger of failing or dropping out of school. Except in unusual circumstances, it is expected that the supervising teacher will meet with each participating student at least once a week to discuss the student's progress. For students placed on independent study by a Section 504 or IEP team, the duration of assignments and frequency of meetings with the supervising teacher will be based on the individualized educational needs of the student as determined by the Section 504 or IEP team.
To foster each student's success in independent study, the Board establishes the following maximum lengths of time which may elapse between the date an independent study assignment is given and the date by which the independent study assignment is due:
1. Special assignments extending the content of regular courses of instruction:
Students in grades K 3: two weeks
Students in grades 4 8: four weeks
Students in grades 9 12 and adults: six weeks
2. Individualized study in a particular area of interest or in a subject not currently available in the regular school curriculum:
Students in grades K 3: two weeks
Students in grades 4 8: four weeks
Students in grades 9 12 and adults: six weeks
3. Individualized alternative education designed to teach the knowledge and skills of the core curriculum:
Students in grades K 3: one week
Students in grades 4 8: two weeks
Students in grades 9 12 and adults: three weeks
4. Continuing and special study during travel:
Students in grades K 3: three weeks
Students in grades 4 8: six weeks
Students in grades 9 12 and adults: ten weeks
5. Volunteer community service activities that support and strengthen student achievement:
All students: two weeks
(cf. 6142.4 - Learning Through Community Service)
When circumstances justify a longer period of time, and subject to a written request with justification, the Superintendent or designee may honor the request of an individual student or his or her parent or guardian to extend the maximum length of an assignment as follows:
Students in grades K 8: two weeks
Students in grades 9 12 and adults: three weeks
For students placed on independent study by a Section 504 or IEP team, the maximum length of time which may elapse between the time an independent study assignment is given and the date by which the independent study assignment is due will be determined by the student's Section 504 or IEP team, and may exceed the maximum lengths of time referenced above if necessary to meet the individualized educational needs of the student.
When any participating student fails to complete five (5) consecutive independent study assignments during a period of twenty-five (25) school days, the Superintendent or designee shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether it is in the student's best interest to remain in independent study, or whether he or she should return to the regular school program. Evaluation findings shall be treated as a mandatory interim pupil record. (Education Code 51747) The determination of whether a student with a Section 504 plan or IEP should remain on independent study will be made by the student's Section 504 or IEP team.
The Superintendent or designee shall annually report to the Board the number of students participating in independent study, the average daily attendance (ADA) generated for apportionment purposes, the quality of these students' work as measured by standard indicators, and the number and proportion of independent study students who graduate or successfully complete the independent study program.
Home Based Independent Study
The Superintendent or designee shall encourage parents/guardians desiring to teach their children at home to have their children participate in independent study. Such participation allows continued contact and cooperation between the school system and the home-based student.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
17289 Exemption for facilities
41976.2 Independent study programs; adult education funding
42238 Revenue limits
44865 Qualifications for home teachers and teachers in special classes and schools
46300-46307.1 Methods of computing average daily attendance
47612.5 Independent study in charter schools
48204 Residency based on parent employment
48206.3 Home or hospital instruction; students with temporary disabilities
48220 Classes of children exempted
48340 Improvement of pupil attendance
48915 Expulsion; particular circumstances
48916.1 Educational program requirements for expelled students
48917 Suspension of expulsion order
51225.3 Requirements for high school graduation
51745-51749.3 Independent study programs
52206 Gifted and talented education; use of independent study to augment program
52522 Adult education alternative instructional delivery
52523 Adult education as supplement to high school curriculum; criteria
56026 Individuals with exceptional needs
58500-58512 Alternative schools and programs of choice
FAMILY CODE
6550 Authorization affidavits
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
19819 State audit compliance
COURT DECISIONS
Modesto City Schools v. Education Audits Appeal Panel, (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 1365
EDUCATION AUDIT APPEALS PANEL DECISIONS
Lucerne Valley Unified School District, Case No. 03-02 (2005)
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Independent Study Operations Manual, 2000 Edition
Elements of Exemplary Independent Study
Approaches to Satisfying No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Teacher Requirements for Independent Study in Secondary Schools, January 28, 2010
WEB SITES
California Consortium for Independent Study: http://www.ccis.org
California Department of Education, Independent Study: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/is
Education Audit Appeals Panel: http://www.eaap.ca.gov
Policy ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: October 29, 1984 Elk Grove, California
revised: July 5, 1994
revised: November 16, 1998
revised: June 15, 2010