Instruction
Board Policy No. 6158
INDEPENDENT STUDY/SHORT-TERM
The Governing Board authorizes independent study as an optional alternative instructional strategy by which students in grades K-8 may reach curriculum objectives and fulfill promotion requirements. Independent study shall offer a means of individualizing the educational plan for students whose needs may be met best through study outside of the regular classroom setting on a short-term basis.
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 they would in the regular classroom.
The minimum period of time for any independent study option shall be five school days.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that a written independent study agreement, as prescribed by law, exists for each participating student. (Education Code 51747)
To foster each student’s success in independent study, the Board establishes the following maximum lengths of time which may elapse between the time an assignment is made and date by which the student must complete the assigned work after return to school:
- For students in grades K-3: 1 week
- For students in grades 4-8: 2 weeks
When circumstances justify a longer time, the Superintendent or designee may extend the maximum length of an assignment to a period not to exceed eight weeks, pursuant to a written request with justification.
When any student fails to complete two consecutive independent study assignments, the Superintendent or designee shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether it is in the student’s best interest to participate in independent study. Evaluation findings shall be kept in the student’s permanent record.
The Superintendent or designee shall annually report to the Board the number of students engaged in independent study, the ADA generated, the quality of students’ work as measured by standard indicators, and the number and proportion of independent study students who successfully complete independent study.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
17289 Exemption for building
44865 Qualifications for home teachers and teachers in special classes and schools; consent to assignment
46300-46300.6 Methods of computing ADA
48220 Classes of children exempted
48340 Improvement of pupil attendance
48915 Expulsion; particular circumstances
48917 Suspension of expulsion order
51225.3 Requirements for high school graduation
51745-51749.3 Independent study programs
52000 Improvement of elementary and secondary education: legislative intent
52015 School improvement plans: components of plan
52017 Secondary schools: additional plan components
56026 Individual with exceptional needs
FAMILY CODE
6550 Authorization affidavits
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
11700-11703 Independent study