Instruction
Board Policy No. 6158
Policy Revised: September 18, 2025
INDEPENDENT STUDY/SHORT-TERM
MVWSD offers short-term independent study for students who are absent from school because of their health or other personal circumstances that make classroom attendance difficult. The Governing Board authorizes independent study as an optional alternative instructional strategy for students whose needs may be best met through study outside of the regular classroom setting on a short term basis. (Education Code 51747; 5 CCR 11701)
Student participation in short-term independent study shall be voluntary and no student shall be required to participate. (Education Code 51747, 51749.5, 51749.6)
Short-term independent study for each student shall be under the general supervision of a district employee who possesses a valid certification document pursuant to Education Code 44865 or an emergency credential pursuant to Education Code 44300. Students' short-term independent study shall be coordinated, evaluated, and documented, as prescribed by law and reflected in the accompanying administrative regulation. (Education Code 51747.5)
The minimum period of time for any short-term independent study option shall be three consecutive school days. (Education Code 46300 ) The maximum period of time for any short-term independent study option shall be 14 school days for the school year.
A short-term independent study student shall not be credited with more than one day of attendance per calendar day. (Education Code 46300)
General Short-Term Independent Study Requirements
The Superintendent or designee may offer and approve short-term independent study for an individual student upon determining that the student is prepared to meet the district's requirements for participation and is likely to succeed as well as the student would in the regular classroom setting.
Because independent study assignments may result in a student falling behind peers, short-term independent study assignments shall be completed no more than one week after assigned for all grade levels and types of programs. When necessary, based on the specific circumstances of the student's approved program, the Superintendent or designee may allow for a longer period of time between the date an assignment is made and when it is due. However, in no event shall the due date of an assignment be extended beyond the termination date specified in the student's written agreement.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that students participating in short-term independent study are provided with content aligned to grade level standards at a level of quality and intellectual challenge substantially equivalent to in-person instruction.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that a written agreement exists for each participating student as prescribed by law. (Education Code 51747, 51749.5)
Upon the request of the parent/guardian of a student, and before signing a written agreement as described below in "Independent Study Agreement," the district may conduct a telephone, videoconference, or inperson student-parent-educator conference or other meeting during which the student, parent/guardian, and, if requested by the parent/guardian an advocate, may ask questions about the educational options, including which curriculum offerings and nonacademic supports will be available to the student in short-term independent study. (Education Code 51747)
Short-Term Independent Study Contract
A written agreement shall be developed and implemented for each student participating in short-term independent study. (Education Code 46300, 51747)
For student participation of 14 school days or fewer, a signed written agreement may be obtained at any time during the school year in which the short-term independent study program takes place. (Education Code 46300, 51747)
The agreement shall include general student data, including the student's name, address, grade level, birth date, school of enrollment, and program placement.
The short-term independent study agreement for each participating student also shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following: (Education Code 51747; 5 CCR 11700, 11702)
1. The manner, time, frequency, and place for submitting the student's assignments
2. The objectives and methods of study for the student's work and the methods used to evaluate that work
3. The specific resources that will be made available to the student, including materials and devices adequate to complete assigned work
4. A statement of the Board's policy detailing the maximum length of time allowed between an assignment and its completion and the level of satisfactory educational progress
5. The duration of the short-term independent study agreement, including the beginning and ending dates for the student's participation in independent study under the agreement
6. A statement of attendance credit to be earned by the student upon completion
7. A statement detailing the academic and other supports that will be provided to address the needs of students who need support in other areas, such as English learners, students with disabilities with an individualized education program or a Section 504 plan in order to be consistent with their program or plan, students in foster care or experiencing homelessness, and students requiring mental health supports
8. A statement that short-term independent study is an educational alternative and no student may be required to participate
9. In the case of a suspended or expelled student who is referred or assigned to any school, class, or program pursuant to Education Code 48915 or 48917, a statement that short term independent study may be provided only if the student is offered the alternative of classroom instruction
All learning agreements shall be signed by the student, the student's parent/guardian or caregiver if the student is less than 18 years of age, the certificated employee responsible for the general supervision of short-term independent study, and as applicable for students with disabilities, the certificated employee designated as having responsibility for the special education programming of the student. The learning agreement shall be signed at any time during the school year in which the short-term independent study program is to take place. (Education Code 51747)
For purposes of the above paragraph, caregiver means a person who has met the requirements of Family Code 6550-6552.
Written agreements may be signed using an electronic signature that complies with state and federal standards, as determined by the California Department of Education (CDE). (Education Code 51747)
The parent/guardian's signature on the agreement shall constitute permission for the student to participate in short-term independent study.
Student-Parent-Educator Conferences
A student-parent-educator conference may be held as appropriate including, but not limited to, as a reengagement strategy and/or, if requested by a parent/guardian, prior to or after a short term independent study. (Education Code 51745.5, 51747, 51749.5)
Records
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that records are maintained for audit purposes.
These records shall include, but not be limited to: (Education Code 51748; 5 CCR 11703)
1. A copy of the Board policy, administrative regulation, and other procedures related to short-term independent study
2. A listing of the students, by grade level, program, and school, who have participated in short-term independent study, along with the units of the curriculum attempted and completed by students in grades K-8
3. A file of all agreements, with representative samples of each student's work products bearing the supervising teacher's signed or initialed and dated notations indicating that the teacher has personally evaluated the work or personally reviewed the evaluations made by another certificated teacher
4. Appropriate documentation of compliance with the requirements pursuant to Education Code 51747.5 to ensure the coordination, evaluation, and supervision of the short-term independent study of each student by a district employee who possesses a valid certification document pursuant to Education Code 44865 or an emergency credential pursuant to Education Code 44300
Signed written and supplemental agreements, assignment records, work samples, and attendance records may be maintained as an electronic file in accordance with Education Code 51747 and 51749.6, as applicable.
Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
State Description
5 CCR 11700-11705 Independent study
Ed. Code 17289 Exemption for facilities
Ed. Code 41020 Requirement for annual audit
Ed. Code 41422 Emergency conditions and apportionments
Ed. Code 42238 Revenue limits
Ed. Code 42238.05 Local control funding formula; average daily attendance
Ed. Code 44865 Qualifications for independent study teachers
Ed. Code 46100 Length of school day
Ed. Code 46200-46208 Incentives for longer instructional day and year Ed. Code 46300-
46307.1 Methods of computing average daily attendance Ed.
Code 46390-46393 Emergency average daily attendance
Ed. Code 46600 Interdistrict attendance computation
Ed. Code 48204 Residency requirements for school attendance
Ed. Code 48206.3 Home or hospital instruction; students with temporary disabilitiesEd. Code 48220 Classes of children exempted
Ed. Code 48340 Improvement of pupil attendance
Ed. Code 48915 Expulsion; particular circumstances
Ed. Code 48916.1 Educational program requirements for expelled students
Ed. Code 48917 Suspension of expulsion order
Ed. Code 49010 Educational activity; definition
Ed. Code 49011 Student fees; definition
Ed. Code 49501.5 School Meals
Ed. Code 51225.3 High school graduation requirements
Ed. Code 51744-51749.6 Independent study
Ed. Code 52060 Local control and accountability plan
Ed. Code 52523 Adult education as supplement to high school curriculum;
criteria
Ed. Code 56026 Individual with exceptional needs; definition Ed. Code
58500-58512 Alternative schools and programs of choice Fam. Code
6550-6552 Caregivers
Federal Description
20 USC 6311 State plan
Management Resources Description
California Department of Education Publication
California Department of Education Publication
California Department of Education Publication
California Department of Education Publication
Legal Requirements for Independent Study Conducting Individualized Determinations of Need
California Digital Learning Integration and Standards Guidance, May 2021
Elements of Exemplary Independent Study
Court Decision Modesto City Schools v. Education Audits Appeal Panel (2004) 123
Cal.App.4th 1365
Education Audit Appeals Panel Publication
Guide for Annual Audits of K-12 Local Education Agencies and State Compliance Reporting
Website CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services
Website
Website
California Consortium for Independent Study
California Department of Education, Independent Study
Website Education Audit Appeals Panel
Cross References
Code Description
0410 Nondiscrimination In District Programs And Activities
0420.4 Charter School Authorization
0420.4 Charter School Authorization
0450 Comprehensive Safety Plan
0450 Comprehensive Safety Plan
0500 Accountability
3260 Fees And Charges
3260 Fees And Charges
3516.5 Emergency Schedules
3550 Food Service/Child Nutrition Program
3550 Food Service/Child Nutrition Program
3580 District Records
3580 District Records
4112.2 Certification
4112.2 Certification
4131 Staff Development
5111.1 District Residency
5111.1 District Residency
5112.3 Student Leave Of Absence
5112.3 Student Leave Of Absence
5113 Absences And Excuses
5113 Absences And Excuses
5113.1 Chronic Absence And Truancy
5113.1 Chronic Absence And Truancy
5121 Grades/Evaluation Of Student Achievement
5121 Grades/Evaluation Of Student Achievement
5125 Student Records
5125 Student Records
5126 Awards For Achievement
5126 Awards For Achievement
5141.22 Infectious Diseases
5141.22 Infectious Diseases
5141.31 Immunizations
5141.31 Immunizations
5144.1 Suspension And Expulsion/Due Process
5144.1 Suspension And Expulsion/Due Process
5145.6 Parent/Guardian Notifications
5145.6-E(1) Parent/Guardian Notifications
5146 Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
5147 Dropout Prevention
6000 Concepts And Roles
6011 Academic Standards
6111 School Calendar
6112 School Day
6112 School Day
6142.4 Service Learning/Community Service Classes
6143 Courses Of Study
6143 Courses Of Study
6146.1 High School Graduation Requirements
6146.11 Alternative Credits Toward Graduation
6146.11 Alternative Credits Toward Graduation
6152 Class Assignment
6159 Individualized Education Program
6159 Individualized Education Program
6162.5 Student Assessment
6162.51 State Academic Achievement Tests
6162.51 State Academic Achievement Tests
6164.5 Student Success Teams
6164.5 Student Success Teams
6172 Gifted And Talented Student Program
6172 Gifted And Talented Student Program
6181 Alternative Schools/Programs Of Choice
6181 Alternative Schools/Programs Of Choice
6183 Home And Hospital Instruction
6184 Continuation Education
6184 Continuation Education
6185 Community Day School
6185 Community Day School
6200 Adult Education
6200 Adult Education