Instruction
Board Policy No. 6158.1
Policy Adopted: December 12, 2002
INDEPENDENT STUDY/HOME SCHOOLING PROGRAM
The Board of Trustees recognizes its responsibility for the education of all children in the school system. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to establish a fiscally self-supporting Independent Study/Home Schooling Program as an alternative means of meeting the district’s curriculum requirements.
The primary goal of the Independent Study/Home Schooling Program is to offer another means of individualizing the educational program for students whose needs may best be met through study outside of the regular classroom instructional setting.
The Independent Study/Home Schooling Program may serve students who:
1. Are genuinely needed at home or whose parents/guardians desire to provide home schooling for their children.
2. Wish to pursue special or unique educational interests that are not compatible with attendance in the regular educational program.
3. Have special medical problems best served by home teaching and who sometimes cannot meet normal educational requirements.
4. Wish to continue studies while on an extended family vacation or travel.
5. Have experienced difficulty in adapting to the regular curriculum, achieving academic success or conforming to school rules and are ready to drop out of school or have dropped out.
7. Could be classified as school phobics.
8. Have no other realistic educational options.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that each participating student has an Independent Study/Home Schooling Contract with the district as prescribed by law. Individual independent study contracts shall be consistent with the district’s adopted course of study.
No individual with exceptional needs, as defined in Education Code 56026, may be enrolled in an independent study program unless his/her individualized education program (IEP) provides specifically for such enrollment.
Students requesting the Independent Study/Home Schooling Program and their parents/guardians should recognize that independent study at the elementary level must emphasize a commitment on the part of the student’s parents/guardians.
The Superintendent or designee shall establish appropriate screening procedures to ensure that the necessary level of commitment exists to meet the conditions of the Independent Study/Home Schooling Contract prior to executing an agreement.
The Superintendent or designee shall establish regulations to implement this policy and shall provide an annual report to the Board regarding the number of students in the Independent Study/Home Schooling Program, the ADA generated, the quality of students’ work and the degree of success which is being encountered.
Legal Reference:
Education Code
46300 Method of computing ADA
48340 Improvement of pupil attendance
51745-51749.5 Independent study programs
52000(e Improvement of elementary and secondary education; legislative intent
52015 Components of plan
52017 Secondary school plan
56025 Individuals with exceptional needs; age eligibility
Code of Regulations, Title 5
11700 Definitions
11701 District Responsibilities
11702 Agreements
11703 Records