The County Superintendent of Schools shall meet the responsibilities, pursuant to Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 13, 11701 in the implementation of an independent study that includes the following:

1. Scope

The County Board recognizes its responsibility for the education of all pupils in alternative education. The County Board authorizes the County Superintendent to establish independent study as an optional alternative instructional strategy by which all enrolled pupils may reach curriculum objectives and fulfill graduation requirements outside of the regular classroom setting. Independent study is a continuously voluntary, educational alternative in which no student may be required to participate. A classroom option is always available. Students participating in Independent Study have the same access to the existing services and resources as students enrolled in regular county alternative education, which range from 230-360 minutes per day. Services and resources include, but are not limited to, course access, instructional materials, qualified staff, tutoring services, and related services. (EC 51746, EC 51747).

2. Purpose

The primary purpose for independent study is to offer a means of individualizing the educational plan for pupils whose needs may be met best through study outside of the regular classroom setting. Independent study may be used by pupils who are motivated to achieve educationally as well as or better through this strategy than they would in the regular classroom.

3. Definitions

Live interaction means interaction between the student and a certificated or classified staff member, and may include peers, provided for the purpose of maintaining school connectedness, including, but not limited to, wellness checks, progress monitoring, provision of services, and instruction. This interaction may take place in person, or in the form of Internet or telephonic communication. (Education Code 51745.5)

Student-parent-educator conference means a meeting involving, at a minimum, all parties who signed the student's written independent study agreement pursuant to Education Code 51747 or the written learning agreement pursuant to Education Code 51749.6. (Education Code 51745.5)

Synchronous instruction means classroom-style instruction or designated small group, or one on-one instruction delivered in person, or in the form of internet or telephonic communications, and involving live two-way communication between the teacher and student. Synchronous instruction shall be provided by the teacher of record for that student pursuant to Education Code 51747.5. (Education Code 51745.5)

4. Master Agreement

1. Written Agreement. The County Superintendent or designee shall ensure that each participating pupil has an executed written independent study master agreement on file with the county office as prescribed by law. This agreement must be signed by the pupil, parent/guardian/caregiver/designee who holds educational rights, certificated employee, and all other persons who have direct responsibility to provide assistance to the student. (EC 51747c) Individual independent study agreements and any subordinate pupil contracts and assignments must be consistent with the county's adopted course of study. The master agreement shall be signed by all parties prior to the commencement of long-term independent study (16 days or more). Short-term independent study (15 days or fewer) may be signed at any time during the school year in which a student participates in short-term independent study. (EC 51747 (g)(9)(A) and EC 51749.6 (b)(1))
2. Maximum Length of Assignments. For all pupils in independent study, the maximum length of time which may elapse between the time the assignment is made and the date by which the pupil must complete the assigned work shall be four (4) weeks, except when special or extenuating circumstances justify a longer time. A period not to exceed nine (9) weeks may be approved by the County Superintendent or designee pursuant to a written request, with justification, for individual pupils.
3. Number of Missed Assignments. Students who do not earn a minimum of 5 (five) credits per month will be referred for an evaluation to determine whether it is in their best interest to remain on Independent Study. A written record of the student’s evaluation shall be kept in the permanent record. Students failing to report for two appointments and/or failing to submit three assignments will be referred to a classroom setting.

5. Appropriate Conditions

a. Criteria for Admittance. The County Superintendent shall establish appropriate entrance criteria to ensure that the necessary level of understanding exists to meet the provisions of the independent study master agreement prior to its implementation.

b. Residence. Only students residing in the local or immediately adjacent county may participate in the Independent Study Program [Education Code §46300.2, §51747.3(b)].

c. Incentives. The County Superintendent may not provide funds or any other things of value to the pupil or his or her parent or guardian in Independent Alternative Education that are not provided to students who attend regular classes, or to their parents or guardians [Education Code §46300.6, §517473 (a)].

d. Special Education. No individual with exceptional needs, as defined in EC 56026, may participate in independent study, unless his or her individualized education program (IEP) provides for that participation.

e. Home and Hospital Instruction. Independent study shall not be used as an instructional strategy for pupils approved for Home and Hospital Instruction. In addition, independent study shall not be used as an instructional strategy for temporarily disabled pupils (EC 51745 (d)). A pupil with a temporary disability, which makes attendance in the regular day classes, or alternative education program in which the pupil is enrolled impossible or inadvisable, shall receive individual instruction provided by the district in which the pupil is deemed to reside (EC48206.3). Students under the care of a medical professional may be excluded from long-term independent study requirements related to tiered reengagement, synchronous instruction, and the option to transfer back to in-person instruction within five (5) days.

f. Credits. Academic credit shall be awarded if an assignment demonstrates sufficient competency/mastery. The County Superintendent shall not issue more than 25 credits per nine (9) week quarter to any student participating in independent study.

g. Length of Enrollment. Average daily attendance (ADA) is counted from a student’s first day of independent study. (E.C. 46300e)

h. Voluntary Option. Students participating in independent study on suspended expulsion status must have a classroom alternative available to them at all times.

i. Satisfactory Educational Progress. Satisfactory education progress shall be determined based on all the following indicators: (Education Code 51747)

1. The student’s achievement and engagement in the independent study program, as indicated by the student’s performance on applicable student-level measures of student achievement and engagement specified in Education Code 52060
2. The completion of assignments, assessments, or other indicators that evidence that the student is working on assignments.
3. Learning required concepts, as determined by the supervising teacher.
4. Progress towards successful completion of the course of study or individual course, as determined by the supervising teacher.

j. Procedures for Tiered Reengagement. Tiered reengagement strategies are used for all students in long-term independent study who are not participating in more than 50 percent of synchronous instruction in a school month, or 10 percent of required minimum instructional time over four continuous weeks of the approved instructional calendar, or who are in violation of their written agreement. The procedures shall include, but are not necessarily limited to all the following: (Education 51747)

1. Verification of current contact information for each enrolled student.
2. Notification to parents/guardians of lack of participation within one school day of the absence or lack of participation.
3. A plan for outreach from the school to determine student needs, including connection with health and social services as necessary.
4. A clear standard for requiring a student-parent-educator conference to review a student’s written agreement and reconsider the independent study program’s impact on the student’s achievement and well-being

k. Notification of Independent Study Option. The County Superintendent or designee shall provide written notice to parents/guardians of all enrolled students of the option to enroll their child in in-person instruction or independent study and that independent study continues to be the sole alternative to in-person instruction. This notice shall be posted on the SBCSS web site, and shall include, at a minimum, information about the right to request a student-parent-educator conference before enrollment, student rights regarding procedures for enrolling, disenrolling, and reenrolling in independent study, and the instructional time that a student will have access to as part of independent study. (Education Code 51747)

l. Student-Parent-Educator Conference. Upon the request of the parent/ guardian of a student, before making a decision about enrolling or disenrolling in independent study and entering into a written agreement to do so, the County Superintendent or designee shall conduct a telephone, video conference, or in-person student-parent-educator conference or other meeting during which the student, parent/guardian, or their advocate may ask questions about the educational options, including which curriculum offerings and nonacademic supports will be available to the student in independent study. (Education Code 51747)

m. Transition to in-person option. Upon request, the County Superintendent or designee will transition students back to in-person instruction from long-term independent study expeditiously, and not later than five instructional days will be invoked. (Education Code 51747)

n. Course of Study. Students participating in 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. For high school students, this shall include access to all courses offered by the County Superintendent for graduation and approved by the University of California or the California State University as creditable under the A-G admissions criteria. (Education Code 51747)

o. Minimum Instructional Requirements: Students participating in independent study for 16 school days or more will receive the following throughout the school year:

1. For students in grades transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, and grades 1 to 3 inclusive, opportunities for daily synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction and independent work assigned combined shall be equivalent to 230 minutes per day (transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, 180 minutes). The time value of work assigned shall be determined by the certificated employee assigning the work.
2. For students in grades 4 to 8 inclusive, opportunities for both daily live interaction and at least weekly synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction and independent work assigned combined shall be equivalent to 240 minutes per day. The time value of work assigned shall be determined by the certificated employee assigning the work.
3. For students in grades 9 to 12 inclusive, opportunities for at least weekly synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction and independent work assigned combined shall be equivalent to 240 minutes per day. The time value of work assigned shall be determined by the certificated employee assigning the work.

p. Documentation. Signed written agreements, supplemental agreements, assignment records, work samples, and attendance records assessing time value of work or evidence that an instructional activity occurred shall be maintained either on paper or as an electronic file.

Amended 2/4/9, 12/9/92, 02/06/95, 11/06/95, 06/05/00, 04/04/05,
09/05/06, 11/05/07, 11/03/08, 08/06/12
Reviewed 11/1/04
Reviewed and amended 02/03/14, 03/03/14, 12/01/14, 01/05/15, 01/03/22,02/10/25
Adopted 6/5/89, 2/7/22