Bill Text: CA SB1387 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Pupil instruction: independent study.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-17 - Referred to Com. on ED. [SB1387 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB1387-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1387 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Liu
FEBRUARY 21, 2014
An act to amend Section 51747 of the Education Code, relating to
pupil instruction.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1387, as introduced, Liu. Pupil instruction: independent study.
Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district
or a county office of education to offer independent study to meet
the educational needs of pupils in accordance with prescribed
criteria.
Existing law provides that a school district or county office of
education is not eligible to receive apportionments for independent
study pupils unless it has adopted and implemented certain policies,
including, but not limited to, policies related to all of the
following, among other things: the maximum length of time that may
elapse between the time an independent study assignment is made and
the date by which the pupil must complete the assigned work; the
number of missed assignments that will be allowed before an
evaluation is conducted to determine whether it is in the best
interests of the pupil to remain in independent study; the manner,
time, frequency, and place for submitting a pupil's assignments and
for reporting his or her progress; the duration of the independent
study agreement, which is limited to one semester or 1/2 year for a
school on a year-round calendar; and the requirement of a written
agreement, signed by prescribed individuals, for each independent
study pupil to be maintained on file.
This bill would extend the maximum duration of an independent
study agreement under this provision to 2 semesters or one school
year for a school on a year-round calendar. The bill would also
permit the required signatures on the independent study written
agreement to be submitted through a PDF or facsimile copy of the
original written agreement.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 51747 of the Education Code is amended to read:
51747. A school district or county office of education shall not
be eligible to receive apportionments for independent study by
pupils, regardless of age, unless it has adopted written policies,
and has implemented those policies, pursuant to rules and regulations
adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction
, that include, but are not limited to, all of the
following:
(a) The maximum length of time, by grade level and type of
program, that may elapse between the time an independent study
assignment is made and the date by which the pupil must complete the
assigned work.
(b) The number of missed assignments that will be allowed before
an evaluation is conducted to determine whether it is in the best
interests of the pupil to remain in independent study, or whether he
or she should return to the regular school program. A written record
of the findings of any evaluation made pursuant to this subdivision
shall be treated as a mandatory interim pupil record. The record
shall be maintained for a period of three years from the date of the
evaluation and, if the pupil transfers to another California public
school, the record shall be forwarded to that school.
(c) A requirement that a current written agreement for each
independent study pupil shall be maintained on file including, but
not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The manner, time, frequency, and place for submitting a pupil'
s assignments and for reporting his or her progress.
(2) The objectives and methods of study for the pupil's work, and
the methods utilized to evaluate that work.
(3) The specific resources, including materials and personnel,
that will be made available to the pupil.
(4) A statement of the policies adopted pursuant to subdivisions
(a) and (b) regarding the maximum length of time allowed between the
assignment and the completion of a pupil's assigned work, and the
number of missed assignments allowed prior to
before an evaluation of whether or not the pupil should be
allowed to continue in independent study.
(5) The duration of the independent study agreement, including the
beginning and ending dates for the pupil's participation in
independent study under the agreement. No independent study agreement
shall be valid for any period longer than one semester, or
one-half year two semesters, or one school year
for a school on a year-round calendar.
(6) A statement of the number of course credits or, for the
elementary grades, other measures of academic accomplishment
appropriate to the agreement, to be earned by the pupil upon
completion.
(7) The inclusion of a statement in each independent study
agreement that independent study is an optional educational
alternative in which no pupil may be required to participate. In the
case of a pupil who is referred or assigned to any school, class, or
program pursuant to Section 48915 or 48917, the agreement also shall
include the statement that instruction may be provided to the pupil
through independent study only if the pupil is offered the
alternative of classroom instruction.
(8) (A) Each written agreement shall be
signed, prior to before the
commencement of independent study, by the pupil, the pupil's parent,
legal guardian, or caregiver, if the pupil is less than 18 years of
age, the certificated employee who has been designated as having
responsibility for the general supervision of independent study, and
all persons who have direct responsibility for providing assistance
to the pupil. For
(B) For purposes of this
paragraph "caregiver" paragraph:
(i) "Caregiver" means a person
who has met the requirements of Part 1.5 (commencing with Section
6550) of Division 11 of the Family Code.
(ii) "Written agreement" includes a PDF or facsimile copy of the
original written agreement that includes one or more of the
signatures required under subparagraph (A).
