Independent Study Can Increase Attendance Or It Can Be A Legal Compliance Headache! (This presentation is designed to prevent the pain!) Presented by: Lisa A. Corr, Esq. lcorr@mycharterlaw.com Website: www.mycharterlaw.com 1 No Minimum Number of Days Charter schools, unlike school districts, do not have a minimum number of consecutive days required for independent study. 2 But Lisa, What If We Don t Want to Become a Nonclassroom Based Charter School?? Good point! You should limit your ADA earned through independent study to 20% or less. If you find that you are earning more than 20% or more in independent study ADA, remember to seek a funding determination. 3 2015 Law Offices of Young, Minney & Corr, LLP 1
If You Allow Independent Study Instruction, You Must Do It Right! Small Audit Exception = Huge Problems 4 DISCLAIMER!!! Different auditors often have different interpretations of legal requirements. Do not change your Charter School s practice as a result of this presentation without first consulting with your legal counsel and auditor. (seriously, please don t!) 5 Follow the Audit Trail. (the yellow brick road it aint ) 6 2015 Law Offices of Young, Minney & Corr, LLP 2
Adopt A Board Policy On Independent Study. 7 Ensure That All Legally Required Components Are Included. 1) Maximum length of time between the date the assignment is made and the date the assignment is due. 2) Number of missed assignments before an evaluation is conducted to determine whether it is in the best interest of the pupil to remain in independent study. 3) All pupils engaging in independent study must do so in accordance with a fully executed agreement. 8 Independent Study Must be Supervised by a Credentialed Teacher Employed by the Charter School 9 2015 Law Offices of Young, Minney & Corr, LLP 3
Execute legally compliant master agreements. 10 Include all legally required components. Maintain consistency with board policy. Ensure full execution prior to claiming attendance. Maintain in student record. Electronic storage allowed. One school year maximum term. 11 Maintain representative student work samples. No longer required to sign or initial or date samples. 12 2015 Law Offices of Young, Minney & Corr, LLP 4
Maintain written contemporaneous records of attendance. Daily engagement Time value 13 Maintain appropriate independent study ADA to independent study FTE ratio 14 Ensure students reside in county or adjacent counties. Some relief for virtual programs with students who move during the school year. 15 2015 Law Offices of Young, Minney & Corr, LLP 5
Cannot offer funds or things of value to students or parents/guardians in exchange for them participating in independent study. 16 Identify pupils by grade level, program placement, and school in your records. 17 QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES THANKS FOR ATTENDING TODAY! 18 2015 Law Offices of Young, Minney & Corr, LLP 6
DO NOT USE WITHOUT TAILORING FOR YOUR PROGRAM AND WITHOUT RECEIVING LEGAL AND/OR AUDITOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. SAMPLE Charter School Assignment Sheet and Attendance Record Student Name: Grade: Teacher: Assignment Period: Month/Day/Year to Month/Day/Year STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS Teachers, please include a brief summary of the assignment, the resources to be used to complete the assignment, and the method of evaluation of the assignment. (Attach additional sheet as necessary) Language Arts Social Studies Mathematics Science Spanish Physical Education Other The Charter School recognizes that families may not evenly distribute student s work assignments over weekdays. However, due to strict State law requirements for charter school attendance, the Charter School expects each student to be engaged in an educational activity required of them in the assignments on each weekday that the Charter School is in session, and asks that this daily engagement be documented on a daily basis on this sheet by the parent/guardian. This should not be read to prohibit schoolwork on weekends and should not be read to dictate the manner in which a family distributes the assignments over the independent study period. The Charter School asks that a parent/guardian refrain from documenting any daily engagement on a day where a student did not engage in any educational activity required of them by the assignments. By law, work done on weekends or other days when school is not in session cannot be used to make-up weekdays where no daily engagement occurred. Language Arts Social Studies Mathematics Science Spanish Physical Ed Other Daily Engagement In Educational Activities Assigned by the School on Days the School is in Session Week One Monday / / Tuesday / / Wednesday_/ / Thursday_/ / Friday_/ / Parent Please fill in date and initial on subjects in which student was engaged on each day. Parent Signature: Date: Language Arts Social Studies Daily Engagement In Educational Activities Assigned by the School on Days the School is in Session Week Two Monday / / Tuesday / / Wednesday_/ / Thursday_/ / Friday_/ / SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT SHEET AND ATTENDANCE RECORD PAGE 1 OF 2 7
Mathematics Science Spanish Physical Ed Other DO NOT USE WITHOUT TAILORING FOR YOUR PROGRAM AND WITHOUT RECEIVING LEGAL AND/OR AUDITOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. Parent Please fill in date and initial on subjects in which student was engaged on each day. Parent Signature: Date: Daily Engagement In Educational Activities Assigned by the School on Days the School is in Session Week Three Monday / / Tuesday / / Wednesday_/ / Thursday_/ / Friday_/ / Language Arts Social Studies Mathematics Science Spanish Physical Education Other Parent Please fill in date and initial on subjects in which student was engaged on each day. Parent Signature: Date: Daily Engagement In Educational Activities Assigned by the School on Days the School is in Session Week Four Monday / / Tuesday / / Wednesday_/ / Thursday_/ / Friday_/ / Language Arts Social Studies Mathematics Science Spanish Physical Education Other Parent Please fill in date and initial on subjects in which student was engaged on each day. Parent Signature: Date: For Supervising Teacher Completion: a. Days of Daily Engagement on Educational Activities Required by the School on Days the School is in Session: b. Time Value of Student Work Product (measured in days): Attendance Approved by Teacher: [insert lesser of a & b] Signature of Supervising Teacher Date: SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT SHEET AND ATTENDANCE RECORD PAGE 2 OF 2 8
INDEPENDENT STUDY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS The sample language and documents provided by Young, Minney, & Corr, LLP are provided for discussion purposes only and provide general information not designed for any particular client or school; they do not constitute legal advice. As the information contained here is necessarily general, its application to a particular charter school and the background set of facts and circumstances may vary. We do not recommend that you utilize this information without tailoring the language to meet the specific needs of your school and/or without consulting legal counsel. 9
LEGAL REQUIREMENT 1 Board Policy: A school district or county office of education (or charter school) may not be eligible to receive apportionments for independent study by pupils unless it has adopted policies that include 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 c) a requirement that a current written agreement for each independent study pupil shall be maintained on file including all legal requirements (see Master Agreement below) Public Hearing: In setting the policy (described above), the local governing board must consider in a public hearing the scope of its existing or prospective use of independent study as an instructional strategy, its purposes in authorizing independent study, and factors bearing specifically on the maximum realistic lengths of assignments and acceptable number of missed assignments for specific populations of pupils. Adopted policies shall reflect an awareness that excessive leniency in their terms can result in pupils falling so far behind their peers as to increase, rather than decrease, the risk of their dropping out of school. Master Agreement: 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 EC Section 51747(a) & (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 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 CITATION Education Code Section 51747(a) & (b) Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11702 Education Code Section 51747(c)(1)-(8) 1 Independent study law was written with school districts and county offices in mind the following definitions are used to apply the laws to charter schools: Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11700.1. Additional Definitions Applicable to Charter Schools a. "Certificated employees," in charter schools, means employees meeting the requirements of subdivision (l) of Education Code Section 47605. b. "Classroom instruction," with reference to a charter school, means classroom instruction provided either by the charter school or by another public school that the pupil is eligible to attend. c. "School district" or "district," for the purposes of this subchapter and of Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 51745) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of the Education Code, means a school district or a charter school, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Page 2 of 6 10
LEGAL REQUIREMENT 1 the agreement. No independent study agreement shall be valid for any period longer than one school year. (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. (8) Each written agreement shall be signed, prior to 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 purposes of this paragraph "caregiver" means a person who has met the requirements of Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 6550) of the Family Code. Signature & Date & Curriculum Requirements for Master Agreement: Each signature required for an independent study agreement shall be dated. An agreement is not in effect until it is complete as to all terms, signed and dated. Funds or Things of Value: A school district, county office of education or a charter school may not claim state funding for the independent study of a pupil, whether characterized as home study or otherwise, if the charter school has provided any funds or other thing of value to the pupil or his or her parent or guardian that a school district could not legally provide to a similarly situated pupil of the school district, or to his or her parent or guardian. Daily Engagement: Attendance means the attendance of charter school pupils while engaged in educational activities required of them by their charter school on days when the school is in session. Time Value: School districts and charter schools and county offices of education may claim apportionment credit for independent study only to the extent of the time value of pupil or student work products, as personally judged in each instance by a certificated teacher. 2 Enrollment Restrictions: Independent study average daily attendance shall be claimed by school districts, county superintendents of schools, and charter schools only for pupils who are residents of the county in which the apportionment claim is reported, or who are residents of a county immediately adjacent to the county in which the apportionment claim is reported. CITATION Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11702 Education Code Section 51747.3(a) Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11960(a) Education Code Section 51747.5(b) Education Code Section 51747.3(b) *New law effective January 1, 2015 In addition to claiming independent study average daily attendance pursuant to paragraph (1), a virtual or online charter school may also claim independent 2 The CDE currently interprets daily engagement attendance accounting and time value attendance accounting to apply to charter schools. In practice, this means a charter school only collects apportionment for any daily engagement of a student on work assigned by the teacher but only on days the school is in session (not holidays or weekends). Then, the credentialed supervising teacher is obligated to also judge the time value of the work product of the pupil. Page 3 of 6 11
LEGAL REQUIREMENT 1 study average daily attendance for a pupil who is enrolled in the school and moves to a residence located outside of the geographical boundaries of the virtual or online charter school. The virtual or online charter school may claim independent study average daily attendance for the pupil under this paragraph only for the duration of the course or courses in which the pupil is enrolled or until the end of the school year, whichever occurs first. CITATION Credentialing: The independent study by each pupil or student shall be coordinated, evaluated, and, notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 46300, shall be under the general supervision of an employee of the school district or county office of education who possesses a valid certification document pursuant to Section 44865 or an emergency credential pursuant to Section 44300, registered as required by law. Special Education: No individual with exceptional needs, as defined in Section 56026, may participate in independent study, unless his or her individualized education program developed pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 56340) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 specifically provides for that participation. Pupil to Teacher Ratio: 3 (a) Education Code Section 51747.5 Education Code Section 51745(c) Education Code Section 51745.6 (1) The ratio of average daily attendance for independent study pupils 18 years of age or less to school district full-time equivalent certificated employees responsible for independent study, for the applicable grade span, calculated as specified by the department, shall not exceed the equivalent ratio of pupils to full-time certificated employees for all other educational programs operated by the school district for the applicable grade span, unless a new higher or lower grade span ratio for all other educational programs offered within the respective grade span is negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement or a memorandum of understanding is entered into that indicates an existing collective bargaining agreement contains an alternative grade span ratio for the applicable grade span. The ratio of average daily attendance for independent study pupils 18 years of age or less to county office of education full-time equivalent certificated employees responsible for independent study, for the applicable grade span, to be calculated in a manner prescribed by the department, shall not exceed the equivalent ratio of pupils to full-time certificated employees for all other educational programs operated by the high school or unified school district with the largest average daily attendance of pupils in that county for the applicable grade span, unless a new higher or lower grade span ratio for all other educational programs offered within the respective grade span is negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement or a memorandum of understanding is entered into that indicates an existing collective bargaining agreement contains an alternative grade span ratio for the applicable grade span. The computation of the ratios shall be performed annually by the reporting agency at the time of, and in connection with, the second principal apportionment report to the Superintendent. (2) For purposes of this section, the following grade spans shall apply: (A) Kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive. (B) Grades 4 to 6, inclusive. (C) Grades 7 to 8, inclusive. (D) Grades 9 to 12, inclusive. (b) Only those units of average daily attendance for independent study that reflect a pupil-teacher ratio that does not exceed the applicable grade span ratios described in subdivision (a) shall be eligible for apportionment pursuant to Section 2575, for county offices of education, and Section 42238.05, for school districts. Nothing in this section shall prevent a school district or county office of education from serving additional units of average daily attendance greater than the 3 Likely to be revised soon to eliminate grade span requirements. Page 4 of 6 12
LEGAL REQUIREMENT 1 applicable grade span ratios described in subdivision (a), except that those additional units shall not be funded pursuant to Section 2575 or 42238.05, as applicable. If a school district, charter school, or county office of education has a memorandum of understanding to provide instruction in coordination with the school district, charter school, or county office of education at which a pupil is enrolled, then the applicable grade span ratios that shall apply for purposes of this paragraph are the ratios for the local educational agency providing the independent study program to the pupil pursuant to Section 51749.5. CITATION (c) The calculations performed for purposes of this section shall not include either of the following: (1) The average daily attendance generated by special education pupils enrolled in special day classes on a full-time basis, or the teachers of those classes. (2) The average daily attendance or teachers in necessary small schools that are eligible to receive funding pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 42280) of Chapter 7 of Part 24. (d) The applicable pupils-to-certificated-employee grade span ratios described in subdivision (a) may, in a charter school, be calculated by using a fixed pupils-to-certificated-employee ratio of 25 to 1, or by being a ratio of less than 25 pupils per certificated employee. All charter school pupils, regardless of age, shall be included in the applicable pupil-to-certificated-employee grade span ratio calculations. Pupil to Teacher Ratio: In a charter school, for the purposes of Education Code section 51745.6, the ratio of average daily attendance for independent study pupils to full-time equivalent (FTE) certificated employees responsible for independent study shall not exceed a pupil-teacher ratio of 25:1 or the ratio of pupils to full-time equivalent certificated employees for all other educational programs operated by the largest unified school district, as measured by average daily attendance, as reported at the second principal apportionment in the prior year, in the county or counties in which the charter school operates. For purposes of this section, a "full-time certificated employee" means an employee who is required to work a minimum six-hour day and 175 days per fiscal year. Part-time positions shall generate a partial FTE on a proportional basis. Maintenance of Independent Study Records: Master Agreement: 3 years Daily Attendance Credit Register: 3 years Representative Work Samples: 3 years Regular work assignments: 3 years Student work records: 3 years Teacher records: 3 years Transcript: permanents School apportionment records: 3 years Work Samples: Must maintain representative work samples of each pupil s work product bearing signed or initialed and dated notations by the supervising teacher indicating that he or she has personally evaluated the work or that he or she has personally reviewed the evaluations made by another certificated teacher. 4 Work Samples: Samples of original work must be maintained that reasonably reflect the total scope of work assignments. Equitable Provision of Resources: The independent study option is to be substantially equivalent in quality and in quantity to classroom instruction. Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11704 Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 16023 and 16026 and 11703 Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11703 Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11700(b)(2) Title 5 California Code of Regulations Section 11701.5 4 The Education Code and audit guide have removed the signature/initial/date notation on work samples. It is likely this regulation will be revised to do the same. Page 5 of 6 13
LEGAL REQUIREMENT 1 Geographic Restrictions: A nonclassroom based charter school may establish a resource center, meeting space or other facility located in a county adjacent to that which the charter school is authorized only if the charter school provides its primary educational services in, and a majority of the pupils it serves are residents of, the county in which the charter school is authorized. Over Nineteen: To remain eligible for generating apportionment, a pupil over 19 years of age shall be continuously enrolled in public school in pursuit of a high school diploma while 19 years of age and without a break in public school enrollment since that time, is enrolled in the charter school and is making satisfactory progress toward award of a high school diploma and the pupil is not over the age of 22 years. 5 Funding Determination: All nonclassroom based charter schools must receive a funding determination from the State Board of Education in order to receive apportionment. CITATION Education Code Section 47605.1(c) Education Code Section 47612 Title 5 California Code of Regulations 11960(c) Education Code Section 47612.5, 11963.2 11963.7 5 There are exceptions for certain charter schools with exclusive partnerships with Job Corp, Conservation Corp, Workforce Incentive Act, Youth Build programs, and Juvenile Court school programs. Page 6 of 6 14
DO NOT USE WITHOUT TAILORING FOR YOUR PROGRAM AND WITHOUT RECEIVING LEGAL AND/OR AUDITOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. Policy No. 0001 OSOGOOD CHARTER SCHOOL Independent Study Osogood Charter School may offer independent study to meet the educational needs of pupils enrolled in the charter school. Independent study is an alternative education designed to teach the knowledge and skills of the core curriculum. Osogood Charter School shall provide appropriate existing services and resources to enable pupils to complete their independent study successfully. The following written policies have been adopted by the Board for implementation at the Charter School: 1. For pupils in all grade levels offered by the School, the maximum length of time that may elapse between the time an assignment is made and the date by which the pupil must complete the assigned work shall be school days. [BREAK OUT BY GRADE LEVELS IF NEEDED.] 2. When any pupil fails to complete assignments during any period of school days, the Principal or his or her designee shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether it is in the best interests of the pupil to remain in independent study. A written record of the findings of any evaluation conducted pursuant to this policy shall be treated as a mandatory interim pupil record. This 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. [BREAK OUT BY GRADE LEVELS IF NEEDED] 3. A current written agreement shall be maintain on file for each independent study pupil, including but not limited to, all of the following: The manner, time, frequency, and place for submitting a pupil's assignments and for reporting his or her progress. The objectives and methods of study for the pupil's work, and the methods utilized to evaluate that work. The specific resources, including materials and personnel, that will be made available to the pupil. A statement of the policies adopted herein regarding the maximum length of time allowed between the assignment and the completion of a pupil's SAMPLE INDEPENDENT STUDY BOARD POLICY PAGE 1 OF 2 15
assigned work, and the number of missed assignments allowed prior to an evaluation of whether or not the pupil should be allowed to continue in independent study. The duration of the independent study agreement, including 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 for a school on a year-round calendar. 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. 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 Education Code 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. Each written agreement shall be signed, prior to the commencement of independent study, by the pupil, the pupil's parent, legal guardian, or care giver, 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 purposes of this paragraph "caregiver" means a person who has met the requirements of Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 6550) of the Family Code. 4. Osogood Charter School shall comply with the Education Code Sections 51745 through 51749.3 and the provisions of the Charter School s Act and the State Board of Education regulations adopted there under. 5. The Principal shall establish regulations to implement these policies in accordance with the law. SAMPLE INDEPENDENT STUDY BOARD POLICY PAGE 2 OF 2 2014 YOUNG, MINNEY & CORR, LLP 16
DO NOT USE WITHOUT TAILORING FOR YOUR PROGRAM AND WITHOUT RECEIVING LEGAL AND/OR AUDITOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. Charter School Master Agreement for Independent Study Student Name: Student Number: Address: City/Location: Phone Number: DOB: Program Placement: Agreement Duration: Beginning Date: End Date: Year: Grade Level: 2 nd Phone Number: Students are required to report to their teacher as follows to submitting work and reporting progress: Manner of Reporting: One-on-one Small Group E-mail Fax. Time:. Frequency:. Place of Meeting:. Method of Study: Specific methods of study will be designated on the Student Assignment Sheet and Attendance Record incorporated herein. Examples of methods of study for the student will include but are not limited to: Independent Reading Textbook Activities Problem Solving Study Projects Drill & Practice Experiential Learning Computerized Curriculum Web/Internet Research Library Research Field Trips Learning Center Courses Other. Method of Evaluation: Academic evaluations will be designated on the Student Assignment Sheet and Attendance Record incorporated herein. Examples of acceptable methods of evaluation include but are not limited to: Teacher-made Tests Student Conferences Progress/Report Cards Chapter/Unit Tests Work Samples Observations Portfolios State Standards Testing CA High School Exit Exams Learning Journals Presentations Quizzes Labs Finals Other. Resources: The school will provide appropriate instructional materials and personnel to enable the student to complete the assigned work. Resources must include those reasonably necessary to the achievement of the objectives and must include resources that are normally available to all students on the same terms as the terms on which they are available to all. Assignments and specific resources will be designated on the Assignment and Attendance Record incorporated herein. Board Policies: (a) For pupils in all grade levels offered by the School, the maximum length of time that may elapse between the time an assignment is made and the date by which the pupil must complete the assigned work shall be [INSERT # FROM BOARD POLICY] school days. (b) A pupil may miss [INSERT # FROM BOARD POLICY] assignment during any period of [INSERT # FROM BOARD POLICY] school days before an evaluation is conducted to determine whether it is in the best interests of the pupil to remain in independent study. Therefore, when any pupil fails to complete [INSERT # FROM BOARD POLICY] assignments during any period of [INSERT # FROM BOARD POLICY] school days, the Principal or his or her designee shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether it is in the best interests of the pupil to remain in independent study. A written record of the findings of any evaluation conducted pursuant to this policy shall be treated as a mandatory interim pupil record. This record shall be maintained for a period of three years from the SAMPLE MASTER AGREEMENT FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY PAGE 1 OF 2 17
DO NOT USE WITHOUT TAILORING FOR YOUR PROGRAM AND WITHOUT RECEIVING LEGAL AND/OR AUDITOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. date of the evaluation and if the pupil transfers to another California public school, the record shall be forwarded to that school. Objectives: The student will complete the courses listed below. All course objectives will be consistent with the established charter school s board policy and are consistent with charter school standards, as outlined in the charter school s subject/course descriptions. Assignment Sheet and Attendance Record will include additional descriptions of the major objectives and activities of the courses of study covered by this agreement including the evaluation of student work and is incorporated herein. The term Course Value ( CV ) refers to the number of credits (secondary education) or weeks of work (elementary education) the student will attempt. Course Credits or Other Measures of Academic Achievement to be Earned Upon Completion [TAILOR COURSES AND CREDIT] Category Subject CV Modified Language Arts English 9 5 No Mathematics Algebra 1 5 No Social Studies World History 5 No Voluntary Statement: It is understood 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 Education Code Section 48915 or 48917, instruction may be provided to the pupil through independent study only if the pupil is offered the alternative of classroom instruction. Signatures and Dates: I have read and I understand the terms of this agreement, and agree to all provisions set forth. Student: Date: Parent/Guardian/Caregiver: Date: Supervising Teacher: Date: Other Person Who Has Direct Responsibility for Providing Assistance to the Pupil: Date: Other Person Who Has Direct Responsibility for Providing Assistance to the Pupil: Date: Other Person Who Has Direct Responsibility for Providing Assistance to the Pupil: Date: [PUT N/A IF THERE IS NO OTHER PERSON ] SAMPLE MASTER AGREEMENT FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY PAGE 2 OF 2 18