Carol Abbott
Education Programs Consultant
Independent Study and Alternative Programs of Choice
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 6408
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone:(916) 319-0943
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Guide to Evaluating Your Independent Study Practices

NCLB TEACHER REQUIREMENTS

The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires all teachers to be "highly qualified" by the end of the 2005-06 school year. The California Department of Education’s "NCLB Teacher Requirements Resource Guide” provides detailed information about the NCLB teacher requirements.

The main challenge for independent study has been the NCLB requirement that teachers must demonstrate subject matter competence in all the core academic subjects they teach. This has especially been a challenge for high schools (and some middle schools) where independent study teachers taught most, if not all, academic subjects. The core academic subjects are defined as: English, Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics/Government, Economics, Arts, History, and Geography.

As outlined in the "NCLB Teacher Requirements Resource Guide,” there are different options available for demonstrating subject matter competence depending on whether or not a teacher is "new to the profession" and whether a teacher teaches at the elementary level or the middle school/high school level. Of particular interest to teachers who are "not new" to the profession is the HOUSSE (High Objective Uniform State Standard or Evaluation) option for demonstrating subject matter competence.

Please see "Highly Qualified Teachers in Independent Study" – this document summarizes new ways to offer independent study which are being piloted in districts around the state.

INDEPENDENT STUDY OPERATIONS MANUAL

CDE’s Independent Study Operations Manual is available on the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/is/isoperationsmanual.asp

AUDIT GUIDE ISSUED FOR 2008-2009

The California Education Audit Appeals Panel (EAAP) has issued the K-12 Audit Guide for 2008-09 as administrative regulations. These regulations serve as the basis for the 2008-09 annual audits of K-12 local educational agencies, and are posted on the EAAP's Web site at http://www.eaap.ca.gov/NewWebSite0804/NPRM%202008-09/2008-09%20AdtGdeBklt.doc. The provisions related to independent study are in Section 19819, on pages 22 - 28. Note that these regulations replace the K-12 Audit Guide formerly published by the State Controller's Office.

California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Bylaws

California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Constitution and Bylaws (PDF; Outside Source)
Article 30--School Regulations, Section 306--Independent Study Program. Rules governing independent study programs/schools–Section 306, page 55.

Also see CCIS Legislative Advocate