INDEPENDENT
STUDY POLICY
Sky
Mountain Charter School
A. This policy shall apply to all pupils enrolled
in Sky Mountain Charter School, an independent study charter school serving
pupils in grades K-12.
B. Students
who attend SMCS will be educated through individually designed curricula, which
may include, but are not limited to, non-classroom
based learning programs, cooperative school programs and classes,
apprenticeships, on-the-job training, community-based educational programs,
group seminars, distance learning via current technology, and supplemental learning
projects.
C. The
Charter School shall comply with all state and federal Charter School laws
regarding independent study instruction.
D. Each
student’s independent study shall be coordinated, evaluated, and carried out
under the general supervision of an assigned certificated employee or employees
of the Charter School.
E. The
maximum length of time that may elapse between the time
an independent study assignment is made and the date by which the student must
complete the assigned work shall be no more than twenty (20) school days, or as
modified by an assigned credentialed teacher at the time the work is assigned
to the pupil.
F. Students who fail to demonstrate adequate
and appropriate monthly progress toward the student standards, as determined by
the professional judgment of the credentialed teacher assigned to that student,
will be subject to expulsion for truancy in accordance with the terms of the
Charter.
After one (1) missed assignment a review shall be conducted 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 review made pursuant
to this subdivision shall be maintained in the pupil’s permanent record. The
review may consist of some or all of the following:
·
Monthly review of work
·
Annual portfolios
·
Parent, student, and Education
Specialist observation
·
Norm and criterion referenced tests
·
Student demonstrations
·
Student grades
The role of the credentialed teacher is critical to the success of charter
school independent study students. The teacher’s observations,
discussions with parents and students, and examinations of written work are the
key to quality control. Students who fail to demonstrate
adequate and appropriate monthly progress toward the student standards, as
determined by the professional judgment of the credentialed teacher assigned to
that student, will be subject to expulsion for truancy in accordance with the
terms of the Charter.
G. A
current written student agreement for each independent study pupil shall be
maintained on file for each participating student. Each written student
agreement shall be signed and in effect prior to the start of reporting
attendance (ADA) pursuant to that agreement. Students must meet all
elements of the written student agreement in order for continued enrollment in
this charter school. The independent study agreement for the student must
require a plan that represents the same amount
of study that would be required of a student in a classroom , and must require
that the student has the ability to complete the study plan assignments in an
independent study setting. Written agreements will include subsidiary
agreements, such as course contracts and assignments, work records, and testing
requirements. Each agreement shall also include 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
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.
·
The duration of the written student
agreement, recognizing that no written student agreement shall be valid for any
period longer than one semester.
·
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 written student agreement that attendance
at this charter school is an optional educational alternative in which no pupil
may be required to participate.
The role of the credentialed teacher
is critical to the success of charter school independent study students.
The teacher’s observations, discussions with parents and students, and
examinations of written work are the key to quality control.
If a parent or student knowingly provides any false information on the student
application, the student shall be immediately dismissed from the Charter
School.
H. The
Charter School shall not provide any
funds or other things 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 parents or guardian.
I. The
Charter School may only receive funding
for the provision of independent study to pupils who are residents of San
Bernardino or who are residents of a county contiguous to San Bernardino.
J. The
Charter School must comply with Education Code Section 51745.6 and California
Code of Regulations Section 11704 regarding teacher to ADA limits.
Each enrolled student will be assigned to a credentialed teacher. Student
participates with the credentialed teacher and parents in the design of an
individualized learning plan that incorporates all aspects of his or her
educational program and that serves as the student’s learning contract with SMCS.
K. On
a regular basis, consistent with the written student agreement, the assigned
credentialed teacher and the parent shall evaluate the education program of the
student and modify as necessary to maximize student success. The assigned
credentialed teacher will have the final authority with regard to the education
program of the student, and outcomes with the exception of students who qualify
for special education services whose services and outcomes will be determined
by an Individual Education Plan (“IEP”) team pursuant to law. Each student is expected to access and meet the same grade
level standards and curriculum that their grade level, general education
counterparts are afforded through access to special services, supports,
accommodations, and modifications provided to them and outlined on their
Individual Education Plan (IEP) .
L. It
is understood that no student who qualifies for special education services
under the Individuals with Disabilities in
Education Act (“IDEA”) shall participate in independent study unless it is
specifically authorized in his or her IEP. As a public school, SMCS
does not discriminate against identified special education students, or
students guaranteed protections under a 504 Accommodation Plan regardless of
their disability. Following enrollment in Sky Mountain Charter School each
identified special education student shall attend all scheduled tutorials,
unless unable to do so due to illness or family emergency,
to assist the student in meeting the student’s identified goals
and objectives specified in his or her Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
and to insure that the student’s charter school placement promotes his or
her educational benefit. Three unexcused absences or missing more than 50% of a
student’s special education services in a month will result in the student
being designated truant. Parents will be invited to an IEP meeting to
review their student’s educational progress, and to insure that this charter
school remains the least restrictive environment in which to promote
educational benefit. If the student is twice designated to be truant in the
current academic year he/she will immediately be
dismissed from the charter school.
M. Acceptance
into Sky Mountain Charter School:
A student may be accepted into the charter school upon the following
terms and conditions:
Parents who enroll their children in SMCS shall, through specific
enrollment and curriculum contracts, accept responsibility for their children’s
education. SMCS will support its students and parents both with
appropriate educational materials, and with a team of Highly Qualified (as
required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) California teacher
credentialed Education Specialists, ES Advisors, and school administrators. SMCS
Education Specialists and ES Advisors shall advise and assist parents and
students in all aspects of student education pursuant to relevant contracts.
·
Any parent or legally responsible
entity may legally designate an alternate party to act in place of the parents.
SMCS adult students do not require parental participation in educational or
admission contracts, or performance evaluations.
N. Independent
Study Roles
The credentialed teacher will:
·
Ensure that independent study occurs in accordance with state law and charter policy and
regulations.
·
Facilitate the completion of written student agreements.
·
Supervise and assess approved coursework.
·
Assign all grades and credits earned and report the information for inclusion in student’s
permanent record.
·
Establish, complete, and maintain necessary reports and records, including, but not limited to, learning
records and attendance record.
·
Personally judge the time value of student assignments or work products before ADA is earned.
·
Assess the student’s level of education, modifying the curriculum as necessary to meet charter
guidelines.
·
Administer school and state mandated tests as
required.
·
Select and save representative samples of the student’s completed and evaluated assignments.
The parents/guardians will:
·
Understand that attendance at this school is entirely voluntary on the
part of the students who enroll.
·
Participate with the credentialed
teacher in the development of the student’s educational plan.
·
Meet face to face with their
Education Specialists at least once
every 20 school days to review and document attendance and the learning that
occurs in that learning period.
·
Transport their student to each school or state mandated assessment location
·
Understand that all items supplied
and/or obtained through a school purchase are the property of the school. Under
the direction of the credentialed teacher, the parent/guardian shall
assume responsibility for all items supplied and/or obtained through the school
including, but not limited to books, materials, supplies, and equipment and
will reimburse the school for lost, stolen, or damaged items. The
parent/guardian shall return all school provided/owed items to the school
upon school request. Parents not returning requested items will be required to
pay for those items.
The student will:
·
Be responsible to fulfilling the
written student agreement components.