Short-Term Independent Study Requests & Agreement

Protocols and Procedures for Short-Term Independent Study

Short-term independent study (no more than 14 cumulative days in a school year) has the following process and procedures: 

When requested by a parent/guardian due to an emergency, vacation, or illness, independent study may be used on a short-term basis to ensure that the student is able to maintain academic progress in his/her regular classes. (cf. 5113 - Absences and Excuses)

Independent Study Length and Calendar Requirements

Short-term (no less than 3 and no more than 14 cumulative days) independent study will be granted for one time during the academic year except for the first ten (10) and last ten (10) days of the academic calendar. Independent Study requests will not be granted during state testing dates. Please confirm test administration dates with Ms. Gross, Rancho Milpitas Middle School Assistant Principal.

The Parents/Guardians shall:

● Notify Ms. Gross (Assistant Principal) and Ms. Gonzalez (Attendance Secretary) a minimum of 10 days in advance before the leave date to allow teachers time to gather work and assignments.

● Submit the school in writing the reasons, with specific details, of the need for the independent study at least 10 days before the absence.

● Schedule a date/time to meet with Ms. Gross to formally make the request and review expectations of the Short-Term Independent Study Contract.

● Sign (Digitally/Physically) the short-term independent study agreement in the Aeries Portal)

● Understand that these 3-14 days of absence will be considered unexcused if contract requirements are not met.

● If the student has previous patterns of unexcused absences or chronic absenteeism the student will be referred to SARB and may require the parent to attend a SARB hearing at the District Office.

● Understand that short-term independent study shall not be used more than one time in any given school year.

● Understand that short-term independent study shall not be calendared during the first 10 days and the last 10 days of school.

● Understand that short-term independent study shall not be calendared during local school site state testing.

● Understand that short-term independent study shall not be calendared or combined with district school breaks that are 5 days or more.

The student shall:

● Complete the work during the time away from school.

● Submit completed work by the due date for review and validation in order to receive academic credit.

● Understand that short-term independent study shall not be used more than one time in any given school year.

● Sign (Digitally/Physically) the short-term independent study agreement in the Aeries Portal)

The site staff shall:

● Ms. Gross (Assistant Principal) meets with family/parent/guardian to review requests and expectations for Short Term Independent Study.

● Ms. Gross (Assistant Principal) shall approve independent study for an individual student only upon determining that the student is prepared to meet the district's requirements for independent study and is likely to complete the work.

● Classroom teacher(s) creates a list of required assignments.

● Upon a student's return to school, classwork is reviewed and graded by the teacher(s).

● Once graded, Ms. Gonzalez (Attendance Secretary) enters data into Aeries to receive academic credit.

● Digitally sign the short-term independent study agreement in the Aeries Portal. (see detailed instructions below)

● If the student does not return on the fifteenth day, or the day of the contract’s completion, the site shall:

1. Verify the absence via a phone call, in-person conversation with parent/guardian, or via a home visit. If verification is not achieved, the student will be considered habitually truant and a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) letter will be sent to the student’s home.

2. Depending on the number of previous absences the student has accrued, the site administrator may be required to schedule a meeting with the parent/guardian and an attendance contract may need to be developed and implemented.

3. If the student has previous patterns of chronic absenteeism this would require a SARB hearing at the District Office.

4. Report annually to the Executive Director of Learning & Development or designee the number of students who participate in both Short-Term and Long-Term Independent Study.

 • The Executive Director of Learning and Development will report this data to the Board on an annual basis.