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Charter SELPA

Special Education Local Plan Area

Independent Study-Introduction

Purpose of the Guide and Special Education Focus

 
Independent Study is a broad term that includes a wide variety of virtual and hybrid school settings in contrast to traditional in-person school settings. This guide is meant to provide independent study charter school programs with practical information about legal obligations and best practices to ensure students with disabilities receive equitable access and quality instruction in these settings. 
 
Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, interest in independent study has grown significantly, and the practice of delivering special education in virtual or hybrid settings continues to evolve. Many charter schools embraced this shift and have retained independent study programs to meet student needs. According to 2021–22 data, charter schools accounted for one-third (33.3%) of all virtual schools nationwide, yet made up 58.4% of total enrollment in these schools. Charter schools are known for their ability to be innovative, which has the potential to serve students receiving special education services both creatively and inclusively.
 

Overview of Independent Study in California Charter Schools

 
This guide has been created by the El Dorado County Charter SELPA, which currently represents 95 independent study charter Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Currently, there are 238 active independent study charter LEAs in California classified by the California Department of Education (CDE) as one of the following:
  • F = Exclusively Virtual – The school has no physical building where students meet with each other or with teachers, all instruction is virtual.
  • V = Primarily Virtual – The school focuses on a systematic program of virtual instruction but includes some physical meetings among students or with teachers.
  • C = Primarily Classroom – The school offers virtual courses, but virtual instruction is not the primary means of instruction.
  • P = Partial Virtual – The school offers some, but not all, instruction through virtual instruction. Note: This value was retired and replaced with the Primarily Virtual and Primarily Classroom values beginning with the 2016–17 school year.
The remaining charter LEAs are identified with an “N” code (N = Not Virtual—The school does not offer any virtual instruction). This code includes traditional site-based schools as well as charters that are fully offline but are independent study. Therefore, including some of these offline independent study programs brings the current number of independent study charter LEAs in California to 300+.
 

How to Use This Guide

 
While California independent study charter schools including virtual, hybrid, and homeschool programs, include a wide spectrum of program formats, they are legally obligated to provide students with a program “substantially equivalent to classroom instruction”(EDC § 51745.6). Independent study programs face increased scrutiny, especially with regard to educating students with disabilities. 
 
Sections contain checklist items, guiding questions, and links to resource tools to assist programs with self-reflection and improvement. The goal is to successfully serve all students with disabilities who enroll at their LEAs. 
 
This guide contains the following components: 
  • An overview of independent study, including definitions, model examples, and basic legal compliance requirements
  • Child Find obligations as well as equal enrollment requirements
  • IEP team considerations and best practices in independent study around crucial components of the IEP, such as data collection, placement considerations, accommodations and modifications, and assistive technology
  • Considerations for providing FAPE in independent study
  • How to support the increasing enrollment of students with extensive support needs
  • Best practices for facilitating the IEP process in a virtual format. 
 
The El Dorado County Charter SELPA offers direct services to its charter partners in the areas of program support, professional learning, data management, and business services. LEAs with additional questions about program design and implementation for serving students with disabilities in independent study are encouraged to contact their designated SELPA Program Specialist for individualized support.