Pupil instruction: independent study: visual contact with pupil.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district or a county office of education to offer independent study to meet the educational needs of pupils. Existing law prohibits a school district or county office of education from being eligible to receive apportionments for independent study by pupils unless it has adopted and implemented specified written policies. Existing law authorizes a charter school that has an approved charter to receive funding for nonclassroom-based instruction, including independent study, only if a determination for funding is made by the State Board of Education pursuant to specified requirements. This bill would also prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from being eligible to receive apportionments for independent study by pupils unless it has adopted and implemented a written policy that requires a teacher to make visual contact with a pupil in person or by a live visual connection, no less than once every 2 weeks, to assess whether the pupil is making satisfactory educational progress. The bill would authorize the principal of the program, or a designee of the governing board or body of a participating school district, county office of education, or charter school, to make exceptions to that requirement on a case-by-case basis, for justifiable reasons and for a specified period of time. Existing law authorizes a school district, charter school, or county office of education, commencing with the 2015–16 school year, to provide independent study courses for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in accordance with prescribed conditions. Existing law requires certificated employees and each pupil to communicate in person, by telephone, or by any other live visual or audio connection no less than twice per calendar month to assess whether each pupil is making satisfactory educational progress. This bill would instead require certificated employees and each pupil to communicate in person or by a live visual connection, no less than once every 2 weeks, to assess whether each pupil is making satisfactory educational progress. The bill would authorize the principal of the program, or a designee of the governing board or body of a participating school district, charter school, or county office of education, to make exceptions to that requirement on a case-by-case basis, for justifiable reasons and for a specified period of time.