Short-term Independent Study

While students are highly discouraged from missing school for reasons other than illness, family emergencies or special events sometimes necessitate travel out of the area. In order to avoid penalties for missing class for these reasons, students must contract to do work during the period of the absence. Pre-Informed Independent Study Contracts must meet strict California State guidelines in order to result in excused absences.

  • Short-term Independent Study needs to be a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 10 days.

  • Written request must be made at least two weeks in advance. This form is avaliable in the district office.

  • Approval for Short-term Independent Study requires signatures from the parent, student and principal or principal designee.

  • Short-term Independent Study will not be approved the last week of either semester.

  • For absence and return within the same semester; work must be turn in to the teachers prior to or upon returning to school.

  • For absences during one semester but returning in the following sememster; work must be turned in prior to the end of the semester. (See below for Winter Break guidelines.)

For Independent Study around Winter Break:

If you must be away from school for several days around Christmas, it is far better to miss days in January than it is to miss days in December. Independent Study Contracts can be written for the weeks prior to finals and the weeks after Winter Break but not finals week.

For Jr./Sr. High School students missing days prior to finals in December:

  • All work assigned for the fall semester must be turned in (in-person or via email) by Wednesday of fall finals week (the last Wednesday of the semester). This is because teachers must submit grades by the end of the semester.
  • If you are requesting an Independent Study Contract for the weeks after Winter Break but you plan to leave prior to the last day of the fall semester; request independent study contract at least ten days before you plan to leave school to provide ample time to get forms processed and assignments prepared.

For Jr./Sr. High School students missing days in January:

  • Work assigned in lieu of spring semester days must be turned in upon return to campus.

For Elementary students:

  • All IS work will be due upon return to school.