Bills

AB 318: Pupil instruction: independent study: visual contact with pupil.

  • Session Year: 2017-2018
  • House: Assembly
Version:

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.

This bill would also prohibit 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 written policies, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, that include a statement requiring a teacher to make visual contact with a pupil in person or by a live visual connection, no less than once per week, 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 of a participating school district 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.

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 per week, 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 201516 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.

Discussed in Hearing

Senate Standing Committee on Education9MIN
Jul 5, 2017

Senate Standing Committee on Education

Senate Standing Committee on Education20MIN
Jun 28, 2017

Senate Standing Committee on Education

Assembly Floor2MIN
May 30, 2017

Assembly Floor

Assembly Standing Committee on Education25MIN
May 10, 2017

Assembly Standing Committee on Education

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