Independent Study
Short-term Independent Study
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 expect for the first 10 and last ten days of the academic calendar. Short-term independent study shall not be calendared or combined with district school breaks that are 5 days or more nor shall they be granted during state testing dates. Please confirm test administration dates with our school site.
The Parent/Guardians Shall:
Meet or email your formal request to Ms. Alisa at alarmon@musd.org
Submit a request in writing a minimum of 10 school days in advance prior to the leave date to allow teachers time to gather work and assignments.
Understand Short-Term Independent Studies Contracts are not available during state/district testing windows nor during teacher/parent conferences.
Understand that these 3-14 days of absence will be considered unexcused if the contract requirements are not met.
Understand that if the student has previous patterns of unexcused absences or chronic absenteeism, the student may be referred to the Student Attendance and Review Board (SARB) and may require the parent to attend a SARB hearing at the District Office.
Understand that upon the students return they will be enrolled in a Milpitas School where space is available (if the student does not return on the 15th day).
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 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.
The site staff shall:
Meets with family/parent/guardian to review requests and expectations for Short Term Independent Study.
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.
Obtain a list of required assignments created by the classroom teacher(s).
Ensure the assignments are reviewed and graded by the classroom teacher(s).
Ensure office staff supporting attendance enters data into the system to receive academic credit.
If the student does not return on the fifteenth day, or the day of the contract's completion, the site shall:
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.
Schedule a meeting with the parent/guardian and an attendance contract may need to be developed and implemented depending on the number of previous absences the student has accrued.
Refer the student to a SARB hearing at the District Office if the student has a previous patterns of chronic absenteeism this would require.
Report annually to the Executive Director of Learning & Development or designee the number of students who participate in both Short-Term Independent Study.
The Executive Director of Learning and Development will report this data to the Board on an annual basis.
For further information, please contact the Curtner School office at (408) 635-2852 ext 1508.