November 18, 2021
Independent study in California is growing in popularity since the pandemic with more than 130,000 students enrolled in this school year. Yet there are no statewide standards established for independent study and many teachers have never taught this way before, so the quality varies widely from school to school. Ideally,
independent study should address individual student needs and learning styles, enabling them to complete their academics outside the traditional classroom setting.
Here are 5 questions parents should ask when considering this type of program for their child:
- How long has the independent study program been in place? Programs that have been around for a while are well-suited to be nimble in delivery of the education, whether it is in-person, hybrid or an online approach.
- Can you test or demo the program or do a virtual tour? Ask to see sample work assignments and lessons to understand how rigorous the program is and what is expected of their child.
- Are there in-person options? A hybrid program that offers multiple weekly opportunities for in-person instruction is ideal.
- How much one-on-one time is offered to the student on a weekly basis? Look for schools that provide, real-time, synchronous instruction from the teacher with in-person instruction, virtual classrooms and constant communication.
- How much parent involvement is necessary? Parents need to understand how much time they will realistically need to devote to their child’s learning. How frequent and detailed are communications to parents to effectively track progress toward educational goals? Most parents want to be in the know on a weekly basis.
