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SDLA Compliance Resource

Maintain Independent Study Policy, Agreements, and Reengagement

An implementation guide for adopting the board policy, executing signed written agreements before independent study begins, tracking work and synchronous participation, and documenting tiered reengagement.

  • Attendance & Enrollment
  • Curriculum & Instruction
  • Governance & Board Approval
Date(s)Board policy in place before offering independent study; signed agreement before the student begins (or within statutory timelines for short-term placements); reengagement triggered by participation thresholds throughout the year
Applies toSchool districts, county offices, and charter schools that offer independent study

In Plain Language: Independent study only generates attendance funding when the program meets detailed legal requirements: a board policy with required elements, a signed written agreement for each student (including supports for English learners and students with disabilities), work products evaluated by a certificated teacher, and tiered reengagement when a student stops participating. These rules apply year-round, not just at the start of school.

Why this matters

Independent study is a frequent audit finding. Missing signatures, late agreements, or missing work samples can disallow ADA for every affected day.

Joint ownership

District: independent study administrator, teachers of record, attendance accounting, and the board (policy). Families: sign agreements. Auditor: tests agreements and work samples.

From board policy to ADA-eligible independent study: the SDLA ITO workflow

This workflow keeps each independent study placement documented well enough to claim ADA. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the inputs become the outputs in 9 steps.

SDLA ITO: 9 steps. Input: board policy; student enrollment requests; agreement template. Transformation: execute agreements; track work and participation; apply reengagement. Output: signed agreements on file; attendance records; audit-ready files.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers execute agreements; track work and participation; apply reengagement; Output delivers signed agreements on file; attendance records; audit-ready files. Policy before offering; agreements before start; reengagement as triggered.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Implementation workflow

  1. Before offeringAdopt or review policy.Confirm the board policy reflects current law.
  2. Before each startSign agreements.Obtain all required signatures.
  3. Weekly/monthlyMonitor.Review work products and synchronous participation.
  4. When thresholds are missedReengage.Apply and document tiered reengagement.
  5. Year endPrepare for audit.Assemble agreements, work samples, and attendance records.

Independent study checklist

  • Board policy current with statutory elements.
  • Every agreement signed before the start date.
  • EL and special education supports included where applicable.
  • Work evaluated by a certificated teacher.
  • Reengagement documented.

Official guidance and help

Source review completed October 25, 2026. Verify the current statute and CDE guidance, which have changed several times since 2021.