Short-Term Independent Study

The Los Alamitos Unified School District understands that occasional circumstances may arise where students are unable to attend school. While we emphasize the importance of regular school attendance and encourage families to schedule vacations and other non-essential absences during times when school is not in session, we do offer short-term independent study as an option for a minimum of three consecutive days of absences and up to a cumulative total of 15 school days per academic year.

Important Information About Short-Term Independent Study

1. Approval Required:

Requests for short-term independent study must be submitted in advance and approved by the school.
Approval is not guaranteed and is subject to the school’s discretion.
Our district requires a minimum of three (3) days of absence to qualify for short-term independent study.
Parents/guardians must provide as much advance notice as possible when requesting short-term independent study so that school staff have adequate time to prepare instructional materials:
• For elementary students, please provide at least five school days’ notice before the anticipated absence.
• For secondary students, please provide notice equal to the number of days the student will be absent (e.g., five days’ notice for a five-day absence).

2. Master Agreement:

A signed independent study agreement must be completed by parent/guardian, school staff, teacher, and student (if student is too young to sign a parent/guardian may sign for the student.)

3. Completion of Assigned Work:

It is essential that all assigned work be completed and turned in on the first day the student returns to school.
If the student completes all assigned work, they will receive credit for the work, and the district will receive funding as though the student were in attendance.
If the student does not complete all of the assigned work, they will miss out on some credit for the work, and the district may not receive funding for the missed days of school.
Access to the internet may be required to complete some assignments.
Students will still be responsible for additional assignments, quizzes, or exams given during their absence. They should check with their teachers upon return to ensure they make up any missed work required for grading purposes.

4. Future Independent Study Requests:

If a student does not complete the assigned work during a short-term independent study, they may not be approved for this option in the future.

Why Attendance MattersRegular attendance is critical to your child’s academic success. Classroom instruction and participation provide learning opportunities that independent study cannot fully replicate. We strongly encourage parents to plan vacations, appointments, and other non-essential absences during school breaks to minimize disruptions to learning.