How does independent study through a public charter school work?

Last checked 2026-09-17

A public charter school offering independent study lets a family homeschool with a credentialed supervising teacher, state curriculum funds to spend on materials, and no tuition, but the curriculum must be secular/nonsectarian and the school must meet state instructional-minutes, testing, and reporting requirements. Enrollment is not required to homeschool legally in California; it's one of several pathways.

What is the legal basis for charter independent study?

A charter school that offers independent study must comply with the state's general independent-study law, Article 5.5 of the Education Code (EC Sections 51745-51749.6), per EC Section 47612.5(b). Charter schools offering nonclassroom-based instruction (which includes independent study, home study, and distance/computer-based education) may receive funding for it only after the State Board of Education makes a funding determination under EC Section 47634.2, which can be granted for up to five years. (source)

What does it cost?

Free to families, no tuition, since it's a public school (EC Section 47605(e)(1) prohibits charter schools from charging tuition). Programs typically provide a per-student curriculum/instructional-funds allotment for approved materials, but the dollar amount is set individually by each charter and changes yearly; specific current amounts belong in the charter directory listings (R1's lane), not this general pathway page. (source)

How much curriculum freedom do I get?

Less than a PSA or PSP, and it must be secular. A charter school must be 'nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations' (EC Section 47605(e)(1)). CDE's independent study guidance adds that materials must be aligned to state content standards, and 'materials that are sectarian in nature are not used,' citing the California Constitution's Article IX, Section 8, which bars public money supporting any 'sectarian or denominational' school or instruction. In practice this means families choose from an approved/eligible list of secular curriculum and vendor options rather than buying anything on the open market. (source)

What do I give up compared to a PSA or PSP?

Curriculum must be secular (no faith-based materials funded or approved), and the family operates under a signed independent-study agreement with a certificated supervising teacher who monitors progress, not full parent autonomy. EC Section 51747(g) requires the agreement to specify assignment schedules, evaluation methods, and a 'satisfactory educational progress' standard; a pupil who falls behind can be evaluated for return to the regular school program. The agreement cannot exceed one school year and must be renewed. Attendance and work-completion records are kept by the charter, not solely the parent. (source)

Is a supervising teacher required, and what are they required to do?

Yes. Independent study teachers must be employees of the local educational agency (the charter) and hold a valid California certification document for the assignment (EC Section 51747.5(a), citing EC Sections 44865 and 44300). Students must have at least weekly access to a subject-expert teacher for a-g approved coursework, and state law sets minimum synchronous/live-interaction requirements by grade band (daily for TK-3, weekly live plus at least weekly synchronous for grades 4-8, at least weekly synchronous for grades 9-12) (EC Section 51747(e)). (source)

How do I start, and what deadlines matter?

Enrollment and deadlines (lottery dates, priority windows) are set individually by each charter school, generally open enrollment with a public random drawing if oversubscribed (EC Section 47605(e)(2)), and are not uniform statewide. Specific charter enrollment windows belong in the charter directory (R1's lane); this pathway page should describe the general open-enrollment/lottery mechanism rather than any single school's dates. (source)

Which South Bay-eligible charters exist?

Current funding amounts, enrollment windows, and authorizer details are tracked per school, not here; see the charter directory and the charter comparison.

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