Mentoring for Independent Study and Online Public School Students in LA County

Independent study and online public school give a student freedom over when and where they work, and the students who do well almost always add structure from outside: a fixed daily schedule, a weekly plan matched to the teacher’s due dates and an adult who checks progress between teacher meetings. Blackburn Mentoring pairs the student with one mentor who provides that structure, by video wherever the family is or in person in Los Angeles. A parent can join the free 20 minute intro call for high school students, agree the goals and get regular updates.

Mentors do not teach courses or replace the independent study teacher. They work on planning, pacing, starting work and getting back on track after a slip.

How independent study works in California

California sets the ground rules in Education Code section 51747, and the California Department of Education summarizes them for districts and charter schools. Points every family should know:

• It is voluntary and runs on a written agreement. The agreement covers how and when work is turned in, how progress is judged and what supports are available, and is valid for no more than one school year.
• Live instruction is required, by grade. Programs must plan for daily synchronous instruction in transitional kindergarten through grade 3, daily live interaction plus at least weekly synchronous instruction in grades 4 to 8, and at least weekly synchronous instruction in grades 9 to 12.
• Falling behind triggers reengagement. Programs must act when a student is not generating attendance for more than 10 percent of required instructional time over four continuous weeks, misses more than half of scheduled live instruction in a school month, or is not following the written agreement. Parents must be notified within one school day of a nonattendance day.
• Returning to a classroom is quick. A family that wants in person instruction must be moved back within five instructional days.
• Short stints are lighter. Students in independent study for fewer than 16 school days in a year are exempt from several of these requirements, which is how many districts handle family travel.
• Two models. Traditional independent study runs several courses over a semester; course based independent study works through courses one or two at a time. For one district’s version, see our guide for Burbank USD students.

Options in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has 80 school districts, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Many run their own independent study programs, and online public charter schools enroll students from across the county. Programs differ in how often the teacher meets the student, how much is live, how courses are paced and which courses count toward University of California and California State University admission. Ask before you enroll, and see our overview of online high school options.

Where independent study students get stuck

• The weekly meeting becomes the only deadline. Work slides to the night before, and one bad week puts the student behind.
• No natural start to the day. Without a bell, mornings disappear. A fixed start time matters more than the number of hours.
• Work piles up quietly. Assignments sit in a portal nobody checks until the teacher raises a concern. By then reengagement rules may already apply.
• Isolation. Fewer daily contacts with peers and adults can sap motivation. A plan includes regular time with people, not only screens.

A weekly structure that works

1. Fixed school hours. Same start time every weekday, with the hardest course first.
2. Daily targets. Break each course into small daily pieces that match the teacher’s due dates.
3. A midweek check. A short look at what is done and what is overdue, with the mentor or a parent, before the teacher meeting rather than after.
4. Show up live. Treat every synchronous session like a class bell. Missing them is what triggers reengagement.
5. Plan the bad weeks. Decide in advance what gets dropped and what never does when travel, work or illness hits.

Families who travel: tours, location work and competition seasons

Independent study is often how students keep up when the family travels: a parent on tour or on location, a performing or competition schedule, or months split between cities. For a trip of a few weeks, ask the school about short term independent study before you leave. For a season on the road, a full independent study agreement with a fixed weekly time zone plan and a set meeting slot with the teacher usually works better than catching up on return. Mentoring sessions by video travel with the student. See when a parent works on location, school on set in California and mentoring for teens in entertainment industry families.

Keeping college options open

Independent study and online courses can count toward University of California and California State University admission, but only if they are on the school’s approved A to G list. UC asks for 15 A to G courses with a grade of C or better, according to UC Admissions. Ask the program for its approved course list and check your student’s progress with our free A to G requirements checker.

How mentoring helps independent study students

• Pacing. A weekly plan matched to each course’s deadline, and a quick reset when a week goes sideways.
• Accountability between teacher meetings. Short check ins so the teacher meeting is a progress review, not a surprise.
• Executive function skills. Starting work, estimating time and keeping a calendar, which independent study demands more than a classroom does.
• Parents step back from policing. The mentor holds the weekly plan so home is not a nightly argument about school.
• Transitions. Planning a return to a classroom, a move to community college classes or the step to college.

How to start

1. Take a short assessment. Tell us about your student and the goals. It takes about five minutes.
2. Have a free 20 minute intro call. For high school students, a parent is welcome to join. We talk through fit, schedule and how your student would meet.
3. Meet the mentor. New clients are matched with one mentor within two business days.
4. Start the plan. Regular sessions by video, or in person in Los Angeles, with check ins between them.

Related

• Online high school: options and structure
• Online school student falling behind
• Mentoring for Burbank USD students
• Homeschooling high school
• A to G requirements checker
• School and college systems hub

Common questions

Can a mentor help a student in independent study?

Yes. Mentors help independent study students set fixed school hours, break courses into daily targets, show up to live sessions and catch up quickly after a slip. The independent study teacher still teaches and grades the courses.

How much live instruction does independent study require in California?

Under Education Code section 51747, programs must plan for daily synchronous instruction in transitional kindergarten through grade 3, daily live interaction plus at least weekly synchronous instruction in grades 4 to 8, and at least weekly synchronous instruction in grades 9 to 12.

Can my student go back to regular school?

Yes. California requires programs to move a student who wants in person instruction back within five instructional days. Talk to the school about timing and credits.

We travel for work. Can mentoring continue on the road?

Yes. Sessions run by video wherever the student is, and the mentor plans around time zones and travel days.

Do independent study courses count for UC and CSU?

They can, if they are on the program’s approved A to G course list. Ask the program and check progress with our A to G requirements checker.

Get started

Is your student in independent study or an online public school? Call (888) 305-5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call.