BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ķ



                                                                  AB 1987
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          Date of Hearing:   March 28, 2012

                           ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
                                Julia Brownley, Chair
                 AB 1987 (Davis) - As Introduced:  February 23, 2012
           
          SUBJECT  :   Pupil instruction: independent study: leadership 
          course

           SUMMARY  :  Includes, within the educational opportunities that 
          may be offered through independent study, a leadership course 
          approved by a statewide or national community service agency 
          that is designed to improve the character and leadership traits 
          of a pupil.
           
          EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Authorizes the governing board of a school district or a 
            county office of education to offer independent study to meet 
            the educational needs of pupils.  

          2)Specifies that educational opportunities offered through 
            independent study may include, but shall not be limited to, 
            the following:

             a)   Special assignments extending the content of regular 
               courses of instruction;

             b)   Individualized study in a particular area of interest or 
               in a subject not currently available in the regular school 
               curriculum;

             c)   Individualized alternative education designed to teach 
               the knowledge and skills of the core curriculum. 
               Independent study shall not be provided as an alternative 
               curriculum;

             d)   Continuing and special study during travel; and,

             e)   Volunteer community service activities that support and 
               strengthen pupil achievement.

          3)Prohibits courses included among the courses required for high 
            school graduation from being offered exclusively through 
            independent study.








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          4)Requires the independent study by each pupil or student be 
            coordinated, evaluated, and under the general supervision of 
            an employee of the school district or county office of 
            education who possesses a valid certification document, as 
            specified.

          5)Provides that independent study agreements cannot be longer 
            than one semester in duration and requires the agreement to 
            include the beginning and ending dates of the independent 
            study.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  This bill is keyed non-fiscal.  

           COMMENTS  :  Independent study is an alternative instructional 
          strategy, not an alternative curriculum that offers a level of 
          flexibility to meet individual student needs, interests, and 
          styles of learning.  Independent study is available as a 
          voluntary option, and current law requires prior to the 
          commencement of independent study, a written agreement be signed 
          by the pupil, his or her parent, guardian, or caregiver, the 
          supervising teacher and any other individual having direct 
          responsibility for providing assistance to the pupil.  The 
          agreement outlines the instructional plan for the pupil and the 
          supervision that is to be provided for that pupil to complete 
          the work outlined in the agreement. 

          This bill allows leadership courses approved by a statewide or 
          national community service agency that are designed to improve 
          the character and leadership traits of a pupil, to be part of 
          independent study educational opportunities.  

          Existing statutes do not explicitly list specific courses that 
          can be offered through independent study.  Current independent 
          study statute is very broad and general to encompass 
          individualized study, special assignment or alternative 
          education.  The opportunities that can be made available to 
          pupils are not limited to the general guidelines specified in 
          statute, and as long as those educational opportunities are part 
          of the independent study agreement and are coordinated, 
          evaluated, and under the supervision of the school district or 
          county office, there is a level of flexibility in this regard.  
          To list and specify all the courses that may be offered through 
          independent study may not be prudent nor desirable, as there 
          would be the potential of excluding some courses and thereby 








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          creating ambiguity as to whether courses that are not listed can 
          be provided.

          It is unclear as to what courses this bill refers to or what 
          process is envisioned to approve such courses.  The 
          appropriateness of having community service and non-education 
          organizations approve educational courses is also questionable.  
          The author provides information about the CalServe Initiative 
          which funds partnerships of local educational agencies to 
          support service-learning in kindergarten and grades 1-12, 
          inclusive.  The author notes that service-learning is an 
          instructional strategy that actively involves youth in academic 
          programs through community service. Students learn through 
          participation in thoughtfully organized service that meets 
          community needs, fosters civic responsibility, enhances the 
          students' academic achievement, and provides structured time for 
          students to reflect on the service experience.  The information 
          about CalServe does not contain information about leadership 
          courses approved by the organization and the connection between 
          community service organizations and leadership courses is not 
          clearly established.  

          The author states, "AB 1987 would require California's public 
          schools K-12 make available, through independent study, an 
          option to choose a leadership development course designed to 
          improve the character and leadership traits of pupils who 
          voluntarily seek such a course of study. This course must be 
          approved by a statewide or national community service agency."  

           Suggested amendment  :  If the author's intent is to state that 
          leadership activities may be part of the educational 
          opportunities offered through independent study,  staff 
          recommends  an amendment to delete the language in lines 13-15 on 
          page 2; and instead insert "and leadership" after "service" on 
          page 2 line 11.  

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          Association of California School Administrators

           Opposition 
           
          None on file. 








                                                                  AB 1987
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          Analysis Prepared by  :    Marisol Aviņa / ED. / (916) 319-2087