How do Public School Independent Study Programs (Public ISPs) allow parents to homeschool?
Legally, enrolling a child in an independent study or home study program offered by a school district or by a public charter school serving your county is equivalent to enrolling him in public school. These programs vary widely in the level of control they exert over their students and the services they offer. Some charter schools are able to provide funding for classes or curriculum. These programs must comply with state law and the administrative directives promulgated by the Department of Education, and generally students are expected to take standardized tests. If a family’s local district does not offer an independent study option but a district within their county or the county immediately adjacent does, they may request an inter-district transfer. However, transfers are at the discretion of the district and are not automatically granted.
