CA SB1143

Authorizes school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to provide independent study courses for kindergarten through grade 12 students beginning in the 2015-16 school year, subject to specified conditions including certificated teacher supervision and alignment to state content standards.

Requires signed learning agreements between students (and parents/guardians if under 18) and instructional staff that outline course objectives, resources, duration, and credit values before instruction begins.

Imposes a 10% cap on average daily attendance claimed for independent study courses; any attendance exceeding 10% of a school district's total must be reduced by the statewide average absence rate for the applicable grade level.

Mandates in-person or live audio/visual communication between teachers and students at least twice monthly to assess satisfactory educational progress, with evaluation and alternative program referrals required if progress is insufficient.

Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to evaluate and report on independent study courses by September 1, 2019, comparing academic performance of independent study students to demographically similar classroom-based students, with the reporting requirement expiring September 1, 2023.