Beginning this fall, San Benito High School will offer an
independent study program to meet the needs of students who have
attended other schools that have independent study programs and
schools such as San Andreas Continuation High School.
Beginning this fall, San Benito High School will offer an independent study program to meet the needs of students who have attended other schools that have independent study programs and schools such as San Andreas Continuation High School.
“It’s important to offer a variety of options to meet the individual needs of students,” said Karen Schroder, current SBHS principal and future alternative education program coordinator. “A large, comprehensive high school does not meet the needs of every student.”
Independent study programs allow students to take courses in a more appropriate and flexible manner. Students can include those who need to work for economic reasons, want to accelerate their high school learning, request to be homeschooled, want to attend Gavilan College for advanced course work, need to make up deficient credits, need to care for a relative or dependent child or require study during extended travel.
Currently, the high school offers independent study for students who will miss between five and 35 days of school, but who will return to class. The new program is geared toward students who will be in the program for a semester at a time.
“(The new program) is for students in which a large, comprehensive high school just doesn’t work for them,” Schroder said.
SBHS has 43 students attending charter schools, San Andreas and North Monterey County Center for Independent Study in Castroville. Additional students are attending Anzar, Schroder said.
Offering the independent study program allows students to remain in the area without commuting and brings in state funds for daily attendance for the school.
“It saves students from having to drive to North Monterey County. That’s a dangerous drive,” Schroder said.
Schroder already has 16 students registered for the program. State Education Code limits the number of students in independent study programs at 10 percent of the school’s population – around 260 students at SBHS.
Interested students fill out an application and meet with Schroder, who then decides if they should enter the program. Students sign a contract that lasts one semester and can be renewed all four years if needed. They can choose from two options – meeting with an independent study teacher for one hour each week or reporting to an independent study teacher for small group instruction.
Students are assigned homework and are required by state law to spend a minimum of 20 hours a week on the courses. The time is measured by quizzes and how much work is completed week to week, Schroder said.
“We need to make this kind of program available to our students,” she said.
Because the program will be in its first year, Schroder anticipates being the independent study teacher and anticipates hiring another one and using after-school tutoring from math and science teachers when needed, she said.
With such a small staff, the program will pay for itself with state money based on the average daily attendance. ADA funding is about $5,400 per student per year and $238,900 if all 43 students were to return to the SBHS District, Schroder said.
Students enrolled in the program can still participate in school activities like sports, dances and clubs. They are also required to graduate with 235 units, like the regular population, Schroder said. Also, independent study students must take the STAR and pass the California High School Exit Exam.
The idea to start the program at this time came from Superintendent Jean Burns Slater.
When Slater began in the district, she was reviewing the budget and noticed money leaving the district to San Andreas and paying for services San Andreas was providing to SBHS students. Slater said the students and money could be brought back to SBHS by offering the independent study program. At the same time, Slater was reorganizing the district’s administration for efficiency.
“In the mission statement, it’s all here. We just let it go to the wayside. We’re refocusing now,” she said.
Although Slater and Schroder recognize that retaining students at SBHS draws from students and funding for other schools, especially San Andreas, they said it was important to offer an independent study program and meet as many of the diverse needs as possible. The plan is to enroll students gradually so the effects felt by San Andreas would be limited, Schroder said.
Schroder said students in an independent study program have to be motivated.
“They have to be serious or they won’t survive,” she said.
By starting the program, Schroder hopes that no student slips through the cracks.
“SBHS has a very diverse population with a variety of educational and vocational goals. This is just one program that will start meeting that diversity,” Schroder said.
For more information or to enroll, call Karen Schroder at 637-5831, ext. 130.
