The Independent Study Program at Oxford Preparatory Academy is an alternative education program that allows students to be primarily educated at home under the guidance of a credentialed teacher. There are two levels of service - Level One involves home-based instruction and optional on-campus workshops, while Level Two has students attend core classes on campus three days a week. The program aims to provide students with individualized learning opportunities while maintaining the high academic standards of the regular curriculum. Parents, students, and teachers work as a team to develop educational plans and evaluate student progress. The program provides structure and accountability through requirements such as monthly meetings and submission of assignment logs.

1. Independent Study ProgramAtOxford Preparatory Academy

2. OverviewAlternative Education Program Parent’s Choice:Primarily educate their children at home

3. Enroll in a high performing, innovative educational programThis voluntary program gives parents the opportunity to:Provide instruction to their children under the guidance of a credentialed teacher.

4. Assist the credentialed teacher in providing instruction.

5. Be in both a school and home environment.

6. Have professional guidance from supervising teachers and the program director.The program is an alternative to classroom instruction consistent with OPA’s high quality course of study and is not an alternative curriculum.

7. OPA’s Independent Study Program provides: Students the opportunity to pursue an education along with their peers.

8. A bridge between the school and the community.

9. A challenge for each student to excel in areas of special interest. The same state-approved texts and instructional materials used at OPA are provided to families in this program.

10. Our teachers work directly with parents and students: To coordinate an educational plan.

11. To recommend and model proven instructional strategies.

12. To evaluate student progress. The result is that parents, students and consulting teachers form a team to optimize student learning.

13. Between the years of 1999 and 2003, The National Center for Education Statistics, graphed the estimated number of homeschooled students and grade equivalent for the ages 5 through 17. It shows that 95 percent of homeschooled students are at or above grade level.

14. The bar graph from the National Center for Education Statistics, shows the percentage of homeschooled students, ages 5 through 17 with a grade equivalent of kindergarten through 12th grade, whose parents reported various reasons for homeschooling in 2003.1 These include safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure.2 Parents home school their children for many reasons that are often unique to their family situation."Other reasons" parents gave for homeschooling in the PFI-NHES:2003 include: It was the child's choice; to allow parents more control over what child was learning; and flexibility.

15. OPA’s Independent Study Program2 Levels of Service

16. Level One:On-Campus Workshops & Home-Based Instruction Students complete grade level standards work at home.

17. Students and parents are invited to attend various grade level instructional workshops throughout the week. (At least one every 21days)

18. Level One:On Campus Workshops & Home Based InstructionThe parent attends one group and one individual meeting a month with assigned teacher.

19. Students are able to participate in extra-curricular activities on campus.

20. Level Two:Three Days A WeekStudents will attend core-curriculum instruction in a regular classroom at their appropriate grade level three days a week.

21. Students are required to complete class work given on the particular days they are in school.

22. Work will be assigned for the remaining two days which needs to be completed at home and returned.Level Two:Three Days A WeekThe parent attends one group and one individual meeting a month with assigned teacher.

23. Students may participate in on-campus extra-curricular activities. Limited Space/Specific Grade LevelsCriteria for EnrollmentFor a student to achieve success in the Independent Study Program, it is essential to demonstrate:The desire to participate in an alternative education program which features an alternative instructional strategy.

24. The ability to work independently to complete assignments that meet grade level standards and course objectives.

25. The ability to establish regular attendance patterns for meetings with the teacher twice a month.

26. Families, who are interested in the Independent Study Program, should:Attend an enrollment meeting for OPA.

27. Complete and submit a school enrollment packet.

28. Attend an Independent Study Information Meeting

29. Submit an Independent Study Application to the program director. Placement1. When ALL paperwork is completed and received by the Independent Study Office, it is reviewed and evaluated. 2. The order of entrance into the Independent Study program is based on the individual student’s rank order on OPA’s placement and waiting list for each specific grade level.

30. Placement3. Upon acceptance into the Independent Study Program, the parent is contacted by the Independent Study Director to schedule an orientation date to meet their teacher.4. At this meeting, parents will receive an Oxford Preparatory Academy School Handbook, an Independent Study Program Handbook, Independent Study Agreement, and State Standards for your child’s grade level.

31. Special Education Students:To engage in Independent Study a student with special needs that has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may do so only to the extent his or her IEP specifies Independent Study as the instructional method.Consistent with our school policy, at this time, OPA can not accommodate students whose special education placement is Special Day Class (SDC).

32. Courses of StudyAll subjects specified in the California Standards Test Blueprints are offered to participants in this program. Coursework is entirely aligned to state standards of educational excellence.Assignments are equal in quality and scope to curriculum provided for students enrolled in traditional classroom settings in OPA.

33. In addition, students may participate in instructional classes at OPA which may include:

34. Science Experiments

35. Mind Institute

36. Music & Band

37. Physical Education

38. Foreign Language

39. Computer Lab

40. Multiple Intelligences Enrichment

41. Library Services…or other specific educational opportunities.

42. Oxford Preparatory Academy Charter SchoolGrade K-8 Independent Study Program – Instructional WorkshopsMonday, September 13, 2010Sample Schedule

43. Oxford Preparatory Academy Charter SchoolGrade K-8 Independent Study Program – Instructional WorkshopsMonday, September 13, 2010Sample Schedule

44. Sample Instructional Workshop ClassesCalifornia State Standards, California Standards Test Blueprints and Grade Level Weight:Language ArtsReading Comprehension (Expository Text), Writing Strategies, Literature, Phonics, Spelling, Word Analysis, Vocabulary, Written Conventions

45. MathematicsNumber Sense, Problem Solving, Basic Facts, Fractions, Geometry, Measurement, Algebra and Functions, Graphing, Quadratics and Polynomials, Logic

46. SciencePhysical, Earth, Life, Scientific Method, Periodic Table and Structure of Matter

47. Social StudiesHeroes & Holidays, Geography, US History, Ancient Civilizations, Middle Ages

48. Also, extra- curricular activities will be offered, such as:

49. Field Trips

50. ASB

51. Cheerleading

52. School Newspaper

53. School Yearbook

54. Sports…and much, much more!

55. As a supplementary support, parents will be required to participate in educational workshops and in-service training opportunities, which will include:

56. Homework Assistance

57. Effective Lesson Planning

58. Multiple Intelligences

59. G.A.T.E.

60. Students and parents can visit the OPA website which will include: A calendar of events

61. Further information to support high academic achievement

62. Necessary Forms

63. On-line programsAccountabilityParents and teachers work together to evaluate student progress.

64. Trimester grades are entered into the school’s record.

65. Report cards will be issued at the same intervals as a traditional school.