The Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education voted 5–0 to adopt interim revisions to district independent‑study procedures to comply with SB 153 (2024), which changes what qualifies as short‑term independent study and how districts document student work.

The motion authorizes staff to implement the revised process immediately and to bring finalized board-policy language to the district policy committee for formal adoption.

Why it matters

SB 153 (passed June 29, 2024) eliminates the former three‑day minimum for short‑term independent study and defines short‑term independent study as 15 days or fewer, allowing districts to offer independent‑study arrangements that begin as short as one day and up to 14 days under the short‑term category. The law also expanded acceptable evidence of student work.

District officials said adopting the interim revisions will reduce the number of absences reported as unexcused and could help lower chronic‑absence metrics and increase recoverable ADA in some categories. Assistant Director Larry Hegquist (Educational Services) told the board that revising the district’s “justifiable absence” form to add the short‑term independent‑study option will allow those absences to be treated as excused when the contract is executed.

Board discussion and operational questions

Board members asked multiple operational questions about timing, retroactivity, and how the process would work in practice for different age groups. Trustee McNary and others sought clarity about whether the district could retroactively convert past absences to independent study; staff advised best practice is to have the independent‑study contract signed in advance so teachers can prepare and students can submit work during the absence.

School sites and the district’s technology team will add new coding to the student information system (Synergy) to accommodate the new short‑term independent‑study status. Hegquist told the board that the change could also improve chronic‑absenteeism reporting and said the district will continue using established truancy‑abatement steps (letters, meetings, resources, SARB processes) when students show elevated absence counts.

Implementation and next steps

The board approved an interim motion so staff could begin implementing the short‑term independent‑study option while formal policy language is finalized at the upcoming policy committee meeting. Staff said they will prepare guidance for parents and principals covering recommended lead time for requests, recommended documentation and when medical or emergency absences may be treated as excused without pre‑execution of a contract.

Ending

The motion passed unanimously. Board members emphasized the need for clear, consistent communication to families about how and when an independent‑study contract should be requested and executed to ensure instructional continuity and recoverable attendance where appropriate.