The State of California requires that the reporting for Independent Study MUST be separate from regular attendance. This article applies to California schools. Certain procedures must be set up within Aeries in order to accomplish this requirement. 

Two absence codes must be set up on the Update Absence Codes page that are not already used as regular absence codes. On one code, set the Independent Study: drop-down to I (Incomplete Independent Study); on the other, set it to C (Complete Independent Study). 

A code for the Independent Study program must also be set up on the Update Code Table page for STU.SP. Students are placed in the program by selecting that code in the Prog field on the Demographics page and updating the student's Attendance Enrollment. To move many students at once, use Mass Update Attendance Enrollment.

Students on long-term or short-term independent study contracts should NOT be recorded as having ‘excused’ or ‘unexcused’ absences.  A student in an independent study agreement is participating in an educational alternative that does NOT recognize the concept of ‘present’ or ‘absent’, but instead is based upon the evaluation of the quality of work completed.  For example, what is recognized as ‘home schooling’, is actually a long-term independent study contract.

For more information on Independent Study, please refer to the following link to California Department of Education: 

 California Department of Education - Independent Study

The following articles detail how to configure and manage Independent Study in Aeries:

• Independent Study Absence and Code Configurations
• Independent Study Program Add and Update Student Attendance
• Mass Update Attendance Enrollment
• Independent Study Agreements
• Independent Study Management