There are two sets of instructions for independent study ratio calculations:
- The Ratio of Average Daily Attendance (ADA) to Supervising Teacher in Independent Study, Pursuant to Education Code Section 51745.6, and
- The 10 Percent Cap on Independent Study in Continuation and Opportunity Education, Pursuant to Education Code Section 51745(b)
Teacher-to-ADA Ratio Cap
For School Districts:
Step 1.
From the total number of units of ADA reported on lines A-1 through A-7 of the District's Second Period Report of Attendance (J-18/19-P2), subtract the number of attendance (ADA) units reported for full-time independent study pupils (excluding any ADA from short-term independent study supervised by a regular classroom teacher for pupils enrolled in that teacher's class).
Step 2.
Determine a ratio with the difference resulting from Step 1, using the total number of certificated teachers and full-time equivalent (FTE) certificated teachers who directly provided instruction to all pupils whose ADA was reported on lines A-1 through A-7 other than those whose ADA was earned through full-time independent study. (Excluded are employees whose services supplement direct instruction or who perform administrative duties.) For a certificated employee who provides direct instruction as well as supplemental or administrative services, count only the fractional amount of time that employee provided direct instruction. Fractional numbers in the total are to be rounded down, unless the total is less than one (1.0)–for example, 5.3 or 5.6 FTE supervising teachers rounds down to 5 in both instances, but 0.4 FTE is reported as 1.0.
Step 3.
For purposes of computing the maximum ADA to be funded for independent study, multiply the ADA portion of the ratio computed in steps 1 and 2 by the combined number of full-time and FTE certificated independent study teachers. (Exclude from this computation any ADA attributed to independent study as a temporary alternative to classroom-based study that is supervised by the pupil's regular classroom teacher. Do not include in the number of teachers those certificated persons who exclusively provide administrative or supplementary services. If a certificated person is responsible for both administration and direct instruction, count only the amount of time the employee provided direct instruction.)
Districts shall be funded on the lesser of the maximum ADA computed per these instructions or the actual ADA reported for independent study.
For Unified Districts Participating in the Class Size Reduction Program:
Unified districts have the option of calculating separate teacher-to-ADA ratios for the K-6 grades and the 7-12 grades. Districts that choose to exercise this option should follow the instructions above, using all pupils whose ADA was reported on lines A-1 through A-3 for the K-6 grades, and lines A-4 through A-6 for the 7-12 grades, and include ADA reported on line A-7 in their choice of either the K-6 or the 7-12 grade calculations.
For County Offices of Education:
Follow the instructions for school districts using the high school or unified school district with the greatest ADA in that county.
For Charter Schools:
Follow the instructions for school districts using as the base ratio the ratio for the unified school district with the greatest ADA in the county or counties in which the charter school operates. See California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11704.
ADA in excess of the maximum set by the teacher-to-ADA ratio used as the basis for comparison shall be ineligible for apportionment pursuant to Education Code Section 42238.5 for school districts and Education Code Section 2558 for county offices of education. See Education Code Section 51745.6.Example:
Step 1
| Instructions | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total ADA for lines A-1 through A-7 | 25,000 |
| Subtract ADA from full-time I.S. | -300 (1) |
| Difference | 24,700 |
Step 2
| Instructions | Amount |
|---|---|
Full-time and FTE certificated teachers in direct instruction to pupils in Step 1 (Ratio - 830 : 24,700 = 1 : 29.76 = 1 : 29) (3) |
830 (2) |
Step 3
| Instructions | Amount |
|---|---|
Full-time and FTE certificated teachers (Ratio - 8 : 300 = 1 : 37.5 = 1 : 37) (5) |
8 (4) |
Instructions for Computing the 10 Percent Cap on Independent Study in Continuation and Opportunity Education, per Education Code Section 51745(b)
For the purpose of Education Code Section 51745(b), "pupils participating" shall be defined as P-2 ADA. Therefore, in computing the limit on pupils in these two types of instruction who may be eligible for independent study, use the number for each that represents 10 percent of the current year's ADA as reported on Lines A-6 and A-7 of the J-18/19-P2 form, Second Period Report of Attendance for Students Residing in the District. Note that a pupil who is pregnant or is a parent who is the primary caregiver for one or more of his or her children shall not be counted within the 10 percent cap.
Contact Information
For attendance accounting matters:
Kim Clement, Fiscal Consultant, School Fiscal Services Division, Phone: 916-327-0857, FAX: 916-324-4534, or kclement@cde.ca.gov
For programmatic matters:
Mary M. Jones, Program Consultant for Independent Study, Phone: 916-323-5034, FAX: 916-323-2039, or mjones@cde.ca.gov
Footnotes:
- This number should not include any amounts for pupils who were temporarily on independent study under the supervision of their regular classroom teacher.
- Exclude from the number all staff that did not deliver direct instruction per the instructions for step 2, above.
- Round down to the nearest whole number.
- Excluded are FTE certificated classroom teachers who supervised independent study of their own students on a temporary basis and certificated staff to the extent that they taught Special Day Classes or were not on direct instructional duty, such as counselors, special education specialists, and administrators.
- Round down to the nearest whole number.
