Independent Study School of Excellence Application 2026-2027 - CCEA Plus - California Continuation Education Association Plus

Excellence in Independent Study

We invite all Public Charter Schools, Local District Programs, County Office of Education Programs to apply for this special statewide award for the 2026-2027 school year.

The “California Independent Study School of Excellence Award” (ISSE) recognizes outstanding standards for independent programs in alternative education. Designated schools are honored in person at the annual Conference, and publicly announced to their peer schools as an exceptional model to replicate in the state of California.

Schools selected for this designation will receive high-profile professional honors, including:

An official CCEA Plus Certificate for the Independent Study Schools of Excellence Recognition Award.
A customized commemorative plaque to display on your campus.
Formal, on-stage celebration and presentation during the 2027 Model School Gala Awards.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this recognition award, applicant schools must meet the following baseline parameters:

Operational History: Must have at least three (3) consecutive years of operation.

Governance Type: Must operate under one of the following structures within California:

Public Charter School
Local School District Program (LEA)
County Office of Education (COE) Program

How to Apply

Before submitting any other application materials, please email the information page to the program coordinator first at — erikg (at) cceanet (dot) org. Once that is received, you will receive access to a private upload area. All application materials should ultimately be uploaded directly to the CCEA server by the deadline. Forms should be in PDF format.

A completed application includes the following:

1. Completed Independent Study School of Excellence Award Application

Cover Page
School Information Page
Narrative Sections A through F

2. Valid WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) Awards Letter

3. Blank copy of your program’s Master Written Agreement / Learning Contract (included as a mandatory operational reference).

Important Dates & Deadlines

September 16, 2026 — Application submission deadline
October 31, 2026 — Evaluation reimbursement due (click link to make online payment)
Early Spring 2027 — Notification of status
April 21-25, 2027 — CCEA Plus Annual Conference and awards celebrations
April 24, 2027 — Gala awards dinner in Visalia, CA

Application Forms | Downloads

Application for 2026-2027:

To process application evaluation reimbursement, please use this link to make an online payment.

Letter from the Board

Dear Alternative Ed Community,

On behalf of the CCEA Plus Board, I’m excited to introduce a new recognition opportunity for Independent Study schools and programs across California. This pilot recognition award is designed to celebrate schools and programs that demonstrate excellence, innovation and a strong commitment to serving students through high-quality independent study practices.

Independent Study programs play an essential role in providing flexible, student-centered learning options for diverse learners throughout the state. This new recognition by CCEA Plus will highlight programs that are creating meaningful opportunities for students, supporting academic success, building strong systems of support and developing practices that other schools can learn from.

We encourage Independent Study schools and programs throughout California to apply and share the impactful work they are doing for students, families and communities. As this recognition continues to grow, CCEA Plus hopes to elevate promising practices, celebrate dedicated educators and strengthen the network of Independent Study programs across the state.

As this is the pilot year for the Independent Study School/Program Recognition Award, applicants will play an important role in helping shape the future of this recognition process. Feedback, participation and shared examples of effective practices will help CCEA Plus continue to refine the award, ensure it reflects the unique strengths of Independent Study programs and build a meaningful recognition that supports schools across California for years to come.