Hospital Programs

BUSD Home & Hospital Instruction (HHI) for K-12 grade students:

Application forms can be filled out here.

Availability of Individualized Instruction for a pupil with temporary disability in the hospital or at home (EC §§48206.3, 48207-48208):

Home & Hospital Instruction (HHI) is available to all Berkeley Unified students (K-12) who are unable to attend school for extended periods of time due to physical or mental incapacity*. Students must have authorization from a medical doctor and the school district to enroll. The student that is approved must have a need to be out of the school on record for 30 days or more.

HHI is individualized instruction that is available to students with temporary disabilities whose temporary disability makes attendance in the regular day classes or alternative education program in which the student is enrolled impossible or inadvisable.

A temporary disability is defined as a physical, mental or emotional disability incurred while a student is enrolled in regular day classes or an alternative education program, and after which the student can reasonably be expected to return to regular classes or an alternative education program without special intervention.

HHI students instruction is in grade level math, science, history, and English. If a student is with the HHI teacher for a quarter or more, then the HHI teacher may give a student grades for their classes. This program helps ensure that students, regardless of circumstance, can keep up with their education.

Families can apply for an extension of HHI by submitting another application after the first 30 days are finished. HHI is a temporary program and does not meet all graduation or A-G requirements for 9th-12th grade students. Students in HHI may not be concurrently enrolled in any other school.

HHI is not an interim placement for students waiting to be placed in another program or school, and is only for students with serious medical conditions. Note: Students with IEPs must have an IEP placement meeting before moving to HHI. HHI is not a program of special education.

Herrick Hospital

The Berkeley Unified School District provides a classroom teacher to adolescents ages 12 to 18 at Herrick Hospital in Berkeley. The students study literature, history, and visual art in addition to other subjects. Writing and drawing on themes of freedom, environmental justice, self-discovery, transformational love, ignorance, hatred, healing, and the universal preciousness of life, among many other topics, students find within themselves and their explorations gems of understanding that enrich everyone’s experience. Herrick Hospital is administered on the BIS campus.

English

English classes at Independent Study traditionally follow the format of individual half hour sessions with teachers. In class, the teacher and student discuss the previous week’s material and homework. Student interests are often incorporated into new assignments and readings. Every week includes reading and writing assignments.

English Course List (5 Credits)

English 1A/1B

World Literature A/B

African-American Literature A/B

Short Story A/B

Women’s Literature A/B

Composition

World of Media

Genre in Literature

Poetry: Study and Practice

Bible as Literature

AP Literature & Composition A/B

AP Language & Composition A/B

History

History classes at BIS are conducted via seminars or individual meetings. In class, teachers and students discuss relevant topics along with the previous assignment. Homework usually includes reading and writing assignments from teacher-provided sources. Textbooks are used as supplementary materials only.

History Course List (5 Credits)

Ethnic Studies/Social Living

World Histories and Cultures A/B

US History A/B

American Government/Economics

Sociology/Anthropology

Theoretical Psychology

Women’s Studies

Comparative Religion

Math

Format
BIS students take the same math class all year long to ensure that students master the state standards. Although quarter grades are given, math students remain on the pace of the semester system. Students may request seminars (60-90 mins), or one-on-one instruction (30 mins).

Class Meetings
Math classes go by very quickly. During class sessions, teachers attempt to answer all student questions, in addition to previewing new material if there is adequate time. Math students must take the initiative to learn from textbooks, consult resources online and sign up for tutoring. Without daily instruction, students must learn the majority of the material on their own.

Homework
Students must grade their own homework before each math class. Most homework assignments include answer keys in provided textbooks. Students are expected to complete their homework early enough to correct the questions that they got wrong. Students who are able to correct their homework on time are usually successful in math classes at BIS.

Tests
Tests are given at the end of each chapter. Tests are always conducted on campus, under the supervision of a math teacher. Most tests are not timed.

Math Course List

Math 1 A/B (Advanced)

Math 1 Quarter

Math 2 A/B (Advanced)

Math 2 Quarter

Math 3 A/B (Advanced)

Math 3 Quarter

AP Statistics 1/2

AP Statistics Quarter

AP Calculus AB 1/2 (BC)

Calculus Quarter

Science

Format
Science classes at BIS feature seminars of several students for extended sessions. Class meetings cover important ideas for the next assignment. Quizzes or tests may be included during class time. After a group class, the science teacher meets with each student individually to go over work and address any questions or concerns that the student might have.

Homework
Student homework originates from textbooks and teacher-provided sources. Although concepts and important ideas are covered in class, students are expected to learn material on their own from the assigned reading. Homework generally includes reading, writing and sometimes short field trips to areas of interest in Berkeley.

Science Course List (5 Credits)

Integrated Science 1/2

Biology 1 D/2 D

Advanced Biology 1 D/2 D

Environmental Science 1/2

AP Environmental Science 1/2

Chemistry 1/2 (Lab Science)

World Language

Spanish classes at BIS feature small group and/or one-on-one weekly classes. Students have approximately 1.5 hours a week of class time – both one-on-one and in small group settings. During class time, the teacher and students converse in either Spanish or French (per their respective class) discussing cultural and linguistic topics, as well as checking in about the previous week’s assignments. Students have time for conversation practice, games and activities, and time to review the homework. Language classes include about 7-10 hours of homework a week which includes book work, online videos and activities, podcast listening, projects, quizzes and tests.

World Language Course List (5 Credits)

French 1-2

Spanish 1-4

Spanish for Native Speakers 1-4

Due to intensive study requirements, AP Spanish students must attend these courses in person at BHS.

Visual Arts

Art classes at Independent Study are typically two hour seminars that occur once a week. During this time, the teacher and groups of two to four students meet to discuss and critique the previous week’s homework, collaborate and make connections to new material. They also have in-class work time to refine technique and make art as a group. Homework in Art classes usually include reading and writing as well as art- making.

Visual Arts Course List (5 Credits)

Drawing 1/2

Advanced Drawing and Painting 1/2

Creative Arts 1/2

Digital Photography 1/2

Physical Education

Although the BIS format of Physical Education is different from most high schools, students can earn appropriate PE credits for involvement in physical activities by enrolling in a PE class at BIS (or Berkeley High), or via PE waivers.

PE Classes at BIS

Classes are held weekly, with the majority of work done outside of class. PE requires exercise in class and at home for five hours per week. There have been two PE formats at BIS: short one-on-one meetings with a teacher after which all student exercise is performed outside of class; and group classes in which students participate in tennis, soccer, hiking, or active gardening. In both scenarios, students are required to log their exercises and complete minimal additional homework.

PE Waivers

Students can receive PE credit for extracurricular sports or other physical activities outside of BIS. PE waivers must be signed by a coach or instructor and turned in once per semester. The waiver signifies that students took part in enough physical activities during the semester to qualify for PE credit. All waivers need administrative approval.

General Electives

Any course offered at Berkeley High may be offered at BIS if qualified staff are available to teach it. Although most electives are taken within departments, the following list of general electives across have been consistently offered over the years.

General Electives Course List (5 credits)

Field Studies

Work Experience

Proctor

BEST English

Journalism 1/2

Garden

Created in 2002, Berkeley Independent Study’s garden is a place where students and teachers can relax, enjoy the outdoors and learn about our role in the environment. Through hands-on instruction, students learn about a variety of subjects including composting, nutrition, cooking and meditation. The garden has won the hearts of a dedicated group of attendees, including teachers, high school students and middle school students.

The garden is open to everyone. Classes are taught during weekdays with an average attendance of six students, and is supervised by a dedicated garden teacher, and credentialed staff. Garden classes are structured in three parts: students and teachers tend to their crops; the group harvests the bounty of plants tended in previous sessions; and finally, students enjoy the fruits of their labor by preparing and feasting on fresh, homegrown food. The BIS garden only survives with the love of the staff and students who give their time to help this plot of land grow and flourish.

Find out more here.