Home independent study programs take many forms, but they generally refer to curricula and assessments that have been prepared for self-guided study outside the traditional school environment. The primary reasons a family would choose a home independent study program are as a supplement to a traditional education program, as a support for a homebound student, or as part of a homeschool curriculum. Home independent study programs are different from homeschooling in that a homeschool curriculum may include an independent study program, but also refers to the full range of instructor-guided and experiential learning that happens outside of a traditional school setting.

As technology changes, the delivery systems for home study programs have evolved, but even as Web-based programs grow in popularity, there are still many independent ...