Once initial student academic ability level placement is made following the process described under Initial Academic Ability Level Placement Procedures on page 10, a student’s placement may be reviewed periodically to ensure that he/she is placed at an appropriately challenging level. Academic ability level changes may be made for students seeking a challenge (to a higher level) or for students experiencing exceptional difficulty (to a lower level). District guidelines for academic ability level changes are necessarily restrictive to ensure space is available in classes and that students begin the year in the best possible placement in an appropriate class. Barring significant exceptions, most changes are made for 1st semester by March of the previous school year and starting the week after Thanksgiving for 2nd semester. North Campus students who drop a 1st or 8th period class are not eligible for an unscheduled study hall.

A. PLACEMENTS

1. 1. For sitting freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, placements are based on the recommendations of LT teachers.
   2. If a student and/or parent wish to adjust a placement, the student and parent consult first with the student’s teacher to review the current placement and determine if a change is warranted.
   3. After parents and students have reviewed the differences in levels and the reasons for level recommendation changes, parents and students have the final say in the decision.
   4. Changes are only made when space is available.
   5. After initial placement and scheduling are completed in February, schedule changes are not permitted. Initial student course selections made during registration will be accommodated whenever possible. Important course and staffing decisions are based upon these selections. Student changes of mind or schedule preferences (teacher, period, time of day) will not be accommodated. Therefore, only for limited reasons will adjustments be considered and/or approved. Regardless of the request, students must continue attending class and completing assignments until notified of the decision regarding adjustment requests in case space is not available or a request cannot be accommodated. 

B. SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS

1. Adding a Course - A course may be added to a student schedule during the first 10 days of the semester if the following criteria are met:

1. 1. 1. The student has a study hall that can be replaced by a course AND there is available space in the class during the same semester AND same period.

2. Necessary Course Adjustments - Individual courses can be adjusted based on the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. An adjustment necessitated by completion or non-completion of summer courses
      2. An adjustment necessitated by first or second semester failures
      3. An adjustment necessitated by a student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) supports
      4. Documented change of college/career plans requiring a different course that cannot be accomplished during the 4 year academic plan, summer or remaining school years prior to graduation. This requires review by the College & Career Coordinator.

3. Drop to a Study Hall - Individual reviews by Student Assistance Teams may be considered for the following reasons:

1. 1. 1. Documented economic necessity to work
      2. Documented provision for unusual family care situations and/or
      3. Documented psychological inability to handle schedule.

C. LEVEL CHANGES

Student changes of mind on course preferences (teacher, period, time of day) are not considered for a level change and will not be accommodated. Level changes need review and approval by the Division Chair. Students requesting a change from initial course placement may include:

1. 1. Level change (courses designated at different levels, and the content varies in scope, sequence and rigor). There are two windows of opportunity for requesting level changes--during course selection in the winter and during the first four weeks of each semester.
   2. The change must be initiated within the first four weeks of a given semester.
   3. Space must be available in the desired course and any other courses that may need to be changed to accommodate the request.
   4. No existing course may be dropped to accommodate a level change after the start of a semester.
   5. The grade from the previous course will not travel with the student.
   6. The student will be required to make up major assignments. These will be determined by courses and departments so they are consistent among teachers who teach the same courses.

Please note the master school schedule is built based on student requests during winter registration; consequently, any changes beyond that may not be possible due to space availability. Therefore, approved level changes are not a guarantee of schedule changes when seats are not available to accommodate the change.

Any appeals on schedule adjustments should be directed to the North or South Campus Associate Principal.

A grade of “W” (Withdrawal) is used when a student drops or is removed from a course between the 10^th day of a semester through the last day of the first or third quarter (see page 14 of the Academic Program Guide for acceptable circumstances). The grade “W” will appear on the report card and transcript thereafter. The “W” grade does not receive a grade point value, and is therefore not part of the weighted/unweighted GPA, or Honor roll computation.

A grade of “WF” (Withdrawal Failure) is used when a student drops a course during the second or fourth quarters (i.e., the halfway point or later of a semester) or is removed from a course at any time. The “WF” grade will appear on the report card and transcript thereafter. The “WF” grade receives a grade point value of 0 and is part of the weighted/unweighted GPA, class rank, and Honor Roll computation.

D. COURSE ACADEMIC ABILITY LEVEL PLACEMENTS

Personal growth involves making informed decisions and learning from the consequences of those decisions. For this reason, we ask students, with support and approval from parents and information from LT faculty and counselors, to select courses. Where decisions about courses are concerned, the role of the professional is to help parents and students make informed decisions which minimize failure and maximize success. In addition, the faculty member has the responsibility to maintain the integrity of the standards and expectations of the course.

Where academic ability levels are involved, freshman placement is based on grades, academic performance, and associate school teacher recommendations, in the given subject. Level placement for sophomores, juniors and seniors is based on the recommendation of the most recent teacher in a given subject and other pertinent information. If a parent and student wish a different academic ability level assignment, they must consult with the appropriate division chair to review the current placement and to determine if a change is warranted. After parents and students have reviewed the differences in levels and the reasons for the level recommendation, parents and students have the final decision.

If parents and students wish a different academic ability level assignment, they must consult with the student’s current teacher in that course and appropriate division chair to review the current placement and to determine if a change is warranted. After parents and students have reviewed the differences in levels and the reasons for the level recommendation, parents and students have the final decision.