Schedule Changes
Why We Regulate Schedule Changes
The first days of school trigger a wide array of emotions for our students. While the majority are positive, we find that the first day of school can be very challenging. We want our counselors and mental health professionals available to support students. Our UMHT has consistently had more mental health emergencies in the first weeks of school than at any other time.
Dominion welcomes new families into our school zone each year. Welcoming and enrolling new students is a priority that competes with schedule changes at the beginning of the year.
In schools where students can freely change between courses, teachers delay instruction to allow for rosters to settle. The loss of instructional time is avoidable and negatively impacts all students.
Educational research tells us that students who take on challenging course work in High School - have better outcomes in college. Dominion challenges students to rigorous coursework and then devotes significant teacher resources to support the academic needs of students. Students need time to utilize those resources.
Counselors and administrators spend countless hours conferencing and planning using student course selections. These decisions are made thoughtfully and verified by multiple parties. Allowing first-day changes undermines that entire process.
We believe Titans need to practice the skill of making informed decisions and resolve to a good faith effort in their own decisions. They will need this skill when they commit to a college, place of employment, make a large purchase, etc.
Dominion has a very generous practice of allowing students months to make informed decisions on courses.
Leveling down at interim is a common practice in LCPS schools.
Schedule Changes
Course Changes
Students or parents are able to request a schedule change until June 8th, 2023. Schedule changes can be requested through this Google Form.
Course changes after Zero Day of the school year will only be honored for authorized academic reasons. Examples may be listed below:
Passed credit previously
Does not meet the prerequisite
Missing an academic course
Missing a graduation requirement
Adjustments needed for students Individualized Education Plan
Open or Double Scheduled block
Prohibited Changes
The following requests will not be reviewed by Dominion School Counselors:
Changes to the student chosen elective after June 8th
Requests for a specific teacher or block
Any change that would place a section over-capacity
Starting a new course after 20 hours of instruction
Course Level Changes
Level Change requests will occur after the 1st Interim (October 1st) unless otherwise deemed necessary by the building principal/designee. Prior to making a level change, students should be accessing all available academic supports. Including:
Communication between student, teacher, parent or guardian, and counselor should take place to support the student in their attempted strategies for success at the student selected level of rigor (A conference may be necessary to develop a plan)
Documented visits to support centers - TAGS, Math Lab, and/or Writing Center,
The student should have satisfactory attendance and participation in classroom activities.
Complete Formative Assessments and Retakes
Additionally, students can only level down if there is space in the receiving course. Often leveling down requires a shuffling of schedule.
Only after the student, parent, teacher, and counselor have agreed the student made a good-faith attempt will the level down be approved. If the parties disagree, an assistant principal will facilitate the discussion.
Course grades earned in the previous course will transfer to the new course. The student may be responsible for completing makeup work in the new level to cover any material not covered in the previous level.