Early Release

EARLY RELEASE GUIDELINES

An early release waiver is a privilege that is available to certain qualified seniors only. Requests are not automatically granted. All applications must be reviewed by the building principal and MCPS Superintendent or their designee.


The following criteria will be applied to all early release requests:


REGULATIONS

  1. Early release may be requested under the following conditions:

    1. Study Related - A student wishes to pursue a program of college level work that is not a part of any course being taken for a Carnegie unit credit and which requires the student to be away from the school building during the regular school hours. The student must provide proof of college enrollment and provide progress reports once a month to the building principal.

    2. Career Related - A student wishes to begin his/her chosen career while still in high school. Career is defined as the student’s long-term choice for earning a livelihood to which the student has made a commitment. Students are required to provide proof of employment each month. Hourly jobs of a short-term nature are not included in this option. An additional application for Work-based Learning Marketing Co-op or Internship will be required.

    3. Financial/Family Hardship - A student must work during the time he/she would ordinarily be in school to earn money to enable the student to provide for his/her essential needs in order to remain in school or to contribute a significant portion to his/her family income. In case of a family hardship, the student must provide documented bona fide reasons for requesting to leave school early. Students are required to provide proof of employment each month. An additional application for Work-Based Learning Marketing Co-op or Internship will be required. An Early Release Need-Based Income Verification Form must be completed and approved.

  2. The student must remain in school for a minimum of the first two (2) blocks of classes per day. (Students wishing to participate in Virginia High School League activities such as sports, cheerleading, or academic competition must pass a minimum of three classes per semester.)

  3. In order to apply for early release, the student must be eligible for graduation in June of the current academic year.

  4. All requests for early release must be received no later than the fifth day of the semester unless extenuating circumstances are determined.

  5. The reason for the early release request must be permanent in nature and not for a portion of the school year or a portion of the week.

  6. If at any point the student no longer meets one of the three conditions of early release, he/she will be given a full schedule and be required to attend school for the entire day. Approved early release may be revoked for the following reasons (and the student will then be scheduled for the full school day):

    1. termination of employment, study or career related activity

    2. failing or in danger of failing any course

    3. chronic disciplinary problems at school

    4. chronic attendance problems

    5. failure to follow the regulations established for the early release program

  7. The student may leave only at the end of the designated class period. Students may not re-enroll after the fifth day of class.

  8. Early release students will be required to rearrange their out-of-school schedules in order to participate in mandatory senior activities such as graduation practice, special testing programs, or semester examinations.

  9. The following items must accompany the request for early release:

    1. Parent/Guardian Early Release Agreement - For any student 18 years of age or older who has established an independent residence, separate & apart from his/her parents or guardians the student is permitted to complete such a statement on his/her own behalf.

    2. Student Early Release Agreement (part IV of the Parent/Guardian agreement)- For all students regardless of age.

    3. Employer/Advisor Early Release Statement- The appropriate form must be completed that is relevant to the condition of the request.

    4. Verification Signature Page - This agreement must be signed by the counselor, building administrator and superintendent designee.

    5. Graduation Verification Page- This must be completed by the school counselor. Students must be scheduled for all courses needed for graduation in order to be eligible for early release.

  10. The completed early release application packet is returned directly to the school counseling office prior to the fifth day of the semester.

No schedule changes will be made until the principal and superintendent or their designee has officially approved the early release request.