Academic Policies and Procedures

This Program of Studies manual is a valuable reference tool for students, parents, and school personnel actively involved in program planning at Bernards High School. It is a complete guide to the possible course offerings at BHS. Each department has written a brief synopsis of each course for inclusion in this booklet. Planning an individual's academic program should be a cooperative effort between home and school. Any program ought to reflect a student's aspirations, achievements, and aptitudes. The breadth and depth of the academic program at BHS gives each student an opportunity to meet his/her own educational needs and wants. In addition to fulfilling district, state, college or career requirements, students at BHS are encouraged to select courses that will be academically stimulating and personally enriching. In selecting particular courses one might apply the following criteria:

• Does the course meet high school requirements?
• Does the course provide an outlet for interests in specific subject areas?
• Does the course reflect a significant proficiency level?
• Does the course provide a background for post high school plans that impact on career options?
• Does the course meet college entrance requirements?

Students and parents should also keep the following points in mind when planning the academic program for the upcoming year:

• Choose courses, not teachers - students and parents should not make the mistake of choosing or refusing to take a course based on their perception of a particular instructor. Each choice should be based on the merits of the course content and its value to the student's specific needs.
• Make course selection decisions based on current and past academic performance, teacher recommendations, and passion for the course of study.
• Remember that students may adjust their course selections only between the end of January and March 1, 2019.
• Remember that adding or dropping elective programs/courses or any type of convenience change will not be made after this date because it is too disruptive to the school program.
• Any requested changes due to extenuating circumstances after March 1, 2019, will be referred to the Change Committee

As noted above, the important process of selecting an academic program is one in which many people are involved and which requires several months of preparation and consultation. Student course selections should be made only after serious deliberation among student, parents, faculty and school counselor. The selected program is designed to meet the student's personal and education goals. Please utilize this program as well as all the many resources available to you to help you to select courses. Discuss specific subject area choices with teachers who can share valuable insight into the scope of each course. Inquiries regarding scheduling issues should initially be directed to the student’s guidance counselor.

Schedule Change Procedures During the School Year

The need for program changes while school is in session is recognized only under special circumstances. For example, scheduling errors, course conflicts or clear, documented academic misplacement will be considered. Counselors often find that some students wish to change their schedules for the wrong reasons – their friends are not in their classes, the first assignment seems difficult, the periods conflict with the lunch they prefer, etc. Typically, if there is no mistake or omission in the student-selected program, a schedule change during the school year will not be permitted.

If a student feels that (s)he is in an inappropriate academic placement, (s)he may request a change in academic level. Students who wish to move up a level may request a change in course level beginning fifteen (15) school days after the start of the course. Students who wish to move down a level may request a change in course level beginning fifteen (15) school days after the start of the course.

Please keep in mind that the master schedule is constructed to best meet the needs of all students. During the course request process, students select preferred and alternate elective courses. After all student course requests have been finalized, elective changes will not be considered. Similarly, lateral or preference-based schedule changes will not be allowed unless there are extenuating circumstances as determined by the change committee, principal or designee. All requests for a change in schedule of any type must be requested in writing and signed by parent/guardian. Additionally, Advanced Placement (AP) courses are rigorous college-level courses which prepare students for a culminating examination in May administered by the College Board. Students in AP courses begin their studies independently over the summer in order to cover all of the material needed in order to sit for the test in May. Therefore, AP courses may not be added to one’s schedule once the academic year begins without the permission of the teacher(s).

A student who wishes to propose a change should contact his/her counselor and then discuss the proposed change with his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) and the current teacher. If the student still wishes to proceed with a change after these discussions, the student’s counselor will contact that supervisor to request permission to proceed with the request. The supervisor may meet with the student if (s)he feels that a meeting is necessary. If the change is approved, the student should follow the steps listed below:

• Pick up “Request to Withdraw from Class/Change Class Level” form in Guidance.
• Obtain comments and signatures from the current teacher, counselor, and parent/guardian. Students must return forms to the guidance department.
• Obtain signatures on “Drop/Add” form from teacher(s) of class(es) that are being added and dropped.
• Return completed sheet to counselor and pick up new schedule from counselor.
• Start new schedule the next school day.

Information Regarding Dropping/Adding Courses:

• Requests for a change in level (i.e., Algebra II “H” to Algebra II “A”) in a full year course will be honored until 10 days after the end of the first marking period. All subsequent changes must be due to extenuating circumstances and approved by the principal.
• Students may add a course to replace a study hall at any time up until 10 days into the first/third marking period in a semester class or 15 days into the first marking period in a full year course.
• Requests to withdraw from a full year class will be considered starting at the end of the first marking period up until ten (10) days after first marking period grades are posted.
• Requests to withdraw from a semester class will be considered up until ten (10) days after the end of the first and/or third marking period.
• Grades earned when changing levels will go with the student without weighting.
• Students who drop a class within the prescribed time frame will have all record of the class expunged from their permanent record and have no impact on the GPA.
• Students who drop a class after this time will be issued a grade of “W” and any cumulative grade earned (WA, WB, WC, WD WF) to that point.
• No partial credit will be given for semester or full-year classes if a student withdraws prior to the end of the course.