Counseling Policies

Counseling Policies

Schedule change procedures, Advanced Placement course policies, and senior unscheduled-period requirements at Will C. Wood.

Planning Your Schedule Matters

Will C. Wood High School uses a student-driven master schedule. Course sections are created based on student course requests, so students should make their selections carefully with graduation requirements and college or career goals in mind.

Students meet individually with their counselors during the second semester to select core courses, electives, and alternatives for the following school year.

Schedule Changes

Student-requested schedule changes are limited and must meet established academic or scheduling criteria.

AP Course Changes

Dropping an AP course after signing the AP Master Agreement requires the Plan for Success process.

Senior Unscheduled Periods

Qualified seniors may request one unscheduled period with parent or guardian permission.

Schedule Change Requests

The First Seven Days of School

The first seven days of school are the established window for students to request a schedule change. For academic course changes, counselors will review course selection information, teacher recommendations, prerequisites, and the student's academic needs.

Even when a request meets the criteria below, schedule changes are not guaranteed and can only be made when the master schedule allows.

ACCEPTABLE REQUESTS

A Schedule Change May Be Considered When:

  • A student needs a different course to meet a high school graduation requirement or college eligibility requirement.
  • A student has been scheduled into the wrong level of a course.
  • A student has not completed the prerequisite required for the course.
  • A student is missing a class or period, or there is another schedule error.
  • A student requests a change involving a non-AP elective and the change can occur within the same class period.
REQUESTS NOT PROCESSED

A Schedule Change Will Not Be Made For:

  • A request for a different teacher.
  • A request to change a class period based only on personal preference.
  • A request to drop an AP course after an AP Master Agreement has been signed without completing the required process.

Requests After the First Week

If concerns arise after the schedule-change window, the goal is first to help the student become successful in the existing class. Students and families should follow the process below.

1

Contact the Teacher

The student and family should work directly with the classroom teacher to discuss concerns and identify strategies for success.

2

Plan for Success

When additional support is needed, families may work with the teacher and counseling office through the Plan for Success process.

3

Administrative Review

Administrative approval is required in the rare case that a schedule change is warranted after the initial schedule-change period.

Yearlong Courses: At the beginning of the spring semester, yearlong courses will be dropped only for extenuating circumstances and with administrative approval.

Dropping an Advanced Placement Course

AP Master Agreement & Plan for Success

Students who enroll in an AP course and sign an AP Master Agreement have made a commitment to remain in the course.

In order to request dropping an AP course after the agreement has been signed, a Plan for Success meeting must be held with the student, teacher, and parent or guardian.

VUSD Class Change Policy Plan for Success Form

Senior Unscheduled Periods

Qualified Seniors May Request One Unscheduled Period

Seniors who meet the requirements below may request one unscheduled period with parent or guardian permission.

Students may request either 1st period or 6th period. An unscheduled period is a request and cannot be guaranteed.

This process does not apply to students enrolled in VECHS or Work Experience.

175

Credits Before Senior Year

Students must have earned at least 175 credits by the beginning of senior year.

200

Credits After Fall

Students must have earned at least 200 credits by the end of the fall semester of senior year.

A-G or CTE

On Track for Completion

Students must be on track for either A-G requirements or CTE Completer status.

How Students Qualify

OPTION 1

A-G College Eligibility

Students may qualify by being on track to meet A-G requirements and earning a C or better in the required courses and subject areas.

  • English 9-12
  • World History
  • U.S. History
  • Integrated Math 1-3
  • Biology
  • Chemistry / Earth Science
  • Fine Art
  • World Languages - 2 years
  • 1 College Preparatory elective

Students who have earned below a C in an applicable requirement must repeat the course or pursue an eligible CTE pathway before qualifying for an unscheduled period.

OPTION 2

CTE Completer Pathway

Students may also qualify by successfully completing a Level 1 CTE course and enrolling in an approved Level 2 capstone course.

Students must pass the capstone course with a C or better.

Advanced Photography Auto II Building Trades II Culinary II Kinesiology II Medical Science II Teaching in Practice Welding II

CTE Completer Requirements

  • Successfully complete the appropriate Level 1 pathway course.
  • Enroll in and pass the approved Level 2 capstone course with a C or better.
  • Participate in required career-readiness workshops.
  • Complete appropriate industry-recognized certifications.
  • Complete a career portfolio.
  • Participate in a CTE exit interview.
  • Complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved, field-related work experience.

Requesting an Unscheduled Period

Two Steps Are Required

1. The student must complete the WCW 12th Grade Request for an Unscheduled Period form.

2. A parent or guardian must email the student's counselor giving permission for the student to have an unscheduled period.

Students should not submit the form until their parent or guardian has emailed their counselor.

Senior Unscheduled Period Request Counseling Staff & Counselor Emails

Please Note: Counselors will make every effort to accommodate an eligible senior's request, but classes may not be able to be moved in order to create an unscheduled period. Students pursuing CTE Completer status must continue making appropriate progress toward their field experience and other pathway requirements in order to retain the unscheduled period.

SENIOR UNSCHEDULED PERIODS

Seniors may register for one unscheduled period if they qualify based on the criteria below and have parent/guardian permission. They can only request 1st or 6th period.  

 
In order to be unscheduled, students must complete this google form. It does not apply to students in VECHS or enrolled in Work Experience. Parents/Guardians are required to email their student's counselor giving their permission for the student to be unscheduled. 

  

CRITERIA:
1) Students must have earned 175 credits by the beginning of their senior year. By the end of the fall semester of senior year, students must have earned 200 credits.

2) Students must be on track to meet A-G requirements OR to earn their Career Technical Education (CTE) Completer status:
  • A-G requirements include having earned a C or better in the following classes/subject areas:
    English 9-12, World History, US History, IM 1-3, Biology, Chemistry/Earth Science, Fine Art, World Languages (2 years), 1 College Prep elective
    • If students have earned below a C in any of the above courses, they would be required to repeat the course or participate in a CTE pathway prior to being allowed to have an unscheduled period.
  • CTE Completer includes successfully passing a level 1 course and enrolling in one of the following capstone classes (level 2): Advanced Photography, Auto II, Aviation Mechanics, Building Trades II, Culinary II, Kinesiology II, Medical Science II, Teaching in Practice, or Video Game Design.
    • Students must also be on track with meeting the following CTE Completer Criteria:
      As part of the capstone class, students are required to participate in career ready workshops, and complete the appropriate industry recognized certifications. By the end of the year, students must complete a portfolio and participate in an exit interview.
      Students must complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved, field-related work experiences. If students are not making progress toward the field work or other requirements at the semester, they may lose their unscheduled period.

Counselors will do their best to accommodate requests. However, classes may not be able to move in order to grant the unscheduled period.

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