Frequently Asked Questions
High School Plus (HS+) is a new program that will allow students who have failed courses required for graduation to retake these courses for credit in their home schools. Students will not be able to earn original credit as part of this program. Students who have passed courses related to the High School Assessments (HSA) but have not passed the HSA need to contact their high school counselor for intervention sessions and support options other than HS+.
Planning
- How will I know if my child needs HS+?
If your student has failed a course required for graduation, contact the counselor at your local high school regarding HS+ information.
- Does it cost anything to attend the HS+ Program? Will I have to purchase any materials
or textbook supplements?
There is no cost involved to attend HS+. Students will not have to purchase any materials or instructional supplements.
- Do schools offer transportation?
Schools use activity buses to transport students for other after school activities. Contact the school to determine the availability of activity buses. If activity buses are not available on the day of HS+, you may have to provide transportation.
- How do I register my student?
Contact your school counseling office for the registration form.
- What are my options if my student’s local school is not offering the class needed?
Contact your student’s administration and ask for information regarding neighboring high schools. Each high school will be operating a HS+ Program. A neighboring school may offer the course your student needs. The other option is to attend summer school or evening high school. Students who entered high school after 2005 can no longer participate in Evening High School.
Scheduling
- Can my child attend HS + as well as Evening High School?
Students in Grade 11 or Grade 12 can attend both HS+ and Evening High School.
- Can my student attend a HS+ Program at a different high school?
Contact the administration at your local school to discuss your options.
- When will the classes begin? What time do the courses begin and end? How many weeks
does this class last?
HS+ classes will begin no later than September 10, 2007. Contact your local school counseling department for start and end dates and times for sessions. The exact time of HS+ Programs may vary among high schools but all will require 200 minutes per week. Repeater sections offered within the regular school day will begin on the first day of school.
- Can my child continue to participate in after school activities like marching band, football
or baseball and attend HS+?
Students can continue to participate in after school activities as long as they meet any academic eligibility requirements for certain activities. In addition, there may be a scheduling conflict. Students will have to check dates and times of both activities. Students may have to make a choice between after school activities.
- Are ESOL classes offered through HS+? If not, what assistance is available?
Course offerings vary from high school to high school. Contact the counseling department to determine ESOL class offerings.
- If my child’s day class has a field trip and does not return by 2:20 p.m. will that be
considered an excused absence?
Students should attend HS+ following the field trip. It would be considered an excused tardy if the student is late and an excused absence if the student arrives past the HS+ end time.
- If my child has an excused absence to visit colleges during the regular day school, will
that be treated the same in HS+?
Absences excused during the regular day will be excused for HS+.
- What if my student needs to make up more than one class?
Examine the availability of extended day course offerings and schedules to determine if more than one course can be taken at a time. To determine course offerings for repeater sections offered during the school day, contact your school counselor.
Instruction
- Who is going to be teaching these classes?
Teachers from the local school will teach HS+. If teachers are not available, schools will seek teachers from other schools or retired teachers.
- How big are the classes?
Class size follows the same Board of Education approved guidelines as regular day school.
- Whom do I go to for advice if I have a concern about a teacher or class that my student
is attending?
Administrators in each high school are available to address all questions and concerns.
- Will the HS+ classes have the same homework as the class taken during the day?
HS+ will have similar homework requirements as the regular day school program. HS+ courses provide students the ability to obtain credit through a rigorous academic program similar to day school.
- If my child has an IEP or a 504 Plan, will the same assistance be available in HS+?
HS+ will provide students with their accommodations. Teachers and special educators will be available to meet students’ 504 Plan and IEP needs.
- Will my child have access to the media center and computer labs for HS+ work?
There is no extension to the media center hours for the HS+ Program. Please refer to your local school media center hours of operation.
- For a class that requires an HSA, when will my child take the exam?
All MCPS students must take the required HSA on the dates specified by the Maryland State Department of Education.
- When will HS+ teachers be available for meeting with students?
Students will need to request individual teacher’s office hours to determine teacher availability.
- If the teacher of the HS+ class is the same teacher whom my child did not get along with
the previous year, what are the options for my child?
Meet with your student’s counselor to discuss your concerns.
- How can I contact the teacher of a HS+ class?
Contact the main office and leave your name and number for the teacher. In addition, teachers may be reached via e-mail. Most teachers in HS+ will be part of the local school faculty.
Grading and Reporting
- How will HS+ grades impact my student’s eligibility, transcripts, and report cards?
Student grades will appear as an eighth course on report cards. The grade will be included in a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) only and will not impact the quarter or semester GPA. Eligibility status is calculated based on quarterly GPA; therefore, eligibility will not be impacted.
- Will I be able to access Edline for grade information?
Yes, parents will be able to access student grade information online.
- Can students take courses for original credit?
At this time, HS+ Program does not offer any courses for original credit.
- Will students receive interims and report cards for classes taken through HS+?
Student grades will appear as an eighth course on report cards. Students will receive interims according to the MCPS schedule for interim distribution for the regular school day.
- If my student has an issue with a HS+ class that cannot be resolved with the teacher,
do I talk with my child’s regular school counselor about this?
Contact the counseling office first, and if there is no resolution, contact your local high school administration regarding the HS+ Program.
- Will my child have to take the county final assessments at the end of the HS+ class?
Any final exams associated with a particular course given during the regular school day will be required for HS+ courses.
- What if my student does not pass the HS+ class?
Students can continue to enroll in the HS+ Program or regional summer school to access courses needed for graduation.
Updated September 5, 2007 | Maintained by Web Services
