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Pupil Placement Information…


Tracking and Assistance

 

***** NEW Information as of April 10, 2008 *****

NEW DEADLINE:
 For filing the High School Curricular Program Transfer Application is  Friday, May 2, 2008


Parents with older children already attending Chantilly, Oakton and Westfield report that there are no problems with pupil placing their rising 9th grade children in the AP programs at these schools.

Please continue to report your pupil placement experiences and outcomes to CAPS.
You can also email your pupil placement questions, problems and concerns to pupilplacement@fairfaxcaps.org.

CAPS has been working with Superintendent Jack Dale’s office and FCPS staff to resolve pupil placement issues. Answers to some of CAPS concerns appear below. We will post additional answers as they become available.

Excerpts from: Betsy Goodman, Assistant Superintendent, Cluster VIII
Date: March 28, 2008

“This is in response to your electronic mail message sent to Dr. Dale on March 14 and subsequent electronic mail messages to Dr. Ellie Barnes on March 21 and March 26, 2008, regarding clarifications of the pupil placement process. My understanding is that you are forwarding these concerns on behalf of Fairfax CAPS.”

1. Parents trying to pupil-place out of South Lakes ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MEET WITH THE SOUTH LAKES PRINCIPAL: “Mr. Butler, principal of South Lakes High School, does not mandate that parents who are requesting pupil placement meet with him.” IF they want to, families wanting to pupil place out of South Lakes are invited “to meet with him to share information.”

2. Several requests for pupil placement to Madison High School for the 2008-2009 school year have already been approved. FCPS agrees “Madison High School is the closest high school to South Lakes that offers the AP curriculum&rdquo and therefore ALL students within South Lakes attendance boundaries may apply to be pupil-placed to Madison or Herndon. CAPS Recommendation: Parents who can prove that Oakton or Westfield is the closest AP school to their home should submit that information with their pupil-placement application. Potential "proof of distance" includes Mapquest listings from your address to various high schools. You might also drive from your house to the two or three "closest" AP schools, carefully recording the odometer readings and listing the roads driven to reach each destination.

3. “If a student is requesting a transfer for an AP program, the student must enroll in a minimum of [ONLY] one … pre-AP, honors, or AP courses per school year throughout their four years of high school.”

4. “There is no grade-point requirement.”   “No school is going to expect students to be excellent in all areas; however, students who pupil place into a school are expected to maintain passing grades in both AP and non-AP courses.”

5. “All students enrolled in the Fairfax County Public Schools are expected to adhere to the standards of student conduct as outlined in the Fairfax County Public Schools Student Responsibilities and Rights. Pupil-placed students are treated no differently from other students in this regard.” CAPS is continuing to seek clarification of this point to ensure pupil-placed students have the same administrative and legal protections as other students and are not subject to being transferred out because of some minor offense.

6. “Per your request, the deadline for High School Curricular Application season has been extended from April 15, 2008 to May 2, 2008.” The official notification appears at http://www.fcps.edu/ss/student-transfer/index.htm.

7. Some parents informed CAPS they were told they have to produce birth certificates, immunization records, deeds, and other data to register their pupil-placed students. However, this matter HAS been clarified; such documentation is NOT required for pupil-placed students who are already attending FCPS schools. “A list of requested classes for the upcoming school year is helpful but not required when submitting a pupil placement request. Class registration can take place once the request for pupil placement is resolved. If students and/or their parents are being asked for these items, please have them call the Cluster VIII Office with specific details as to who is requesting they bring these items with them.” The Cluster VIII phone number is (571) 423-1180.

Parents with older children already attending Chantilly, Oakton and Westfield report that there are no problems with pupil placing their rising 9th grade children in the AP programs at these schools. ANY family who is having ANY sort of pupil placement problem is urged to contact FairfaxCAPS immediately by emailing pupilplacement@fairfaxcaps.org.

We’d also like to hear your success stories (Click Here). Our school system has many hard-working professionals who are working extra hours to accommodate the needs of next year’s ninth graders. Fairfax CAPS very much appreciates FCPS staff members who are striving to address our concerns.

Background


As a result of the vote for redistricting, many parents are choosing to pupil place their students. Links to the appropriate forms as well as links to other useful Fairfax County Public School publications are at the bottom of this page.


Elementary / Middle School Pupil Placement

Former Base School: Wolftrap ES, Thoreau MS
Students from Madison Island can pupil place back into their original elementary or middle school if they meet any of the criteria listed on the Initial Student Transfer Application at http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/forms/se222.pdf.   The deadline for filing this form is June 1st.


High School Pupil Placement

Those with questions about pupil placement are encouraged to read the Frequently Asked Questions on the FairfaxCAPS website, “ The Pupil Placement Puzzle”, or contact us at pupilplacement@fairfaxcaps.org.

ONLY CURRENT EIGHT GRADERS (“rising ninth graders”) will be shifted to new high schools next year. All high school students currently enrolled have the option of remaining at the school they attended before the boundary change. For families wishing to place their students out of their new high school, either South Lakes or Oakton, there are four allowable reasons for high school pupil placement:

·    Family Relocation
·    Medical, Emotional, Social, or Family Adjustment Hardship (This includes wanting to keep siblings at the same school. Pupil placement for siblings must be initiated with the principal of the base school.)
·    Fairfax County Public School Employee (20+ hours/week)
·    Curricular Program (high school only) from an IB school to an AP school or for a sequential course offering not offered at the base school.


Process

All individuals requesting a pupil placement need to complete a Student Transfer Application. The deadline for filing this form has been extended to May 2nd.

For areas redistricted into the South Lakes attendance area:

1) PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A SPECIAL FORM TO REQUEST PLACEMENT FOR THE AP PROGRAM. Students who are currently in 8th grade and want to pupil place out of South Lakes and into any AP high school need to check the Advanced Placement Program box on the High School Curricular Program Student Transfer Application at http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/forms/se221.pdf.
2) Mr. Bruce Butler, principal of South Lakes High School, requests a meeting with parents requesting the pupil outplacement. The Student Transfer Application needs to be brought to the meeting. It is suggested but not necessary that both parents attend this meeting, at the end of which Mr. Butler will indicate whether of not he will approve the request.
a. If attending a daytime meeting is inconvenient for you., please contact FairfaxCAPS and we will attempt to arrange an evening meeting.
b. Get a copy of the form after he signs it!
c. If the request is refused or if you run into any problems, please contact FairfaxCAPS.
According to the latest guidelines, students redistricted into South Lakes may request transfer to the AP school that is closest to the student’s residence OR to MADISON, the AP school that is closest to South Lakes. (Mapquest states Madison is 5.8 miles from South Lakes, compared to 6 miles to Herndon and 6.9 miles to Oakton.)

Students are now allowed to request Westfield High School according to new information posted on the FCPS website at http://www.fcps.edu/news/PupilPlacement%20Guidelines2008-09.pdf.

Chantilly is listed as “closed” to pupil placements but a call to the school (Miss Dale) revealed students are allowed to request pupil placement to Chantilly and it will be considered on a “case-by-case” basis. This would be a good option for current eighth graders who have an older sibling at Chantilly. ALL students redistricted into South Lakes may request transfer to the AP school that is closest to the student’s residence.

Chantilly HS and Oakton HS both offer the AP program.  Students who were redistricted from Chantilly HS into Oakton HS can use the High School Curricular Program Student Transfer Application only if they are requesting a specific Sequential Course Offering at Chantilly HS that is not available at Oakton HS.  Some Academy Programs at Chantilly may qualify also.  Links to course offerings:

Chantilly HS:
http://www.fcps.edu/ChantillyHS/guidance/2008-09_chantilly_course_catalog.pdf
Chantilly Academy
http://www.fcps.edu/ChantillyAcademy/courses/index.htm
Oakton HS
http://www.fcps.edu/OaktonHS/careercenter/documents/2006_Course_Selection_Booklet.pdf


Transportation

Transportation does not HAVE to be provided for students pupil placed for the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, but students MAY ride existing school buses if they can safely access an existing bus stop and if space is available. Remember, buses will still be picking up 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in your neighborhoods!

A copy of existing bus routes is available at each school for review or you can call the current school to ask for the current bus route numbers for your area. A link to the “Exception to Ride” form is at the bottom of this web page. Write the bus route number on the form. Check the box marked "Other" and write "Advanced Placement (AP)" next to the box. There must be available seating on the bus and there must be an acceptable walking route to the existing bus stop. This is for one destination, five days per week, consistently.

A parent should identify the requested school, route number, stop location, and walking route to be used by his or her child. If FCPS determines there is no acceptable walking path to the requested bus stop, a parent may submit a “Parental Acknowledgment of Voluntary Suspension of FCPS Guidelines” form (TR-53) to accept responsibility to transport the student to or from the bus stop. A link to this form is at the bottom of this web page.

When the parent or guardian has completed the appropriate exception form(s), the form(s) should be submitted for review to the transportation office:

    FCPS Office of Transportation Services
    4641 Stonecroft Blvd.
    Chantilly, VA 20151.

Requests for an exception for transportation may be submitted starting July 1. A new request must be submitted each year and will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. FCPS will respond as soon as practical but may not be able to respond until routes and eligible riders are verified in September. A response might not be received before October 1.


We Need Your Help


FairfaxCAPS will not use this information to release any individually identifiable information. FairfaxCAPS would like to be able to get an idea of the number of requests and approvals. Other information, such as anecdotal information related to the experiences of people going through the pupil placement process may be posted (with prior approval only) if it is felt that the information may be of value to others seeking pupil placement.

We are trying to gather information from those requesting a pupil placement. We want an idea of the number of requests made, the number approved, to where, the experiences of parents, and especially any problems that are be encountered.

If you are or have already requested pupil placement, we‘d like to hear from you.

Please fill out the online form at: http://www.fairfaxcaps.org/html/placement_form.html

or email us at: pupilplacement@fairfaxcaps.org  with the following information:

 

    Name of Student:

    Name(s) of Parent(s):

    Home Address:

    Contact E-Mail:

    Contact Phone Number:

    Currently Attending (Middle/Elementary School):

    Base High School:

    Requested High School (or Elementary/Middle School, if applicable):

    Date of meeting with Principal Butler (if applicable):

    Date received approval:

    Other Action Considered (Private School/Home Schooled/Relocation):

    Comments:



Those interested or concerned about the pupil placement process are encouraged to contact us at pupilplacement@fairfaxcaps.org.

Useful Links


Tell us about your pupil placement experience here

FCPS Boundary Information

FCPS Initial Student Transfer Application (SE-222)

FCPS High School Curricular Program Student Transfer Application (SE-221)

FCPS Request for Exception to Ride School Bus (TR-52) [page 6 of pdf file]

FCPS Parental Acknowledgement of Voluntary Suspension of FCPS Guidelines (Walking or Riding a School Bus) (TR-53) [page 7 of pdf file]

FCPS Pupil Placement Summary

Chantilly High School 2008-2009 Course Catalog

Chantilly Academy Course Catalog

Herndon High School 2008-2009 Course Catalog

Madison High School 2008-2009 Course Catalog

Oakton High School 2008-2009 Course Catalog

Westfield High School 2008-2009 Course Catalog

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