Students may want to enroll in a course for which they were not recommended. Fayetteville-Manlius has an override process which allows parents and students to make the final determination of courses selected. There are many factors to consider when thinking about changing or overriding a teacher’s course recommendation, including extracurricular involvement, total academic load, available study time, the level of the student’s organization and study skills, and student passion for the subject.
At all levels, parents are strongly encouraged to be involved in the course planning process. It is also critically important that parents are aware of any short- and long-term ramifications of course selection; for example, it may not be possible to make level and course changes during the school year.
Middle School Override Process for High School Courses
- Eighth-grade teachers make course recommendations for ninth grade.
- Parents/guardians communicate with eighth-grade teachers if they have a question regarding a course recommendation.
- A parent/guardian meeting may be held so that the teacher(s) can provide an explanation of the recommendation. In a small number of cases, it may be prudent to see how the child develops and performs in the second semester of eighth grade. In these instances, teachers will communicate their final recommendation with the student and parent/guardian prior to the end of the school year.
- If an override is desired, the student completes the Course Override Form, available in the Counseling Center, obtains appropriate signatures, and submits the form to the middle school counselor.
- The school counselor makes the requested course change.
High School Override Process
- Teachers discuss course recommendations for the subsequent year with the student.
- Student shares course recommendations with a parent/guardian.
- If a student and parent want to override a course recommendation, a conversation with the subject area teacher is strongly encouraged. A conversation with the school counselor may also be helpful.
- If an override is desired, the student completes the Course Override Form, available in the Counseling Center, obtains appropriate signatures, and submits the form to their school counselor.
- The school counselor makes the requested course change.