Cobb County School District Administrative Rules

RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:

Cobb County School District (District) recognizes that shortened school days offer opportunities for both individual students and entire schools that would not otherwise be as easily available. Students, for example, can use these days, if in an organized, endorsed program, to pursue career and other transition-to-work opportunities while schools can use them for training, planning, data assessment, and communication with parents/guardians.

RULE:

A. MINIMUM SCHOOL DAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS (MINIMUM DAY):

1. Length of School Day:

The length of the school day for District high schools shall be maintained at a

minimum of six (6) instructional hours for all students with the exception of those in:

a. State-approved vocational and special education programs;

b. Minimum Day programs for seniors as established by this Rule; and

c. Block schedule based schools.

2. Program Objectives:

The District recognizes the senior year of high school as a time at which many

students reach a level of adult responsibility; therefore, it is appropriate that these

students be afforded the opportunity to pursue mature responsibilities in addition to

their senior year studies. Objectives include the following:

a. Providing a transition from the regular high school structure to adult responsibilities

is the educational objective of this Rule.

b. It is believed that this recognition of the senior year and this opportunity will serve

as a motivation for students in their early high school years to meet the standards

necessary for participation in this program.

3. Limitations:
The following regulations shall be observed regarding Minimum Day for high school

students:

a. Fourth Year Seniors:

The Minimum Day for seniors in the fourth year of high school shall be limited to

one class period of the school day.

b. Fifth Year Seniors:

In accordance with Georgia Board of Education provisions, fifth year seniors may

enroll in the course(s) needed to meet graduation requirements and be dismissed

directly after attendance in the course(s).

c. Mentoring/Work-based Learning:

(1) Students may not be enrolled in cooperative vocational education programs and

Mentorship or Internship/Work-based Learning programs simultaneously in the

same semester. Students may not be enrolled in a Work-based Learning

Program and Minimum Day during the same semester.

(2) Students may not be enrolled in both Minimum Day and Mentorship during the

same semester.

4. Responsibility:

The Principal or designee is responsible for all aspects of the Minimum Day program.

5. Requirements for Participation:

Seniors may qualify for an Minimum Day school day according to the following

provisions:

a. Students must be eligible for enrolling or being enrolled in sufficient courses to

provide for their completing the requirements for high school graduation;

b. Students must have exceeded the sixteen (16) units necessary for classification as

a senior according to the following:

(1) Seventeen and one-half (17.5) units must have been completed in order for a

student to participate in Minimum Day during the first semester of the senior

year;

(2) Nineteen and one-half (19.5) units must have been completed in order for a

student to participate in Minimum Day during the second semester of the senior

year.

(3) Course/Assessment Requirements:

(a) Pre-2008-09:

Students who entered ninth grade prior to the 2008-09 school year

must have passed or be able to schedule all specified courses for high

school graduation and have posted a passing score on the Georgia High

School Graduation Test (GHSGT).

(b) 2008-09 and Subsequent Years:

Students entering ninth grade in 2008-2009 and subsequent years:

1) Must have passed a minimum of:

a) Two (2) required English/Language Arts credits:

b) Two (2) required Mathematics credits: and

c) Two (2) required Science credits.

2) Be able to schedule all specified courses for high school graduation; and

3) Have posted a passing score on the GHSGT.

(4) Cooperative Work Programs:

Students who are enrolled in cooperative work programs and planning to take

only 2½ units per semester their senior year must:

(a) Have earned seventeen and one-half (17.5) units prior to fall semester

participation to stay on track for on-time graduation. Students entering

ninth grade in 2008-2009 and subsequent years will need to pass most or

all remaining courses to accumulate sufficient units to graduate).

(b) Have earned nineteen and one-half (19.5) units prior to spring semester

participation to stay on track for on-time graduation. Students entering

ninth grade in 2008-2009 and subsequent years will need to pass most or

all remaining courses to accumulate sufficient units to graduate).

graduation with the exception of specific courses generally limited to seniors

(American Government Principles of Economics). Co-op students not

meeting these requirements must take a minimum of four (4) classes

toward graduation requirements. Students entering ninth grade in 2008-

2009 and subsequent years additionally must have passed a minimum of

two (2) required English Language Arts credits, two (2) required

Mathematics credits, and two (2) required Science credits.

(d) Students must have written permission provided by their parent(s)/

guardian to participate in this program.

6. Application:

a. Students may request approval of Minimum Day for the purpose of participating in

non-employment activities which have educational or community services value.

Approval must be granted by the Principal and the Director of Instructional

Administration. To apply for Minimum Day, students and parents/guardians must:

(1) Make a written request for the modification each semester to the Director of

Instructional Administration. The request must:

(a) Be received by the Director within 10 school days of the new semester;

(b) State the reason for the request; and

evaluate.

(2) An academic plan must be provided which verifies that the student will qualify

for graduation within the remaining amount of time normally required to

complete the diploma requirements (See Rule IKF [Graduation Requirements]).

b. The Director of Instructional Administration should consult with the Principal and

notify the student and parents/guardians of the approval or rejection of the

request.

c. Extracurriculars:

All provisions concerning extracurricular eligibility as specified in Administrative

Rule JJIC (Student Activities: Standards for Student Participation in Extracurricular

Activities) shall be applicable to students involved in Minimum Day.

7. Program Evaluation:

The Minimum Day program shall be periodically evaluated. Minimum Day shall also be

reviewed with the Georgia Department of Education on an annual basis to ensure

compliance with State Department policies and regulations.

B. EARLY RELEASE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS (EARLY RELEASE):

1. The District may schedule early release days during the school year for the purpose of

school planned and conducted staff training or school improvement

planning/assessment activities.

2. Students will be dismissed two hours early on Early Release days.

3. Early Release days will be identified on the School Year Calendar.

C. CONFERENCE WEEK:
The District shall designate one week as Parent Conference Week for elementary schools

and middle schools.

1. Students will be released approximately two hours before the end of the regular school

day in order that parent/guardian conferences can be scheduled for each student.

2. A procedure shall be established to annually assess the effectiveness of

parent/guardian-teacher conferences.

Adopted: 1/27/83
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04

Reviewed: 9/11/02

Revised: 4/28/83; 7/11/84; 8/8/84; 7/11/85; 8/27/87; 3/24/88; 10/26/89; 1/10/90; 7/14/93; 7/28/94; 8/9/95; 8/24/00; 8/13/08