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Class Change Policy

Class Change Policy

Oakland Tech makes every effort to schedule students into appropriate classes which meet  high school graduation requirements, a-g eligibility criteria and for which the student is properly prepared.

However, we recognize that issues may arise with a student’s scheduled classes due to extenuating circumstances. Oakland Tech’s Administration encourages students, parents, and teachers to communicate and meet for at least one parent-teacher conference before any changes are made and an issue is brought to an Assistant Principal or the Principal. Note: Zoom (online) parent-teacher meetings are viable means of meeting as well as in-person conferences.

Please read the following policy carefully before requesting a change.

First Three Weeks of School

Students may not change classes for teacher or period preferences. Class changes will be made in the first three weeks of the semester by counselors to:

  • rectify scheduling errors,
  • address graduation and/or A­-G requirements,
  • balance classes.

No class changes will be made after the third week of the semester except by petition.

Fourth Week of School to Week After First Marking Period

Class changes between the fourth week of school and the week following the first marking period may be made by petition for two reasons only:

  • lack of requisite preparation in the subject area (as determined by school faculty); and
  • hardship, such as long-­term illness, family trauma, or other potentially debilitating circumstances.

An administrator will make the decision about the petition on the basis of requisite preparation or hardship in consultation with the student, parent/guardian, counselor and teachers and by examination of transcript and test scores. The first priority is to hold students to the expectations and workload of the current class.

After the petition deadline, withdrawal from classes will result in an “F” grade for the semester. Requests based on extenuating circumstances occurring after the deadline must be documented and presented to the student’s grade level administrator. Appeal of a denied class withdrawal petition must be made directly to the principal.

Class withdrawal policy

After the petition deadline, withdrawal from any class without formal permission will result in an “F” grade for the semester.

Requests based on extenuating circumstances occurring after the deadline must be documented and presented to the student’s grade-level administrator. If a request is denied, the student must appeal directly to the principal.

Second Semester

Students who earn a “D” or “F” in the first semester of any other class may petition to change to a lower level of the same class or to drop the class in the second semester if it is not a graduation requirement. The deadline for this type of petition is the end of the first week of the second semester.

OUSD regulation AR5121

A student who drops a course during the first six weeks of the semester may do so without any entry on his/her permanent record card. A student who drops a course after the first six weeks of the semester shall receive an F grade on his/her permanent record, unless otherwise decided by the principal or designee because of extenuating circumstances. 

It is the intent of this policy to hold students to high expectations, while taking into consideration extenuating circumstances. The teaching faculty and school community as a whole will provide high support to all students in holding them to these high expectations, and they will make every effort to schedule students into appropriate classes.