Can parents override school (not MCPS) requirement?

[Anonymous]

Our HS has added a new prerequisite that is not from the county. Can we request that our child take the course anyways? He would have been able to last year.. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Have you asked and been told no, or were you just told a blanket "Students cannot take X unless Y" ?

[Anonymous]

Have been told no..

[Anonymous]

Stop saying "anyways." It isn't a word. Teenage girls use it so it has become commonly used. It's just "anyway." It gives you less credibility if you want to go up against the school if you are using words like that.

Back to your question. I think schools should be allowed to implement their own rules but that doesn't mean I wouldn't fight them if I thought they didn't work for my child.

MCPS makes a lot of allowances for kids who are struggling. If your child isn't, they tend to dismiss most concerns. Make sure you have your facts, you anticipate what they will say (what else will your child be doing at this time) and make an appointment to go speak to the Principal.

I see lots of parents at my child's school who tell me how many problems they have but it never occurs to them to talk to the Principal. In my experience, the Principal and VP usually are of no help. However, my approach is one where I do tons of research and then my plan is that if I know I'm right, I make it very time consuming for the other person to not do what I ask. They usually give up and give in. That said, you have to make sure you are right or you just look like an idiot and they will dismiss any concerns going forward.

[Anonymous]

I've had MCPS waive prerequisites for MS but then didn't give my son HS credit for the class. It wasn't a problem so I didn't pursue the credit.