Anonymous
08/07/2023 18:13
Subject: Leave of absence or similar for a HS student
Anonymous wrote:Posting for a friend:
A HS student is planning to go on a foreign exchange program for a year. As they are getting ready, a severe and life-threatening illness hits their family. The current plan is for a student to still go and hope that the situation is stable. Given the uncertainty, the student may potentially need to come back home mid-year. The student planned to be abroad this year and would otherwise be a senior. Having to re-start school mid-year can be difficult and impact the student's ability to study and complete their senior year. Do you know of any options that would allow this student to take a leave from school or do something alternative (e.g., virtual school) if they were to return mid-semester. Some option to allow the student to focus on their family and then re-enter school next semester or (preferably) next year.
Another teacher here. This process is not making sense. They ARE a senior, whether or not they are overseas or in US. The question is whether or not they have the credits to graduate. From what you’ve said here, I’m wondering if the student is trying to avoid graduating in 2024 and is using the year abroad to stall, and then come back and graduate in 2025. Is the plan to apply to colleges this fall (2023) or next (2024)? You need to tell us more clearly what the original plan was and what the goals would be if student returns mid- year. Don’t presume a solution- there’s a lot of possibilities.
Anonymous
08/07/2023 11:39
Subject: Leave of absence or similar for a HS student
Anonymous wrote:This sounds like it might be the kind of thing you're thinking of? https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/onlinelearning/courses/pathway/.
But your post isn't clear about the foreign exchange program: would he be getting MCPS credits for some sort of schooling overseas? If not, how does he plan to graduate if he's able to stay the full year as scheduled? This seems really unusual, so there's likely something we're missing here.
Honestly, I'd suggest asking his current/previous high school counselor, since they'd know best about requirements and timings and options within MCPS.
If not returning, the student plans to come back for the senior year next year. We are also checking in with the school, hoped to find some folks here who were in situations where they needed and used some of these options.