General Information

As we embark on the exciting journey of preparing for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, we understand the importance of selecting the right courses for your child. This decision is a crucial step that lays the foundation for their future educational and career goals.

We believe in the significance of parental involvement in this process, and we are here to guide you every step of the way. To assist you and your child in making informed decisions, we have organized various activities:

1. Classroom Discussions: Engage in discussions about course offerings in each academic area.
2. Special Presentations: Attend presentations by teachers and department coordinators to gain insights into specific courses and programs.
3. Evening Meeting: Join us for an evening meeting where we will provide an overview of the educational program.
4. Conferences with Counselors: Conferences with school counselors to discuss recommended course selections at the request of the parent and/or student.

It's important to approach this decision with care. While we understand that students may evolve over time, their study habits and skills are not likely to change drastically over the summer or with a grade level transition. We encourage you to choose a schedule that is challenging enough to foster academic growth, yet not so overwhelming that it leads to discouragement.
Your child will actively participate in choosing a program of study, and we value your input as parents. Teacher recommendations remain a reliable criterion for course selection, supported by achievement testing as a placement indicator.

In the coming days, you will receive a course recommendation form for your approval. Before signing and approving the recommended course of study, we recommend carefully reviewing the course selections, related guidelines, and our Schedule Change Policy.

Thank you for your collaboration in ensuring the best educational experience for your child. We look forward to working together to make the upcoming school year a successful and fulfilling one.
 

The purpose of the following information is to communicate the process that is to be followed when a parent/student requests to schedule a course that is different from the course recommended by the student’s current teacher.   Regardless of how a student is enrolled in a course; Teacher recommendation or Parent override, the success of each student is the goal of all stakeholders.

On the printed recommendation form, parents will cross out the teacher recommended course and write in the course they want their child to take.  Parents must initial next to the change, sign and date the form.  You are encouraged to make a copy or take a picture of the form for your records.  The original form will be returned to the school and the change will be made within the system.  Later in the process parents will be prompted once again to review their child’s courses in Home Access Center (HAC) to ensure the courses for their child are correct.
 

It is essential students and parents make firm choices during program planning time. Serious attention should be given to guidelines described in this booklet. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are asked to approve course selections by signing the Student Course Selection sheet. All changes requested after this must be in writing (from the parent) and processed through the counselor.  Staffing and master schedule implications require minimizing course changes.   All requests for course changes must be made in writing prior to July 1.    

Please note requests for course changes will not be made until the end of the first marking period.  Course changes may not be able to be made due to the impact on class size.  Final approval will only be granted upon administrative approval and space availability.  Students should be prepared to remain in courses that have been approved by a parent.  

Every effort will be made to honor all requested courses. However, due to the complexity of the scheduling process, honoring all requests may not be possible.
 

Because parents may employ advocates or private tutors to assist their children with academic studies or placement, Council Rock wishes to work with these individuals in any reasonable accommodation. However, we do require the presence of a parent(s) at all conferences with teachers whether initiated by parents or the advocates/tutors themselves. A counselor or administrator may also be of assistance at the conference.

Council Rock School District has enjoyed a successful history of involvement with our community. Significant community service projects have taken place through student service organizations, student government and school projects and individual student initiatives. Students are encouraged to voluntarily participate in the LINCS (Learning in Neighborhood Community Service) program. Students in grade 8 may complete five optional hours during the school year. Students who complete a minimum of 60 hours of community service between grade 8 and the end of grade 12 will receive formal district recognition. It is our intent to encourage students to participate in an activity to which Council Rock is strongly committed.
 

Council Rock Middle Schools provide a special program for students with specific learning and developmental needs. The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will articulate the academic program and services for all classified students.  These programs include: Autistic Support, Emotional Support, Learning Support, Multiple Disabilities Support and Life Skills.
 

Pennsylvania Code (22 Pa. Code Chapter 16) recognizes that gifted students are considered to be “children with exceptionalities” under the Public School Code of 1949 and are in need of specially designed instruction. As part of this code, school districts in the state of Pennsylvania must provide specially designed instruction and educational programs to students who have been evaluated and identified as meeting the definition of mentally gifted, as guided by the aforementioned school code.

As a child with an exceptionality, the gifted student’s curriculum is appropriately modified on an individual basis through a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP.) The responsibility for the implementation of each GIEP is shared between all of a gifted student’s  teachers. A GIEP might include individualized goals related to acceleration, enrichment, and/or individualization.  In an effort to provide gifted students an opportunity to broaden and deepen their knowledge through interaction with their intellectual peers, the Council Rock School District offers these students an opportunity to select courses specifically designed for students with this designation.  Gifted students are not required to enroll in the identified courses.  However, for a student to be eligible to enroll in any of the courses listed below, the student must be identified as gifted with a GIEP that specifies their need for acceleration, enrichment, and/or individualization. 

The Council Rock School District provides gifted students at the middle school level two opportunities per grade level to enroll in a science or social studies course with their intellectual peers. For a listing of courses, please see the chart below.  For a detailed description of each course, please see the course offerings by curricular area (page numbers identified in the table of contents.)  
 

State and Federal Laws and regulations outline rights and safeguards to be followed in providing a free appropriate public education. If a family should feel that the program is not appropriate, they may initiate due process procedures by forwarding a written statement to the school district.  A request to initiate a due process hearing means that the student remains in his/her present educational placement, unless the parent and the school district both agree to a change pending resolution of differences.  Additionally, if a student has not started school at the time these due process procedures are initiated, the school district cannot deny a student admission to public school.  Before the recommended placement and program is implemented, families have the right to further discuss the recommendation.  When this discussion does not resolve differences, families have the right to request a pre-hearing conference, mediation, or an impartial due-process hearing. A combination of these alternatives may be requested through the District Office for Administrative Services.