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Faribault Middle School Enriched Course Policy and Expectations

Faribault Middle School is proud to offer enriched courses in Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. These courses are designed to provide advanced learning opportunities for students who demonstrate high academic performance, strong work habits, and exemplary behavior. Below are the policies and expectations for enrollment in these courses:

Eligibility Criteria

1. Academic Performance: Students must have earned an A in regular core classes and/or an A / B in an enriched course during the previous school year / current semester.  A key component of enriched courses is participation, particularly in group discussions and collaborative work. Students should be willing to put themselves out there—sharing ideas, asking questions, and working together to deepen understanding.
    
2. Work Completion: Students should have no missing assignments in the current or previous academic year.
    
3. Behavior: Students must exhibit positive classroom behavior and maintain a respectful learning environment. As we refine the expectations for our enriched courses, we want to emphasize the importance of SOAR (Safe, On Task, Accountable, and Respectful) in student participation and engagement.
    
4. Attendance and Punctuality: Students must have a strong attendance record with minimal tardies.
    
5. While Grades, FastBridge, and MCA Assessment scores are important factors in gaining access to enriched classes, Other Key Considerations include daily effort, character, and a student's willingness to challenge themselves.
    
6. Enriched Course Application Requirement
   1. Students wishing to enroll in Enriched Math, Language Arts, Science, or Social Studies will be required to write a short essay/question. This essay will be reviewed by the Enriched Teacher, who will reflect on the student's readiness for the course. The essay should highlight the student's academic strengths, work ethic, and motivation for taking an enriched class. This process helps ensure that students are prepared for the challenges and expectations of an advanced learning environment.

Teacher Recommendation

• Teachers will review student performance and recommend eligible students for enrollment in enriched courses.
• Families will receive a letter informing them of the recommendation, along with details about the course expectations and commitment.

Enriched Course Load Review

• Students wishing to enroll in more than three enriched classes will have their request reviewed by the Enriched Committee. This review process ensures that the course load is a good fit for the student’s academic strengths, workload management, and overall well-being. The committee will consider factors such as grades, assessment scores, daily effort, and participation. Our goal is to set students up for success while maintaining a balanced and challenging academic experience.

Course Review Process

• Students not meeting the expectations (semester) may be reviewed by their teachers and administration. Parents will be contacted if adjustments to the student’s schedule are necessary.
• By upholding these standards, we aim to foster a challenging and rewarding learning experience for students ready to take their education to the next level. If you have questions about the enriched course program, please feel free to contact the school office.

 

Faribault Middle School Student Schedule Change Process

To ensure that all schedule changes are handled fairly, efficiently, and with the best interests of students in mind, Faribault Middle School has developed the following process for handling schedule change requests.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Request

Schedule changes will be approved for the following reasons: 

• Inappropriate Placement 
• Class Imbalance 
• Conflicts in Schedule 
• Schedule Error
• FMS Staff Request: Initiated by a teacher when they believe a change would benefit the student academically or behaviorally.  Students would remain with the same teacher on most occasions, only period changes would be approved. 

Schedule changes will not be approved for the following reasons: 

• Friend Grouping 
• Switch Lunch Period 
• Class Period Preference

Special Circumstances:

• Parent/Guardian or Student Request: Schedule changes should only be requested in rare circumstances where new medical or legal challenges may occur. All requests must be discussed with a school counselor first, and administrative approval is required. Please contact your counselor for further guidance.

Step 2: Submission of Request

All schedule change requests must be submitted through the proper channels to ensure they are documented and reviewed.

• FMS Staff Requests: Submit a detailed written request to the counselor, outlining the reasons for the change and how it benefits the student.  Look to different hours, not a different teacher.
• Parent/Guardian or Student Request: Submit the request via email, phone call, or written note to the student's assigned academic counselor.  Meet with the counselor to discuss the reasons for the request. All requests must be discussed with a school counselor first, and administrative approval is required.  

Step 3: Initial Review

The counselor will review the request to determine feasibility based on the following:

• Class availability and size limitations.
• Student academic, social, and behavioral needs.
• Teacher recommendations.
• Compliance with school policies and graduation or promotion requirements.

Step 4: Stakeholder Consultation

• Teacher Input: Counselors will consult with the student’s current and potential teachers to assess the impact of the change.
• Parent Communication: Parents/guardians will be informed of the request and provided with an opportunity to share input before any changes are made.

Step 5: Administrative Approval

The counselor will present the proposed change to the administration (assistant principal or principal) for final approval.

Step 6: Communication of Decision

• Approved Changes: The student, parent/guardian, and all impacted teachers will receive notification of the approved change and the new schedule.
• Denied Changes: The student and parent/guardian will be informed of the denial and the reasoning behind the decision. Counselors may work with the family to identify alternative solutions if applicable.

Step 7: Implementation

Once approved, the schedule change will be processed in Infinite Campus, and the student will begin their new schedule at the agreed-upon time (typically at the start of a new quarter, semester, or Monday if immediate).

Additional Notes

• Timing: Schedule changes are typically only allowed during the first two weeks of a quarter/semester, except in extraordinary circumstances.
• Grade Impact: Students are responsible for completing missed work in the new class if applicable.
• Conflict Resolution: If disagreements arise regarding a schedule change, the principal will meditate and make the final decision.

By following this process, we aim to ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness in meeting the academic and personal needs of our students.