Sometimes events or situations in a student’s life may cause the student to experience academic, behavioral, or emotional struggles. The response to the event or situation may trigger the desire or need for a temporary placement at Heather Ridge School (HRS).
Frederick County Public School students can attend HRS in a variety of ways. A student’s comprehensive school can make a request for Superintendent or voluntary transfer, interim alternative education setting process (IAES) Reg. No. 400-17, reportable offenses off school campus Reg. No. 400-60, Re-enrollment after withdrawing from school Reg. No. 400-07, expulsion or reciprocal placement.
For various reasons students may struggle at their comprehensive school causing parents to choose for their child to attend HRS through the Superintendent transfer process. At a meeting with the Director of Student Services, the student and family discuss the need for enrollment at HRS. The timeline for enrollment is established at this meeting and is generally for one semester.
After HRS and the comprehensive school have discussed previous interventions, HRS may decide to have a family come in for a tour while school is in session and attend a collaborative meeting with administration, the program specialist, and the school therapist. Depending on factors such as enrollment, needs discussed in the meeting and needs of the family the student could be granted the voluntary transfer to HRS.
Students with an individual education plan (IEP) can be placed at HRS through the interim alternative education setting process (IAES). This is a 45-day placement decision made at an IEP meeting with central office. At the end of the 45 days another IEP meeting with central office is held to determine appropriate placement.
Students who are enrolled in HRS because of a 400-60 are enrolled for legal reasons. Outcomes from the court determine when the student is eligible to return to a comprehensive school. You may view regulation 400-60 at www.fcps.org for questions.
Students wishing to enroll in FCPS after withdrawing from school will enroll at Heather Ridge School on a probationary basis. As a student wishing to re-enroll after withdrawing from school, they must successfully complete this probationary placement prior to transitioning back to the appropriate comprehensive high school. If the student accrues an increased number of consecutive absences, they could be withdrawn from Heather Ridge School.
When students are expelled from school they can be placed at HRS by the Director of Student Services. The placement allows students to continue receiving educational supports and appropriate behavioral support to promote successful return to a students’ comprehensive school.
Finally, a student can attend HRS through a reciprocal placement. This is when a student attended an alternative school outside of Frederick County, but has relocated to Frederick County. Progress is monitored regarding continued placement or transition to a comprehensive school.