To clarify the student did not have the necessary prerequisite course. A prerequisite is a prior course that must be taken to be enrolled in the class.I believe that is a rule.That is how prerequisites work.

@Posterguy: This is correct!

Yes, and she KNEW she did not have them but registered for the class anyway. she had the opportunity to change that last spring. I know you are seeing this as "only one student" but it isn't. There are hundreds of students who want to make level changes but it can't be done in an instant. There is a system and it does take a few weeks. she will not die but can do things to help her transition time so she can be ontrack when the change does take place. I know it stinks...

@cheryltom: Do you work there? Just curious.

Nope, my 2 kids went there for the last 8 years but done now. I understand the entire situation. It is not as easy as "OK let's just move you to Mr. X's class". There are so many kids needing level changes and this has been the policy for years. Students are given the opportunity to make a change to their class selection in the spring and are told it will be FINAL after that time. Take the suggestions made about getting here a syllabus and book and possibly attend some of the tutoring available. I know it stinks...

@cheryltom: I'm not sure if she knew and honestly nothing is the same as when I attended High School.I will say this, whether she knew or not is not the point. Just as when our children ask to do something and we say NO! She is still a kid.If she knew, I admit I hate this situation; however, assuming she took the chance it is still admirable to me as her mother.Either way, first day both parties agreed she was in over her head on the first day of school.I understand we have a system but that's hard to tell a 16 yr old that watches others come in and out of this class. My DD isn't just worried about passing she's worried about learning. Her goal is Baylor!Very important to her to be on track.I do appreciate your advice and understanding. As the mom, it is very frustrating no more no less.

Yes it is frustrating. Just give her the suggestions listed here. BTW, what did you mean in your 5th paragraph about watching others come in and out of this class?Can you imagine the frustration for administration trying to rejocky students, classes, teachers etc. I'm sure it can be a nightmare, thus the need to take a few weeks to get it straightened out.

The student is trying to get into Baylor and not concerned about any of these other things you mentioned 'as far I can guess, nobody has died, failed, or been held back because of it. "Who is responsible for checking the students schedule in the school, or don't they do this?So again the student is responsible,but not the school?

Checking scheds is a lot easier than dealing with situations such as this.

@Posterguy: The STUDENT!!! They are being taught to be responsible! Who will check their schedule when they are in college, at a job, etc. Parents and students are told that these schedules are FINAL after a certain date. Like I said previously, I always checked my kids' schedules to make sure they were taking appropriate classes. One time my daughter wanted to make a change the first week of school and she had to wait the 2-3 weeks, it all worked out. I guarantee when she gets her course selection sheet for next year she will be very careful about the classes she selects.Can you image your child being in a class of 35 and suddenly the second or third day 5-10 more kids were thrown in there because they wanted to change levels. You would be irate. Additional class periods of certain classes need to be created and teachers hired or reassigned and this does not happen overnight. She is not the only student this is happening with.

So the school requires prerequisites (rule) to be in certain classes and no one checks them?In high school we had guidance counselors to deal with this and also the class would be flagged and you would be told to choose another.
At college if you schedule a class that requires a prerequisite and you are not qualified you are not assigned to that class.
Were 5 to 10 kids placed in this class who were not supposed to be?
Checking scheds is a lot easier than dealing with situations such as this.

@PosterguyIn the past parents, counselors, teachers, and students were all involved in the course selection process. That is no longer the case. The kids use to bring home course selection cards, have parents signs them, and then the counselors would sit down with them to input the schedule into the system. That allowed counselors the opportunity to talk to kids about their selections. Unfortunately a few years ago the district started using Bridges. It is a program that involves career suggestions, interests, and it's what the kids use to choose their courses. Now the kids go to a computer lab, choose their courses, the the course list is printed out and sent home. The kids are given until a certain time in late Spring to make changes before their selections are finalized. The district has now put the responsibility on the students and parents to make sure the correct classes are chosen. The counselors have almost been completely removed from this entire process. It is all computer based now.

Wow- And this is the result thank you for the info.

@Posterguy: I don't know, I was merely doing a hypothetical situation. My comment was to ask you if you would be OK with your child being in a class of 35 students (already a very large class size) and then over the course of 2-3 days having 5-10 more kids added to it because they decided they wanted to change levels. Do you want your child in an over-crowded classroom with kids having to sit on the floor or counters? I don't work anywhere in the school district so have no idea how many kids signed up for this particular class that should not have.

I have a current Humble ISD student telling me that in the spring the students go to a computer lab to choose their courses. There is a counselor present while they are using the Bridges program to guide them and make sure they are choosing the courses that will work the best for them. The program gives course options that relate to certain careers or interests, and also tells the student what credits they need to complete for that year. When the student is done selecting their classes for the next year the counselor will look over it with them before they leave. Also, if the students counselor sees any issue with their courses later on they will call them down to the office to go over it and talk about possible better options. Classes can be changed until the last day of school, and at events such as flight/stang/panther camp the student receives their schedule for the following year. Counselors are present at camp to help resolve any issue with the schedule. So the program does not alert any adult to a prerequisite requirement?It should flag those classes and tell the student to see the counselor.The counselor should then check the prereq. requirement.Or even better the program should not give the student the option to choose a course that they do not have a prerequisite for.