PTHS Student Handbook 2021-2022

40 The Superintendent of schools may waive the eight (8) course requirement only when there are extreme financial, economic or personal circumstances warranting such a waiver. The superintendent will request high school administration, counseling department, and driver education teachers to review the circumstances surrounding the waiver request and submit a written request within five (5) school days of the receipt of the recommendation. DRIVER EDUCATION BEHIND THE WHEEL (BTW) Once students have successfully completed the driver education course at Pontiac Township High School, they can be enrolled in the Study Hall/Behind the Wheel course. Driver Education classroom is a PTHS graduation requirement, however Behind the Wheel is not. Students who are under 18 years of age are required by IL state law to pass both classroom and BTW in order to obtain an IL driver’s license. Students, who are 18 years and older, only need to pass the classroom experience in order to obtain an IL driver’s license. Students wishing to enroll in this course must meet the following criteria: The student must be enrolled in an Academic Learning Center, Band Academic Learning Center or Resource course. Students enroll in the course during the course selection process with their PTHS Guidance Counselor. Students are placed in various sections throughout the year based on birthdays. Every effort is made to ensure students have completed both the classroom and BTW experience before their 16th birthday, but this is not always possible. While students will not be driving every day during BTW, the student is expected to have his/her driving permit with him/her each day at school. Refusing to drive and/or lack of a permit are all grounds for removal from BTW with a failure. BTW teachers will provide a general driving schedule to the students, but students need to be ready to drive each and every day. Failure to be prepared to drive on 2 or more days will be grounds for removal from BTW. Attendance is vital during the BTW experience due to State of IL time requirements. Students may be removed from BTW if attendance is poor during their BTW course. Students need to be prepared for their BTW experience. Students and parents are expected to complete 25 hours of the required 50 hours of driving BEFORE students begin driving with PTHS BTW teacher. Failure to do so may result in the student being removed from BTW for the semester with a failure. A student that fails BTW two times is no longer eligible to drive with our BTW instructors. If students are removed from either classroom or BTW courses, fees will be charged for each additional attempt. Students who receive a free and/or reduced lunch waiver will only have their classroom and BTW fee waived/reduced during their first attempt. EARLY GRADUATION Each individual request for early graduation will be reviewed and judged on the merit of the situation by the Superintendent or Designee. In order for students to be granted the opportunity to graduate early they must have been a student at PTHS for at least three consecutive years. Procedural steps to request early graduation are as follows: 1. Letter to Guidance Department from student and parents/guardians stating specific reason for early graduation request. 2. Confirmation by Guidance Department that graduation requirements will be met. 3. Conference with Superintendent or Designee to review criteria and rationale for request.