Hernando board reviews 2025–26 student progression plan updates, debates Val/Sal disqualification language

Hernando County Schools staff presented proposed revisions to the 2025–26 Student Pupil Progression Plan on a workshop agenda item, outlining changes to placement, attendance and graduation‑related language and seeking the board’s tentative approval.

The packet of edits includes specific placement guidance (kindergarten and first‑grade placement based on transcripts or academic history; absent records, placement by age), clarified attendance and tardy thresholds for extracurricular eligibility, new language tying habitual truancy to state public‑assistance consequences, a requirement that returning home‑education students enroll full time by Oct. 1 of their final academic year to be eligible for a district diploma, and updates to dual‑enrollment and CTE provisions.

John Morris, director of secondary programs, summarized the changes and told the board the written edits would be cleaned up in a final draft. He said placement language for early grades will be “based on transcripts and or their academic history. Absent academic records, students will be placed age appropriately.” Morris also described attendance thresholds for extracurricular eligibility: secondary students “must not have more than nine unexcused absences per semester in each class period or more than four for schools on a block schedule” and added that elementary students should not be disciplined with in‑school or out‑of‑school suspension for excessive tardies caused by parents’ transportation problems.

The draft adds a…