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Board revises senior-flex policy to tighten eligibility for shortened second semester
Summary
After lengthy discussion about credits, work-based learning and funding, the board approved a revision to policy 4.605 to make 'senior flex' status more rigorous and earned, while noting state graduation-credit requirements remain controlling.
The Chester County Schools board voted to revise district policy 4.605, tightening criteria for the senior-flex status that allows eligible students a shortened second semester.
Administrators introduced the revision as an effort to ensure the status is earned, not routinely used to let students skip days of school. Coach Merly told the board that under the previous practice many seniors left campus early: "Out of our 174 seniors, 137 of them were either coming and go or early graduates," and said that pattern reduced enrollment in dual-enrollment and upper-level CTE classes.
Board members asked how work-based learning and dual-enrollment count toward the flex status. Administrators clarified that properly coded work-based-learning classes appear on a student’s schedule and count as enrollment; by contrast, students who simply take paid jobs without being enrolled in a coded work-based-learning class are not counted and reduce funding for the district.
Administrators also stressed that state law controls minimum graduation-credit requirements and that the board cannot impose higher state-level requirements by local policy; the revision was framed to respect that constraint while incentivizing students to pursue dual-enrollment and structured work-based learning.
After discussion, a director moved to revise policy 4.605; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The transcript records a voice approval but does not include a roll-call tally. Board members said the change is intended to preserve funding and educational opportunities, not to deny diplomas to students who meet the state minimum.
The policy change takes effect on board adoption; staff will follow existing procedures for communicating the change to students, counselors and families.
