All three Coweta County high schools have adopted a modified "4 by 4" block schedule beginning this school year. Under this plan, students will register for four classes per 90-day semester. Classes will be 90 minutes in length each day, earning one credit each per semester. Students can earn a total of eight units per school year under the new plan. 

Punctual and regular daily attendance in class is vital to the success of 
any student and is more critical in block scheduling because of the 
compressed nature of instruction. To comply with local board of education policy and to ensure that students receive maximum benefit from the instructional activities, students are expected to attend class each day. 

Absences will be classified as excused or unexcused. Excused absences are those due to emergencies such as illness, death in the family, or other special circumstances such as religious holidays, serving as a page in the General Assembly, school sponsored activities, and registering to vote. Unexcused absences are all failure to attend school other than those specifically excused by the administration. Parents will be notified after the third absence each term. 

Absences and tardies will be recorded in homeroom and in each individual class period. For grading purposes, the individual class absences will be used to determine the number of days absent. Make-up work for absences must be completed according to the grading policy established by the teacher within the system and school guidelines. Both excused and unexcused absences from class will result in the loss of full credit for class participation missed unless the student makes arrangements to make up the work with each teacher within three (3) school days upon returning to school. All make-up assignments, including tests, are to be completed within a reasonable time based on the length of the absence and agreement between the teacher and student. 

In order to make up work after five days of absence in each term, the 
student must receive written permission from an administrator. A parent conference may be required at this point. The school administration may also require an excuse from a doctor, dentist, health center or court. Students with excessive absences will be referred to the school social worker and/or the appropriate legal authorities.  Individual schools or teachers may provide incentives for good attendance. 

Dr. Judy Robinson, Coweta County Schools Director of Secondary Education, reminds parents that students need to enroll as soon as possible and be present on the very first day of school. "Students who show up late," she said, " especially after Labor Day, will have missed too much school to pass." 

East Coweta High School principal Eddie Lovett adds, " It is imperative that students think about the fact that they will complete a unit of credit in one semester, whereas in the past it took the whole year to complete the same amount of work. This is possible because of the 90-minute classes.  Good attendance is critical this year. Teachers have been trained to use a variety of teaching methods designed to be effective during longer class periods. A student who chooses not to attend class will miss much more than what he or she would have missed last year. I encourage each student not to miss class."  

For more information, contact 
Andy Denny 
Director of Public Information and Staff Development 
Coweta County Schools 
P.O. Box 280 
Newnan, GA 30264 
770-254-2806 (Office)           770-2542758 (FAX) 
adenny@orwell.coweta.k12.ga.us