General Guidance/Information

Guidance on Accelerated Withdrawal

     This memo (click memo image on right) serves to provide guidance on early withdrawal of students with full credit for the semester or year. DoDDS policy is that students withdrawing from school before the end of the semester may be granted credit for an accelerated study program, outlined by the teacher involved, providing that the withdrawal date is no earlier than 20 school days before the end of the semester. Students meeting conditions of the accelerated program are to be granted semseter grades and credits. The acceleration date for DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam first semester is December 13, 2007, and the second semseter date is May 14, 2008. While DoDDS policy on this issue is stated in the Administrators' Manual, questions have arisen regarding the application of this to family plans for vacation as well as for withdrawal prior to the 20-day limit.

     The provision for permitting the early withdrawal of students with full Carnegie credit was based on careful consideration of the unique circumstances found in the DoDDS system. It is recognized that due to military necessity, families are occasionally required to move prior to the end of the semester or school year, and children should not be penalized for this. The 20-day limit provides reasonable flexibility without compromising academic standards or placing the student in an untenable position in regard to mastery of curriculum content. The provision was not intended for the convenience of family travel, visits, or other dicretionary resons. The policy therefore requires that students present verification of date of their sponsr's departure, i.e., Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or other official orders, to school officials in order to receive consideration for full academic credit. Students who withdraw prior to the 20-day limit receive a "withdrawal" grade rather than a final grade.