Guidance

The Guidance Staff welcomes the opportunity to engage parents as they support students developing their career and/or college readiness. 

At Whittier Tech all upperclass students are assigned a guidance counselor through their vocational career path clusters. Freshman students are all assigned to the Grade 9 freshman counselor.

Counselors are available to meet with students by appointment or as needed for academic, social, or emotional issues. Counselors will also meet with every student in the spring to review and discuss class placement and schedules for the following school year.

Parents are welcome to call between 7:30 am – 2pm on school days to speak with their child’s counselor or to schedule an appointment. Please see the Guidance Counselor Assignments button below for specific contact information.

Planning your next move after graduation? There are skills that will help you thrive as you get ready to leave high school. Check out https://SetToGo.org - you'll find information, tools and guidance to help you feel Set to Go - whether you go to college or straight to a career.

Access Naviance to help plan for your student's future after high school. Scholarships, applications, and career information is at your fingertips using this family-friendly service. 

Don't have access to Naviance yet? Contact your guidance counselor directly for assistance.

View the presentation "Naviance: Using Family Connection" for more information.

PowerSchool Parent Portal Access

Whittier Tech has a parent portal into our PowerSchool school information system. Access is tied to the contact information we have on record for authorized guardians, and uses your email address as your username. You set your own password.

Alumni - transcripts can be requested from Guidance by using the button below:

Course Changes

Parent Override

It is expected that courses are chosen carefully by students with the help of their teacher and parent based on their capabilities and the ability to meet course prerequisites. Teachers make recommendations for a student’s placement based on the classroom performance of the student, the grade the student earns, and the student’s potential to be successful in the subsequent class. We believe that teachers, who see the student in their learning environment, are the best equipped to make course recommendations.

In some extenuating circumstances, parents/guardians may formally request an override of the teacher’s recommendation or eligibility requirements for a course or courses. In those instances, the student may enroll in the desired course with the understanding that the student will remain in said course for the entire school year. The student’s parent/guardian must agree to provide additional support to their child as needed in order to be successful in this course. (This may mean tutoring support beyond the classroom teacher.)

Course Recommendation Override Form

Add/Drop Process

It is the view of Whittier Tech that part of a student’s education involves learning to adjust to a variety of personalities, instructional styles, class management techniques, and course assignments. Therefore, changing student schedules should not be an impulsive exercise. To accommodate the changes of heart or career pathways, there will be a window of opportunity, where space permits, for students to change courses. A parent, student, or teacher may initiate this process and an Add/Drop Form must be secured from the student’s school counselor or classroom teacher. The completion of this form must include the signature of the parent, school counselor, classroom teacher(s), and Cluster Chair. Parents need to understand that if a change is granted the change is final and cannot revert back.

To the extent possible all course change requests should occur prior to the start of the school year.

Once the school year begins, course change requests must be submitted:

  • By the end of Term 1 for grades 10-12

  • By the progress report for Term 2 for grade 9

After this add/drop period, changes to individual schedules will be limited to special circumstances at the discretion of the administration.

The add/drop form must be requested from a teacher or counselor, and the student will be guided through the process of submission.

SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

SECTION 504 IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY IN ANY PROGRAM RECEIVING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. THE ACT DEFINES A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY AS ANYONE WHO:

  1. HAS A MENTAL OR PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS ONE OR MORE MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES (MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CARING FOR ONE’S SELF, PERFORMING MANUAL TASKS, WALKING SEEING, HEARING, SPEAKING, BREATHING, LEARNING AND WORKING);

  2. HAS A RECORD OF SUCH IMPAIRMENT; OR

  3. IS REGARDED AS HAVING SUCH AN IMPAIRMENT.

IN ORDER TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION UNDER SECTION 504, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT RECOGNIZES A RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION IN POLICIES AND PRACTICES REGARDING ITS PERSONNEL, STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ANY PERSON SOLELY DUE TO HIS/HER DISABILITY WILL KNOWINGLY BE PERMITTED IN ANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE ACT, WHICH INCLUDE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO IDENTIFY, EVALUATE, AND IF THE CHILD HAS A CURRENT DISABILITY AND IS TERMED TO BE ELIGIBLE UNDER SECTION 504, TO AFFORD ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING SECTION 504, PLEASE CONTACT THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT AT 978.373.4101 X252.