Mt. Hope High School student athletes heard word of a liberal new academic policy  regarding participation in extra-curricular activities Monday night, during a student athlete orientation in the high school auditorium.

However, within 24 hours, that new policy was retracted.

The would-be policy stated that students would be able to fail two classes and still participate in extra-curricular activities. This was a change from the previous policy, in which students could only fail one class and continue to participate.

"I think this was just a miscommunication in an effort to notify the students and parents of the new proposed policy before the start of the school, especially," said Mario Andrade, assistant superintendent of the Bristol Warren Regional School District. "Especially the desire to ensure the necessary support plans for students failing or in danger of failing as outlined in the new draft."

Several months ago, the school committee was approached by members of the high school's school improvement team - SIT - about an official policy regarding class failures and extracurricular participation. The school committee did not make an official policy, but made their opinion known on the matter, said Marjorie McBride, school committee member. The school committee was not in favor of increasing the class fail limit.

"When changes are made to the handbook, the school committee sees it," Ms. McBride said during a school committee policy subcommittee meeting Monday night. "And we did not see this. It was just announced. I don't appreciate this."

The high school continued to work on revising the policy and the result was distributed Monday night.

"The high school will be disseminating a clarification letter," Mr. Andrade said. "Until the new version is adopted by the school committee, the high school will follow the former policy."

SIT is comprised of 14 members, including teachers, parents and members of the Parent-Teacher Organization.