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Governing Board Policies

Section J - Students

Policy Title: Extracurricular Activity Eligibility
Policy Code: JJJ

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Competition takes place only between teams of comparable ability as determined by age, strength, maturity, height, weight, and physical stamina of contestants.

Extracurricular Academic Eligibility Requirements for High School Participation

In order for students to participate in extracurricular activities, students must meet all academic eligibility requirements.

Requirements

  1. All students participating in extracurricular activities must pass each course the previous nine-week/semester grade interval.

  2. All students must be enrolled in the number of courses required by Governing Board Policy 5200, Graduation and Governing Board Policy 5203, Special Education Graduation Requirements unless modified by this policy.

    Students who are physically, mentally, or emotionally incapable of completing or benefiting from the course of study prescribed by the Arizona Board of Education and the Tucson Unified School District will be provided an alternative course of study developed by the Multi-Disciplinary Conference/Individual Education Plan Committee and will satisfy an individualized graduation plan. Criteria for a passing grade, which includes taking into account the needs of students placed in Special Education programs pursuant to R7-2-401, et seq., appear in Governing Board Policy 5110, Promotion and its administrative regulations. Students must be enrolled and receiving passing grades in courses which are part of a program leading to graduation as defined in Governing Board Policy 5200, Graduation, and maintaining satisfactory progress toward graduation.

  3. All entering ninth grade students, whose initial enrollment is at the beginning of the ninth grade, and who passed all their classes the last semester of eighth grade, are eligible to participate. Ninth grade students, who enroll after the beginning of the ninth grade, will be required to demonstrate passing grades in the required number of courses.

  4. Students in alternative programs must have passed all courses in which they were registered during the eligibility interval to be eligible for non-Arizona Interscholastic Association activities.

  5. The student and parents/guardians of each student who is in danger of failing during the nine-week/semester grading interval will be given notice of ineligibility immediately after four and one-half weeks of the grading interval. The notice will be given in a manner designed to maintain the privacy of each student.

    The student and the parents/guardian of each student, who is declared failing at the conclusion of the nine-week/semester grading interval, will be sent a written notice of ineligibility immediately after the nine-week/semester grading interval. Notification shall maintain the privacy of each student. Ineligibility begins the Wednesday following the nine-week/semester grading interval.

  6. Students academic eligibility will be declared at the end of the first nine weeks, first semester, third nine weeks, and second semester.

  7. Students declared ineligible will be able to regain their eligibility at the four and one-half week progress report if they are passing all classes in which they are enrolled.

  8. Passing grades shall be determined on a cumulative basis from the beginning of instruction to the recording of a final grade for the course.

  9. A student who has been declared ineligible will be offered assistance and support in making up any academic deficiencies. Each high school will be responsible for developing a support services program specifically geared towards addressing identified academic deficiencies.

  10. Any credits which are received in correspondence courses or summer school courses which count toward meeting graduation requirements and are approved by the school may be used to maintain eligibility. These credits must be posted prior to the first day of classes each nine weeks.

  11. No course in Physical Education in this school district may require participation in athletics as part of a grade for the course.

Guidelines for High School Participation

  1. All students participating in interscholastic activities must also have on file in the activities office, the following:

  • Physical Exam Card (athletics and spirit lines)

  • Parent Permission Card-Warning/Insurance Disclaimer

  • Birth Certificate

  • Emergency Card

  • "Paid" Receipts for Participation Fees

All participants must have an "Eligibility Clearance Slip" prior to participation in any tryouts, practice or games, or before receiving any equipment or awards. It is the responsibility of the coach or sponsor to assure that participants have obtained an "Eligibility Clearance Slip" from the Activities office. The Assistant Principal for Activities will be responsible for declaring a student eligible.

Any change in eligibility status occurs on the Wednesday following the last day of the previous grading interval.

NOTE: Any credits received in correspondence courses or summer school courses which count toward meeting the graduation requirements and are approved by the school may be used to maintain eligibility. These credits must be posted prior to the first day of classes each nine weeks.

  1. Activities governed by high school academic eligibility guidelines:

All interscholastic activities which are of a competitive nature, and involve more than one school where a championship, winner, or rating is determined; and all those endeavors of a continuous and ongoing nature for which no credit is earned in meeting graduation or promotional requirements, and are organized, planned, or sponsored by the District consistent with District policy. This includes activities listed below:

  1. All athletic teams

  2. Non-athletic sanctioned interscholastic activities which compete:

    Academic Decathlon

    AIASA - American Industrial Arts Student Association Chess

    DECA - Distributive Education Club of America

    FBLA - Future Business Leaders of America

    FFA - Future Farmers of America

    FHA - Future Homemakers of America

    HERO - Home Economics Related Occupations

    JAG - Jobs For Arizona Graduates

    Music - (Band, Orchestra, Choir)

    ROTC - Reserve Officers Training Corp

    Speech/Debate

    Theater - Drama

    VICA - Vocational Industrial Club of America

  3. All non-credit bearing performance groups:

    Spirit Line Wrestling Pep Squad

  4. Sanctioned interscholastic activities which compete, non-athletic sanctioned activities, and performing groups may vary from school to school. Please check with the administrator for activities at your school.

  1. Any ineligible participant will be suspended from further games/performances until eligibility requirements are met. The use of an ineligible participant will result in the following:

  1. Violator suspended from the squad, team, group, etc.

  2. Forfeiture of contest and/or award; medals, certificates, etc., relinquished.

  1. The District shall consider the cultural traditions of students when establishing or enforcing rules related to participation in extracurricular activities.

Extracurricular Academic Eligibility Requirements for Middle School Participation

  1. If a participant earns a grade of "F" for two consecutive weeks, he/she shall not be eligible for participation in organized extracurricular activities for a minimum of a two-week period.

    Criteria for a passing grade, which includes taking into account the needs of students placed in Special Education programs pursuant to R7-2-401 et seq., appear in Governing Board Policy 5110, Promotion and its administrative regulations.

    1. All students at each middle school, including sixth grade students, are governed by this policy.

    2. Students must be enrolled and receiving passing grades in courses which are part of a program leading to attainment of an Eighth Grade Promotion Certificate as defined by the regulations of the State Board of Education and the District Governing Board policies and administrative regulations. Students must be making satisfactory progress toward completing the requirements of an Eighth Grade Promotion Certificate.

  2. Notification of a student's ineligibility will follow these procedures:

     

    1. Teachers will report a student's "F" grade on a weekly basis during the season. The warning will be submitted in writing to the assistant principal and coach/sponsor.

    2. The student and parents/guardian of each student who is in danger of failing will be given notice of ineligibility and have one week to resolve the difficulty. The student may participate in the extracurricular activity. Notification shall maintain the privacy of each student.

    3. If, at the two-week interval, the problem is not resolved, the student becomes ineligible and may not participate in the extracurricular activity for a minimum of two weeks. He or she will be expected to attend the extracurricular activity. Parents/guardian and the student will be notified through a written notice of ineligibility by the administrator. Notification shall protect the privacy of the student. Ineligibility begins the first day of the subsequent two-week grading interval.

  3. Classroom attendance on the day of an extracurricular activity is required except in the case of a valid excuse, and at the discretion of the school administrator. The validity of the excuse must be determined by a school administrator before the absence occurs. Illness, staying at home to rest, or leaving school early for the purpose of resting before participation in an extracurricular activity will not be considered valid excuses.

  4. The penalty for violation of this policy will result in forfeiting the game the ineligible player competed in, and/or relinquishing any medals, awards, certificates, etc.

  5. Activities governed by Middle School Academic Eligibility Guidelines:All interscholastic activities which are of a competitive nature, and involve more than one school where a championship, winner, or rating is determined; and all those endeavors of a continuous and ongoing nature for which no credit is earned in meeting graduation or promotional requirements, and are organized, planned, or sponsored by the District consistent with District policy. This includes activities listed below:

    1. All athletic teams

    2. Non-athletic sanctioned interscholastic activities which compete

    3. All performance groups for which no credit is earned

    4. Sanctioned interscholastic activities which compete, performing groups and non-athletic sanctioned activities may vary from school to school. Please check with your school administrator for activities within your school.

  6. A student who has been declared ineligible will be offered assistance and support in making up any academic deficiencies. Each middle school will be responsible for developing a support service program specifically geared towards addressing identified academic deficiencies.

  7. The District shall consider the cultural traditions of students when establishing or enforcing rules related to participation in extracurricular activities.

  8. No course in Physical Education in this school district may require participation in athletics as part of a grade for the course.

    The Tucson Unified School District, while providing extracurricular/interscholastic activities, will ensure the health and safety of all participants. To ensure this:

Each student will:

  1. Pass a yearly physical exam prior to participation in any activity.

  2. Bring a written release from a doctor to the school's athletic trainer when that participant has been treated by a doctor.

  3. Fill out the appropriate emergency card and parent permit card, both with parent signature.

Each coach will:

  1. Provide for the safety and welfare of all participants.

  2. Make participants aware of the inherent danger of participating in activities.

  3. Be qualified in first aid treatment and have current CPR certification.

  4. Teach the importance of maintaining body fluids as a matter of life and death. This information will also be stressed with parents during meetings. The responsibility for instruction and reinforcement of hydration shall fall to the head coach with aid from assistant coaches and trainers.

  5. Provide water breaks sufficient to maintain regular replacement of body fluids during all practice sessions and sports activities.

  6. Be responsible for monitoring all athletes to make certain each one is replenishing body fluids.

  7. Keep all participants' emergency cards with emergency telephone numbers in training kit during practice and games.

  8. Inspect playing area and equipment and ensure safety of both.

  9. Plan and monitor organized practices that will include proper conditioning, warm-ups, and instruction of fundamentals.

  10. Supervise all activities related to his/her team or group.

  11. Be responsible for providing Type II trainer coverage. (Outlined in TUSD Interscholastics Activities Handbook Emergency Procedures.)

  12. Work with their trainer to maintain appropriate training supplies in their first aid kit. (Outlined in TUSD Interscholastics Activities Handbook Emergency Procedures.)

The District will:

  1. Provide Type I coverage (with trainer). (Outlined in TUSD Interscholastics Activities Handbook Emergency Procedures.)

Adopted: August 16, 1960
Revision: January 15, 1974
Revision: January 14, 1986
Revision: July 14, 1987
Revision: October 27, 1987
Revision: June 13, 1989
Revision: August 7, 1990
Revision: September 1, 1992
Revision: September 9, 2008 (numeric to letter format only)

LEGAL REF.: A.R.S. §15-341(A)(28), Powers and Duties of School District Governing Boards
A.R.S. §15-705, Extracurricular activities; requirements
Arizona Administrative Code, Rule R7-2-808, Pupil Participation In Extracurricular Activities
Attorney General Opinion 91-006

CROSS REF: IKE - Promotion
IKAB - Report Cards/Progress Reports
IKF - Graduation

Replaces TUSD Policy # 6600