Board Policy IDE Co-Curricular Activities - Current

                                                                                               Board Policy Manual
                                                                                       DeKalb County School District

 Board Policy IDE: Co-Curricular Activities                                                               Status: ADOPTED

 Original Adopted Date: 09/11/2000 | Last Reviewed Date: 09/11/2000


MISSION: To ensure that all students who participate in interscholastic activities maintain successful academic
achievement.
The DeKalb County Board of Education recognizes the importance of offering a comprehensive, balanced school
program to all students attending the public schools of the DeKalb County School District. The DeKalb County
School System supports the academic curriculum by making available to students a variety of extracurricular
activities.
   I. Definitions
      For the purpose of this policy, the terms listed below shall be defined as follows:

         A. Competitive Interscholastic Activities
            Any school-sponsored program involving competition between/among individuals or groups
            representing two or more schools. Cheerleading is included in this definition.
         B. Carnegie Unit
            A Carnegie unit is a course credit granted in grades 9 12 based on 150-clock hours unit of credit.
         C. High School
            High school is defined as grades 9-12.

  II. Requirements
         A. Student Eligibility
                1. For determining student eligibility, the grading period will be a semester. The length of the
                   designated grading period shall also be the minimum length of the ineligibility period.

                2. Students participating in competitive interscholastic activities in grades 6​10 must take six (6)
                   subjects and pass five (5) subjects in the semester immediately preceding participation. Students
                   participating in extracurricular activities in grades 11-12 must take at least five (5) subjects and
                   pass five (5) subjects, except students in vocational work-study programs who must take six (6)
                   subjects and pass five (5), in the semester preceding participation.

                3. All students participating in competitive interscholastic activities in grades 6-10 must take six (6)
                   subjects during the quarter of participation. All students participating in any extracurricular
                   activities in grades 11-12 must take at least five (5) subjects, except students enrolled in a
                   vocational work-study program who must take six (6) subjects, during the quarter of participation.
                4. Students in grades 10-12 must also meet the following minimal requirements for graduation:
                    Second-year students must have earned three Carnegie units leading toward graduation. Third-
                    year students must have earned nine Carnegie units leading toward graduation. Fourth-year
                    students must have earned 15 Carnegie units leading toward graduation. Promotion requirements
                    for Georgia School Association activities must be met by participating students.
                5. Students in grades 6-8 must meet grade promotion requirements according to Board promotion
                   policies.
                6. Ineligible students are prohibited from practicing, traveling, or trying out for a competitive
                   interscholastic team.

                7. Retention of students for athletic purposes (red shirting) is prohibited.
        B. Time Restrictions
               1. Competitive interscholastic activities and all individual and group practice for these activities by
                  students in grades 6-12 must be conducted outside the six-hour academic school day.
               2. Varsity and junior varsity basketball games may be played only one day or night each week
                  preceding a school day. The first game of a two-game set must begin at or before 6 p.m. Only two
                  games may be played after 6 p.m. If only one game is played, it must begin at or before 6 p.m.;
                  tournaments are excluded from this restriction.

               3. For students in grades 6-8, group and individual practice for any extracurricular activity on a day
                  preceding a school day may not begin prior to the end of the regular six-hour academic school day
                  and must end by 7 p.m.
               4. Only one day or night each week preceding a school day may be used to schedule a competitive
                  interscholastic activity in grades 6-8; tournaments are excluded from this restriction. The activity
                  must be held outside the six-hour academic school day and must be completed by 7 p.m.
        C. Seasonal Practice
               1. Out-of-season group practice for all extracurricular activities in grades 6-12 is prohibited, except
                  for any activity expressly permitted by Georgia Board of Education policy.
               2. Coaches, teachers, or sponsors of all competitive interscholastic activities shall not require
                  students to participate in any out-of-season program (including summer) as a condition of school-
                  year, in-season participation.
        D. Physical Examinations
            Each individual who participates in competitive interscholastic athletics and cheerleading in grades 6-12
            must have an annual physical examination that indicates approval for participation. An examination form
            must be signed by a licensed physician prior to the student's participation in any tryout, practice, or
            conditioning, whichever comes first. They physical examination form shall include the date that the exam
            was performed (month, day, year), the student's name, and the physician's signature.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
  1. Special education students must meet the same eligibility requirements as regular students, except that the
     courses passed must be according to the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Special Olympics or
     other programs designed exclusively for handicapped students are exempt.
  2. The provisions of this policy do not apply to membership in the Vocational Opportunities Clubs of America
     (V.O.C.A. Clubs).
  3. Schools are allowed to join the Georgia High School Association (G.H. S.A.) or other associations for the
     purpose of formulating and enforcing uniform rules of eligibility and play. (Local tax and state tax funds cannot
     be used.)
  4. Programs designed exclusively to combat drug and alcohol abuse and/or drunk driving may be exempted upon
     application to the State Superintendent of Schools.
The Georgia Board of Education will enforce the requirements of this policy through the application of the
Comprehensive Evaluation System Public School Standards. Any certified staff member who violates this policy shall
be subject to referral to the Professional Practices Commission and to suspension of his or her teaching certificate
for one to three years by the professional Standards Commission in addition to discipline by the DeKalb County
Board of Education.
APPEALS
Any consideration for appeal of the ineligibility of a student to the Georgia Board of Education must be approved by
the Executive Director for Planning and Athletics.