Board Policy IDE Co-Curricular Activities. REDLINED

REDLINED                                                                                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 610 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
               schoolyear, 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.