Board Policy IDE Co-Curricular Activities Grades 6-12 Proposed

PROPOSED

Board Policy IDE: Co-Curricular Activities, Grades 6-12


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 District supports the academic curriculum by
making available to students a variety of co-curricular activities.
  I.   Definitions

       For the purpose of this policy, the terms listed below shall be defined as follows:

        A.    Co-Curricular Activity
              A co-curricular activity is any organized competition between schools that is held
              outside the regular instructional day. Vocational clubs, academic bowls,
              geography bees, spelling bees, science fairs, math bowls, or specific subject area
              fairs are excluded.

        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.

        D.    Middle School
              Middle school is defined as grades 6-8.


 II.   Requirements

        A.    Student Eligibility

                1.    Students participating in competitive co-curricular activities shall pass a
                      minimum of five subjects carrying credit toward grade promotion in the
                      grading period immediately preceding participation.

                      a.   Students initially enrolling in the first semester of the sixth grade are
                           exempt from this requirement.

                      b.   Exploratory subjects taken during the same semester are averaged to
                           count as one subject for eligibility purposes.

                2.    Students participating in any competitive co-curricular activities shall be
                      enrolled full time in the District’s public schools and shall take a minimum
                      of five subjects carrying credit toward grade promotion during the grading
                      period of participation.
      3.   Student eligibility shall be determined on the first school day of a
           semester. A student is eligible to practice/condition for first semester
           activities if the student passed a minimum of five subjects carrying credit
           toward grade promotion during the preceding second semester.

               a. A maximum of two subjects taken in summer school and carrying
                  credit toward grade promotion may be counted for eligibility
                  purposes for participation in first semester activities.

               b. If a student receives an incomplete for a subject that will be used to
                  establish eligibility, make-up work may be completed to change
                  the incomplete to a grade provided that the opportunity is available
                  to all students.

               c. Make-up work must be completed within 15 school days after the
                  beginning of the second semester.

               d. A student is ineligible until make-up work is completed and the
                  required passing grade(s) is/are recorded in the student’s
                  permanent record.

      4.   Independent study courses credit taken in summer school may not be used
           to gain eligibility.

      5.   Summer school credits earned in non-accredited home study programs or
           non-accredited private schools may not be used to gain eligibility. For
           summer school credits to be accepted for eligibility purposes from either
           private schools or home study programs, the credits must be earned in
           programs approved by the accrediting agency recognized by the State
           Board of Education in accordance with Rule 160-5-1-.15.

      6.   Ineligible students are prohibited from practicing, traveling, or trying out
           for a competitive co-curricular team.


B.   Time Restrictions
      1.   Competitive co-curricular activities shall be conducted outside the school
           day.

      2.   Competitive co-curricular activities group and/or individual practice on a
           day preceding a school day may not begin prior to the end of the school
           day and must end no later than four hours after the school day ends.
                 3.   Only one day or night each week preceding a school day may be used to
                      schedule the same competitive co-curricular activity; tournaments and fine
                      arts exhibitions are excluded from this restriction.


        C.     Seasonal Practice
                 1.   Neither school personnel, sponsors nor coaches shall require students to
                      participate in any out-of-season program (including summer) as a
                      condition of school-year, in-season participation.
                 2.   Neither school personnel, sponsors nor coaches shall suggest, require, or
                      otherwise attempt to influence students to participate, practice and/or
                      condition for a co-curricular activity during the school day.


        D.     Physical Examinations

              All students who participate in competitive co-curricular activities shall have an
              annual physical examination prior to participation in any tryout, practice, or
              conditioning, whichever comes first. The physical exam must be conducted by a
              licensed medical physician, doctor of Osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioner or a
              physician’s assistant. The exam must be signed by an M.D., D.O., or by a
              Physician’s Assistant, or an Advance Practice Nurse who has been delegated that
              task by an M.D., or D.O. The physical examination form shall include the date that
              the exam was performed (month, day, year), the student’s name, and the physician’s
              signature.



III.   Additional Provisions
       A.    Home Study Student Participation, Grades 6-12

              Consistent with the Dexter Mosley Act, O.C.G.A. 20-2-319.6, home study students
              in grades 6-12 shall be eligible to participate in competitive co-curricular activities
              under the sponsorship, direction, and control of the resident school or resident
              school system, provided that the home study students meet the requirements
              outlined within the Act.

       B.    Procedures and Regulations

              The Superintendent or designee shall have the responsibility for developing and
              implementing uniform procedures for regulating co-curricular activities in grades
              6-12 that adhere to the guidelines set forth.