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.

1. Definitions

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

1. 1. 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.

1. 1. Carnegie Unit

A Carnegie unit is a course credit granted in grades 9-12 based on 150-clock hours unit of credit.

1. 1. High School

High school is defined as grades 9-12.

1. 1. Middle School

Middle school is defined as grades 6-8.

1. Requirements

2. 1. Student Eligibility
3. 1. 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.
4. 1. 1. 1. Students initially enrolling in the first semester of the sixth grade are exempt from this requirement.
5. 1. 1. 1. Exploratory subjects taken during the same semester are averaged to count as one subject for eligibility purposes.
6. 1. 1. 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.
7. 1. 1. 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.
8. 1. 1. 1. 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.
9. 1. 1. 1. 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.
10. 1. 1. 1. Make-up work must be completed within 15 school days after the beginning of the second semester.
11. 1. 1. 1. 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.
12. 1. 1. Independent study courses credit taken in summer school may not be used to gain eligibility.
13. 1. 1. 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-.1
14. 1. 1. Ineligible students are prohibited from practicing, traveling, or trying out for a competitive co-curricular team.
15. 1. Time Restrictions

16. Competitive co-curricular activities shall be conducted outside the school day.

17. 1. 1. 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.
18. 1. 1. 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.
19. 1. Seasonal Practice

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 1. 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.

1. Additional Provisions

2. 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.

1. 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.