The schools in the district will develop a well-rounded and age-appropriate extracurricular and co-curricular activities program that provides opportunities for students to participate in a variety of activities which may include, but are not limited to, journalism and yearbook, music, speech and drama, and interscholastic athletics. To provide a variety of activities for students, the district will periodically assess the types of activities offered, the scheduling of facilities and activities, and the expenditure of funds. The district will maintain membership in the Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA) for the appropriate grade levels.
Participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities is a privilege, not a right. Students are expected to demonstrate sportsmanship, respect, and cooperation at all times. It is expected that students will follow all rules of conduct and training established by the IHSAA, district policies, and coaches/advisors. Rules and expectations regarding student conduct and training will be provided to parents/guardians by coaches/advisors at the beginning of each school year or activity season. All applicable student conduct rules will be strictly and impartially enforced.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions will apply to this policy:
“Extracurricular activity/ies” means district or school-sponsored activities which take place outside of or in addition to the regular academic courses or curriculum of the district, including, but not limited to, athletics, student groups or organizations, and other activities for which no class credit is given.
“Co-Curricular activity/ies” means district or school-sponsored activities held in conjunction with a for-credit class, including, but not limited to, drama, speech and debate, journalism and yearbook, and band or choir.
PARENTAL PERMISSION
Students are required to have parental permission to participate in any extracurricular activities sponsored by the district. Prior to joining any extracurricular club or organization, or participating on any athletic team, the student participant must submit to the advisor/coach a permission form signed by the parent/guardian, authorizing the student’s participation in the club or athletic team.
FEES FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Recognizing the importance of a well-rounded activities program to the academic, social, and physical development of students, and recognizing the limited funding available for such activities, the district requires that all student participants, regardless of the activity, pay a nominal fee as indicated on the fee schedule below.
High School Athletic Fees:
$85 Fee: Football, soccer, cheer, volleyball, basketball and wrestling
$65 Fee: cross country, track, and golf
Middle School Athletic Fees:
$85 Fee: volleyball, basketball and wrestling
$50 Fee: cross country and track
$30 Fee: cheer
Fees will be held in a dedicated fund to offset costs of operating the student activities program. Students who are unable to pay the fee may receive a full or partial waiver as determined by the superintendent or designee on a case-by-case basis.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The district will follow all eligibility requirements for participation in IHSAA-sanctioned activities as may be amended from time to time. Students must meet IHSAA eligibility requirements as well as all district eligibility requirements.
Coaches and advisors are expected to set reasonable standards for continued eligibility, including but not limited to training and participation requirements, academic performance, and sportsmanship. Such standards will be in writing and distributed to the students at the beginning of the sports season or enrollment period. Students are expected to comply with all eligibility requirements.
Academic eligibility for all high school extracurricular and co-curricular activities shall be as follows:
- Must be enrolled in a minimum of six semester classes,
- Receive credit in all classes and maintain a 2.0 GPA for the grading period prior to the beginning of the activity. Students who do not receive credit in all classes and maintain a 2.0 GPA will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation will be able to practice with the team but not be eligible to travel or play and be subject to grade checks every three weeks. Students will have three, three week grade checks to become eligible. A student will remain on academic probation the entire season and be subject to grade checks every three weeks. At the end of each three week grade period, grades will be checked for eligibility. Students who are eligible will be able to fully participate in athletics. Students who are still not eligible will have two more opportunities to become eligible. Late work will be graded by the teacher at the teacher’s earliest opportunity. The beginning of the first three week grade check will be the first day of school.
- Students who transfer from another school who are not aware of the eligibility policy will have a semester grace period before they become subject to Aberdeen School District’s policy.
Academic eligibility for all middle school extracurricular and co-curricular activities shall be as follows:
Students must maintain academic standards while participating in activities. At the end of each week, only students with a 2.0 (or C) average for that week will be eligible to play the next week. The 2.0 will be computed on the following basis:
A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 F = 0
In addition to being academically eligible, any student who loses more than 30 points over the period of one week will be ineligible to play based on poor behavior.
Students who are academically or behaviorally ineligible for any two weeks will be removed from the team. Parents can petition the principal for a waiver in those situations that can be classified as extenuating. A student may request consideration for a waiver only once per year.
Students participating in an event must ride school transportation to and from the event. Students may ride home with parents from an event provided that the parent informs the coach of such. No student will be allowed to ride home with anyone other than a parent or guardian.
The following attendance eligibility also applies.
- Students who participate in an extracurricular or co-curricular contest must attend at least four (4) class periods the day of the contest unless they have the principal’s permission to be absent. If there is a contest on a non-school day, the student must attend four (4) class periods the school day before the contest.
- Students who participate in an extracurricular or co-curricular contest must attend at least four (4) class periods in order to attend practice unless they have the principal’s permission to be absent.
Homeschool students who are dual enrolled in the district and wish to participate in extracurricular or co-curricular activities must agree to adhere to this policy. Students must be able to show proof that they have a 2.0 GPA with the grade requirements set forth in this policy on the designated grade check dates. If a grade report is not provided, the student will automatically be ineligible for the week. Homeschool students are subject to all applicable district behavior and code of conduct policies and IHSAA rules.
All students wishing to participate in any extracurricular or co-curricular activities governed by the IHSAA must meet eligibility requirements established by the IHSAA as well as all district eligibility requirements. This includes being enrolled in school full time and having passed all classes.
PROHIBITION AGAINST THE POSSESSION OR USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
Students are prohibited from possessing, using, being under the influence of, or distributing tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, and/or paraphernalia (Policy 551, Student Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use). Students participating in extracurricular or co-curricular activities may also be subject to drug and alcohol testing as specified in Policy 578 (Drug and Alcohol Testing of Students Participating in Extracurricular Activities).
ACTIVITY SUSPENSION
A student will be immediately suspended from all extracurricular and co-curricular activities when he or she receives a suspension from school for any reason. Such suspension is automatic and may apply for the duration of the school suspension or longer, up to a total of nine (9) school days, at the discretion of the building principal. The suspension runs concurrently with the school suspension. Coaches and advisors may also suspend students from participating in extracurricular or co-curricular activities for failing to comply with training and participation requirements, or violation of student conduct rules, including but not limited to possession, use, or distribution of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Students may also be subject to school disciplinary action where appropriate.
Students who receive in-school suspension may practice with their team after the regular school day has ended. A student suspended from athletics may not compete with the team or travel with the team to away contests during the period of suspension. Students who are suspended out of school may not participate in any practice or team function until their suspension is completed. Students may be suspended due to possession, use, or distribution of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco in accordance with Policy 578 (Drug and Alcohol Testing of Students Participating in Extracurricular Activities).
Students suspended from a co-curricular activity may ask to do, or be required to do, alternative assignments or special projects to make up for the missed activity. The course grade for students will not be affected by a suspension from a co-curricular activity as a result of this policy unless the reason for the suspension was related to course work or course expectations.
SCHOOL INSURANCE
School insurance is available for students participating in extracurricular athletic activities. Before engaging in practice sessions, competitions, or events, students who want to take part in the school insurance program must have a permission form signed by the student’s parent/guardian. Parents/guardians will be provided with information about the school-provided insurance and the limits of protection on the applicable policy. The district does not assume any financial responsibility for medical or hospital expenses incurred because of athletic injuries. Students participate at their own risk.
ATHLETIC PHYSICALS
Students participating in IHSAA-sponsored athletics are required to get a physical examination prior to participation their freshman and junior years. Information on when and where to obtain such physicals will be available from coaches and/or the district athletic director.
EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS
Students who participate in extracurricular or co-curricular activities may be recognized by the awarding of varsity letters, certificates of participation, or other awards. The type of award and criteria for receiving an award will be established prior to the commencement of the activity. Each coach or advisor will inform student participants of the requirements and standards for earning an award in the activity.
If a member of a varsity sport is injured during that sport’s season and cannot meet the requirements for earning an award, the coach has discretion to determine whether that student has earned a letter.
Managers of a varsity sport may earn a manager’s letter by fulfilling the requirements set by the coach for that sport.
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LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections
33-512(12) – Governance of Schools (Extracurricular Activities)
CROSS-REFERENCE:
551 – Student Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use
578 – Drug and Alcohol Testing of Students Participating in Extracurricular Activities
ADOPTED: June 19, 2024