Participation in school activities is a privilege. School activities provide the benefits of promoting additional interests and ability in the students during their school years and for their lifetime.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in a school activity unless the activity is not offered or the student cannot participate for disciplinary reasons. If the activity is an intramural or interscholastic athletic activity, students of the opposite sex will have a comparable opportunity for participation. Comparable opportunity does not guarantee boys and girls will be allowed to play on each other's teams when there are athletic activities available that will allow both boys and girls to reap the benefits of school activities, which are the promotion of additional interests and abilities in the students.
With permission from a parent or guardian, an eighth-grade student may participate in interscholastic athletic contests or competitions at the high school level. An eighth-grade student who participates at the high school level cannot also participate on an eighth-grade team in the same sport during the same season. Students may not compete in both programs during the same sport season. Any eighth-grade student participating in high school athletics must meet the annual athletic physical examination requirements applicable to all student athletes. The superintendent, in collaboration with the athletic director, will develop administrative regulations and procedures necessary to administer this policy. These situations will be on a case by case basis. The following criteria needs to be met in order for any 8th grade student to participate at the JV or Varsity level:
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The head coach of the desired sport must submit a request to the Activities Director stating the rationale of why the student athlete should be moved up to the high school level.
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The Activities Director will contact parents for consent of the request. If consent is not given, the process ends at this step. If consent is given, proceed to the next step.
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The Activities Director will meet with the high school head coach, JH Activities Director, and 8th grade coach to review the request. Each request will review several factors, including the student's athletic and emotional readiness, the needs of the program, and the overall best interests of the student-athlete.
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The Activity Director will submit all information to the building principal/superintendent for approval.
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The Activity Director/JH Activity Director will meet with the student and their parents to discuss the outcome of the request.
Once a student is moved up from the 8th grade to the JV or Varsity level, that student will forgo their eligibility for that sport at the 8th grade level.
Student activity events must be approved by the superintendent unless they involve unusual travel expense, in which case the board will take action. The events must not disrupt the education program or other school district operations.
A high school student who participates in school sponsored athletics may participate in a non-school sponsored sport during the same season.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for each school activity. These regulations shall include, but not be limited to, when physical examinations will be required, how and when parents will be informed about the risk of the activity, academic requirements, and proof of insurance on the student participating in certain activities. Students wanting to participate in school activities must meet the requirements set out by the school district for participation in the activity.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1683; 1685-1686 (1994).
34 C.F.R. Pt. 106.41 (1993).
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.13-.14 (1999).
281 I.A.C. 12.6., 36.15.
Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
507 Student Health and Well-Being
Approved 9/15/97 Reviewed 8/18/21 Revised 7/15/26
