ACTIVITIES EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY ABSENCES The District shall make no distinction between absences for UIL activities and absences for other extracurricular activities approved by the Board. A student shall be allowed in a school year a maximum of ten extracurricular absences not related to post-district competition, a maximum of five absences for post-district competition prior to state, and a maximum of two absences for state competition. Note: Student groups and organizations currently in existence in the District shall be permitted to continue operating for the 2007 08 school year according to campus rules. No later than June 1, 2008, all current student groups and organizations must submit the information required by this policy to the building administrator to be approved for the 2008 09 school year. Student groups and organizations formed after June 1, 2008, must comply with the requirements of this policy. DEFINITIONS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY GROUP ORGANIZATION In this policy, the following definitions apply. An extracurricular activity is defined as a student activity sponsored by the UIL or the Board, sanctioned by a Board resolution, or approved by the campus administrator, which is not necessarily related to instruction of essential knowledge and skills but may have an indirect connection to some areas of the curriculum. [See (LEGAL)] A student group in the District is defined as a campus-approved club or a group of District students that: 1. Meets together for a noncurricular common purpose or interest; 2. Holds its meetings or activities on school premises during noninstructional time; 3. Does not have state or national affiliation; 4. Has campus-approved status; and 5. Is monitored or supervised by an approved District employee. Examples of student groups include the Chess Club, Diversity Club, Spanish Club, Art Club, Guitar Club, etc. [See FNAB(LE- GAL) and for more information] A student organization in the District is a group of District students that: DATE ISSUED: 3/5/2008 1 of 6
ACTIVITIES 1. Is united as a result of a state or national charter for a particular purpose; 2. Has an established purpose in a school setting that meets the requirements of its established state and/or national affiliation(s); 3. Has adopted bylaws in accordance with its affiliation; 4. Has District-approved status; and 5. Is sponsored by a District employee. Examples of student organizations include the National Honor Society, Student Council Association, Spanish Honor Society, Thespians, Mu Alpha Theta, DECA, FBLA, etc. MAJOR AWARD MINOR AWARD GROUPS APPROVAL A major award is given to a student who meets criteria established by the District and/or UIL as a member of a District-approved student organization or UIL team/ program. A student may receive one major award not to exceed the UIL standards in value during that student s high school enrollment in the same school for participation in District-approved student organizations or UIL interschool competitions as listed in Section 380 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules. Examples of a major award include a letter jacket or letter blanket. A minor award is given to a student who is not eligible to receive a major award or who has previously received a major award as a member of a District-approved student organization or UIL team/program. A minor award may not exceed the UIL standards in value. Examples of a minor award include a certificate, medal, patch, trophy, or other symbolic award for participation. In order to become a campus-approved student group/club, the group must apply for student group status, be approved by the campus principal or designee, and satisfy all of the following requirements. The student group must: 1. Be organized at the campus level; 2. Be composed completely of current, full-time District student body members at the campus where the student group exists; 3. Be supervised by an approved school employee; and 4. Submit a written request for campus-approved student group status containing all of the following information: DATE ISSUED: 3/5/2008 2 of 6
ACTIVITIES a. A brief statement of the student group s purposes and goals; b. A list of the student group s members; and c. A schedule of the proposed meeting times. Items b and c must be submitted annually. Failure to submit any of the information requested above may result in a delay of approval and possible denial of approval. Once a student group has been approved by the principal, the group must provide the principal with any changes in the information listed above within ten school days of the change. RECOGNITIONS FOR MEMBERS OF GROUPS SUPERVISION OF GROUPS PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO GROUPS REVOCATION OF GROUP STATUS Campus-approved student group members are not eligible for any of the District s major or minor awards, but groups may give participation certificates, have their group s photograph included in the school yearbook, and include participation in the group on their college applications and/or résumés. Student groups must be supervised by a District employee who has been approved by the campus principal. The monitor/supervisor may not promote, lead, or participate in the meetings of the group. However, overseeing the accounting for any monies earned by the group members through fund-raising activities shall be the responsibility of the monitor, in accordance with campus and District guidelines/procedures. Campus-approved student groups are granted certain privileges. The groups may: 1. Use the school s logo on organization flyers and newsletters; 2. Engage in fund-raisers in accordance with campus procedures as approved by the building principal; 3. Hold meetings and events on and off campus at pre-approved times and on pre-approved dates in accordance with policy FNAB; and 4. Post events, schedules, and announcements in accordance with campus and District rules. A student group s campus-approved status may be revoked upon determination by the campus principal or designee that the group has: 1. Conducted meetings on campus in the absence of an approved adult monitor; DATE ISSUED: 3/5/2008 3 of 6
ACTIVITIES 2. Violated any state or federal law; or 3. Mismanaged monies earned from any of its fund-raising activities. APPROVAL In order to become a District-approved student organization, interested organizations must apply for student organization status, be sanctioned by the Superintendent or designee, and satisfy all of the following requirements. The organization must: 1. Be organized at the campus level; 2. Not duplicate an existing District extracurricular activity; 3. Be sponsored and supervised by a designated school employee; 4. Be composed completely of current, full-time District student body members at the campus at which the student organization exists; 5. Not have a parallel team/organization at the campus; 6. Hold the majority of its meetings at the school; 7. Have a democratic plan for the election of officers and selection of members; 8. Be formed as a result of a state or national charter or be initiated by the District; 9. Have adopted bylaws that are consistent with the requirements of the state or national charter; 10. Affirmatively represent that the student organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, age, ethnicity, economic status or engage in acts of retaliation; and 11. Comply with all District and campus policies and procedures, including the District s extracurricular rules of conduct. Any student organization seeking official District-approved status and recognition must submit, at one time, all of the following information to the building principal: 1. A charter or similar organizational document that identifies directors who ultimately are responsible for the administration and management of the organization s activities; 2. Procedures for processing complaints and resolution of disputes; 3. Health and safety procedures; DATE ISSUED: 3/5/2008 4 of 6
ACTIVITIES 4. Written official rules of the activity; 5. A specific waiver, release, and indemnity agreement releasing the District from any and all liability for injury or damage claims by any participant; 6. A written code of conduct for student members and procedures for discipline; 7. Written policies indicating that the organization is independent of the District and is legally responsible for all its actions, including any damage or injury it may cause or that any of its members may experience; and 8. An agreement to grant all District awards in accordance with District guidelines. Failure to submit any of the information listed above may result in a delay of approval and possible denial of approval. Once a student organization has been officially approved, it must provide the District with any changes in the information listed above within ten school days of the change. RECOGNITIONS FOR MEMBERS OF PRIVILEGES OF DISTRICT- District-approved student organization members are eligible to receive the District s major or minor awards and have the organization s photograph appear in the yearbook. According to District policy, students are eligible for only one major award in their high school career. Therefore, students participating in a Districtapproved student organization may not be considered eligible for other campus-based awards based on their participation in the District-approved student organization. Certain privileges are granted to District-approved student organizations. Student organizations may: 1. Use the school s logo on organization flyers and newsletters; 2. Engage in fund-raising activity in accordance with campus rules and as approved by the building principal; 3. Hold meetings and events on and off campus at pre-approved times and on pre-approved dates; 4. Post events, schedules, and announcements in accordance with campus and District rules; 5. Be eligible for District transportation on the evening activity bus; and 6. Establish a booster club in accordance with District guidelines. DATE ISSUED: 3/5/2008 5 of 6
ACTIVITIES District-approved student organization members are not eligible for physical education or other credit for participation in any such organization, unless a for-credit class is associated with the organization (i.e., drill team). SUPERVISION OF DISTRICT- REVOCATION OF DISTRICT- ORGANIZATION STATUS District-approved student organizations must be supervised by a District employee who has been approved by the campus principal. The organization s campus sponsor is responsible for: 1. Guiding the group in the application of its bylaws; 2. Participating in the meetings of the group; 3. Assisting in the completion of reports to state or national affiliates; 4. Establishing the organization s local charter; and 5. Overseeing the accounting for any monies earned by the members through fund-raising activities in accordance with campus rules and District guidelines. A student organization s District-approved status may be revoked upon determination by the Superintendent or designee that the organization has: 1. Failed to comply with District policies, regulations, and/or rules, including campus rules and the District extracurricular rules of conduct; 2. Violated any state or federal law; 3. Violated the extracurricular rules of conduct; 4. Conducted official meetings on campus in the absence of an approved adult sponsor; or 5. Conducted events/activities that were not approved by the sponsor. DATE ISSUED: 3/5/2008 ADOPTED: 6 of 6