The following student rules shall apply to all students who participate in the secondary school extracurricular activity or athletics programs. Students involved in activities or athletics are subject to the provisions of this code year-round commencing on the first day of the first season of participation and continuing through the last day of the last year in school.
All school concerts, school district graduations and locally adjudicated performances are considered curricular performances and are not governed by these Extracurricular Activities Regulations for purposes of rendering students ineligible to participate. Eligibility to participate in such events, and discipline for rule violations in connection with participation in such events, are determined by the regular (non-extracurricular) school and District rules and procedures.
I. BASIC CONDUCT FOR ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTS
Because students involved in athletics and activities perform and represent their schools in public, they are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that will reflect the high standards and ideals of their activity, team, school, and community and to demonstrate their non-use and non-tolerance of harmful substances. The secondary schools in the Highline School District are committed to promoting the well-being, personal development and successful performance of all of their students.
Any student participant who willfully performs any act which materially interferes with or is detrimental to the orderly operation of a school’s activities or athletics programs (including, but not limited to, all misconduct specifically prohibited by these regulations as well as other illegal or serious misconduct) shall be subject to extracurricular activities discipline. Such acts may include school or non-school activity performed either on or off campus and the discipline may include permanent removal of a participant from the activities/athletics program. Participants must finish the season in good standing in accordance with team, school and school district rules to include representing the school as a good citizen both on campus and in the community, and without violation of the extracurricular activities contract, to be eligible for individual and team awards or post season recognition.
II. BASIC SCHOOL POLICIES/RULES
A. For the violation of school rules, the student involved in the activities/athletics program will be treated as any other student and will in addition be penalized in accordance with these Student Extracurricular Activities Regulations. Students suspended or expelled from school may not participate in extracurricular activities during the period of school exclusion. Students returning from disciplinary suspensions where practice was not allowed must practice at least one day before being allowed to compete. Students returning from suspensions that end on a Friday may return to participation the following Monday.
B. The following rules apply to students involved in extracurricular activities:
1. A student who is not in school for their full scheduled school day will not be allowed to practice or play in a game/activity on that day. Exceptions are dental and medical appointments, court appearances, family emergencies, and school sponsored or related activities approved in advance by a building administrator.
2. Participants in extracurricular activities shall comply with official WIAA and District rules including but not limited to the following:
- Participants must live with a parent or court-approved guardian who is a bona fide resident of the Highline School District provided that guardian has been acting in such capacity for a period of one year.
- Out-of-district students attending Highline District schools that do not offer on-campus interscholastic sports must return to their school of residence to participate in interscholastic athletics.
- Running Start Students. Running Start students must live with a parent or court-approved guardian in the school district, provided that guardian has been acting in such capacity for a period of one year, and submit a WIAA Running Start Contract to the building athletic director.
- Home Schooled Students. Participants who are home schooled must live in the school district with a parent or court-approved guardian in the school district, provided that guardian has been acting in such capacity for a period of one year, and submit a WIAA Home Based Education School Contract to the building athletic director.
- Alternative School Students. Alternative school students who reside in the Highline School District with a parent or court-approved guardian, provided that guardian has been acting in such capacity for a period of one year, must submit a WIAA Alternative Education School Contract to the building athletic director.
- GED Students. Participants must be enrolled in an academic program that leads to a high school diploma. Students enrolled in GED programs are not eligible for interscholastic activities/athletics.
- Transfer Students from Out-of-District. Transfer students must show proof of residency and supply a transcript for each school attended before participation will be allowed. Transferring students may not take part in summer activities prior to the start of the school year until proof of official withdrawal from the previous school is verified, in-district residency is verified, transcripts have been received, the student is officially accepted to a Highline District school and the director of athletics has approved eligibility. Transfer students may be asked to submit a WIAA Student Residency Contract.
- Transfer Students within the District. Current 9th-12th grade students who transfer from one Highline District school to another without a corresponding change of residence by the entire family unit will be eligible at the sub-varsity level for one calendar year. Hardship cases, as defined by WIAA rules, may be appealed to the director of athletics. In-District transfer students may be asked to submit a WIAA Student Residency Contract.
3. Absence from Participation. To be excused from a practice or an activity, a participant must confer with the coach of his/her team in advance of the absence, except in the case of an emergency. Students at other district schools who return to their home school of residence to access interscholastic athletics programs must, on a daily basis, be able to arrange their schedule in order to be dressed and ready to participate when practice begins. Students are required to be at practice from start to finish with the exception of rare pre-approved situations.
4. Team/Activity Rules. Participants shall abide by team/activity rules and shall obey the reasonable and lawful directives of the coaches. Team and activity rules will be approved by each school’s building athletic director in consult with the director of athletics and distributed by coaches at the start of each season.
5. Pre-participation Requirements. To be eligible to try out for a team/activity, students must have been in regular school attendance as a full-time student during the semester immediately preceding the season of competition. A full-time student is a student enrolled in six classes (3.0 high school semester credits or equivalent). Seniors on track to graduate may take one less class (five classes/2.5 high school semester credits). All other requirements, to include district-required eligibility forms and behavior contract along with compliance with residence and other WIAA and school rules, must be met.
6. Physical and Return to Participation Requirements. Each participant must have passed a physical examination from a medical authority licensed to perform a physical examination using district-supplied forms. The physician examination shall be valid for 24 months and may not expire during the season. Participants who have been injured or incurred an illness serious enough to require medical care must present to school officials the school district Return to Participation Form signed by a medical authority licensed to perform a physical examination and be subsequently tested and cleared by a District Athletic Trainer before resuming participation.
7. Academic Requirements. To be eligible to compete/perform, students must:
- Be registered for and attending a minimum of six classes where the combined total of classes is equal to no less than 3.0 high school semester credits or equivalent. Seniors on track to graduate may take one less class (five classes/2.5 high school semester credits).
- Maintain a 2.0 or above grade point average. Have no more than 1 (one) failing grade or NC with off-track designation.
- If a student is enrolled in the minimum number of six classes, he/she must pass five classes. A non-passing grade is a failing grade or NC with off-track designation.
- Grades earned during summer school for like classes may count toward fall eligibility.
- Grades from the most recent semester, quarter or school administered progress report shall be used to determine academic eligibility.
- Upon entering the ninth grade, an incoming student is not required to meet the previous semester scholarship rule, and is academically eligible provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
- Students on a 504 plan or IEP who have failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress may be allowed to participate but not compete in accordance with WIAA and school district standards.
8. Illegal Substance. Students will not be able to possess, traffic in, and/or use non-prescribed or illegal drugs, alcohol, and any form of tobacco, and may not be in the presence of, or remain in the vicinity of, the use of such substance prohibited by criminal law, or engage in behavior that enables others to illegally use such substances.
9. Illegal and Other Serious Misconduct. Students may not engage in other misconduct that violates the law or brings dishonor on their team or activity, e.g., criminal violations, harassment, bullying, hazing, fighting, cheating, forgery, inappropriate use of social media.
III. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THESE RULES
A. Before a head coach/advisor responsible for any activity can exclude a student from extracurricular activity for violation of these district regulations, the coach/advisor shall confer with the building athletic director who will consult with the director of athletics.
B. Students declared ineligible for competition may only participate in practice and may not travel with the team, sit on the bench, wear the uniform, take part in warm-ups or in any other way participate with the team before, during, or after competition. In addition, students declared ineligible may not attend athletics or activities events home or away for any program through the duration of the period of ineligibility.
C. Penalties for violations of Rule II.B.4, team activity rules, may be imposed by coaches in consultation with the building athletic director and designated assistant principal. Exclusion from a team or activity for the remainder of the season must be pre-approved by the building athletic director and designated assistant principal in consultation with the director of athletics.
D. Penalties for violations of rule II.B.5, pre-participation requirements, shall be as follows:
The student is not eligible to try out, practice, compete, perform or otherwise take part in the extracurricular program. Note: To become eligible during future seasons the student must first successfully meet the pre-participation requirement outlined in Rule II.B.5. Cases of hardship should be referred to a building administrator for instruction on the appeal process. Appeals from ineligibility for failure to meet District and/or WIAA-imposed pre-participation requirements shall be through the appropriate District or WIAA appeal process.
E. Penalties for violations of Rule II.B.7 academic requirements, shall be as follows:
WIAA Academic Probation/ Suspension:
A high school participant failing to make WIAA grade requirements (passing grade in 5 classes in a 6 period schedule) at the end of the semester shall be placed on academic probation in Fall and academic suspension in Spring. The Fall probation period for high school students shall be from the end of the previous semester through the fourth Saturday of September. The academic suspension period in the Spring is the first five weeks of the semester.
See WIAA rule 18.7.6 for further details on suspension/ probation as it affects Fall sports and Spring sports differently.
If, at the end of the suspension/ probation period, the participant is passing the required number of subjects and meeting the district’s required 2.0 grade point average, they may be reinstated for competition (if on suspension) or continue competing (if on probation). The student will be eligible on the first Monday following the probation or suspension period. A middle school student will be on probation during the first three weeks of the semester and be eligible for reinstatement on the first Monday following the probation period providing he or she is passing the required number of subjects, and meets the district’s 2.0 minimum grade point average. Students returning from academic probation must maintain compliance with Rule II.B.7 to maintain eligibility.
HPS Academic Probation for Semester and/or First Quarter/Third Quarter Grades:
An end of semester grade of NC is summative, and will be interpreted as NC off-track designation.
A participant who has passed five or more classes at the end of the semester, but does not meet the district’s 2.0 minimum grade point average shall serve a three-week probation. Fall sport athletes who do not meet the minimum grade point average due to spring semester grades shall begin the three-week probationary period on the first day of school and be ineligible for competition for three full weeks with a full week defined as three or more school days. Winter sports athletes who do not meet the minimum grade point average due to first quarter grades shall begin the three-week probationary period on the first day of the winter sports season. Spring sport athletes who do not meet the minimum grade point average due to fall semester grades shall begin the three-week period on the first day of the spring sports season. If the participant meets the district’s 2.0 grade point average at the end of the three-week period he or she may then be reinstated for competition. The student will be eligible on the first Monday following the probation period.
HPS Academic Probation for School Administered Progress Reports:
A participant not satisfying Rule 11.B.7 as a result of school administered progress reports requiring a minimum 2.0 grade point average shall be placed on probation on the dates grades are posted. Students may have no more than one failing grade and/ or NC with off-track designation. The participant will remain ineligible until such time as he/she meets the minimum academic standard. To prove eligible status, written verification of all grades must be presented to the building athletic director for signed approval and official reinstatement. Weekly grade checks are encouraged from this point forward to ensure continued good standing. Individual schools may develop building policy to include additional probationary sanctions. Additional sanctions must be clearly stated in the student handbook and/or program materials distributed to students.
Appeals of ineligibility for failure to meet District and/or WIAA-imposed academic requirements shall be through the appropriate District or WIAA appeal process.
F. The penalty for a first violation of Rule II.B.8, illegal substances, shall be immediate ineligibility from extracurricular competition or performance for forty-five calendar days. This ineligibility also carries into the next activity/season (as previously defined) in which the student participates.
This penalty may be reduced to a twenty-three calendar day ineligibility, provided the student:
- Completes a professional assessment through an appropriate agency (recommendations of the agency will be given to the parent and shared with school administration). These recommendations must be followed as a condition for early reinstatement at the end of the twenty-three day period. An appeal for reduction may take place no sooner than the 20th day of the suspension period.
The student may return to practice after a minimum seven school days provided the professional assessment has been completed and shared with school administration. This provision allows for the individual to practice only. The individual may not be in attendance at home or away competitions for any sport or activity throughout the entire suspension period.
In order to be eligible for any further competition/performance in the extracurricular program, the student shall meet with the building athletic director and assistant principal. The building athletic director and assistant principal will recommend to the director of athletics appropriate action to be taken in the student participant’s case, and may take into account self-reporting, truthfulness, cooperation, and voluntary assessment and treatment. The director of athletics shall be the final authority as to the student’s participation in the activity program.
G. The penalty for a second violation of Rule II.B.8, illegal substances, shall be removal from competition/performance for a period of one calendar year. The student may appeal for early reinstatement to the director of athletics, who may take into account self-reporting, truthfulness, cooperation, and voluntary assessment and treatment in making a final decision.
H. The penalty for the third violation of Rule II.B.8: A student athlete shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition in any WIAA member school activities program.
I. Self-Referral: A student participant who seeks and receives assistance for a problem with the use of drugs and/or alcohol prior to a drug or alcohol violation matter shall be given the opportunity with no jeopardy to eligibility for assistance through the school and community agencies. In no instance shall participation in a school and/or community approved assistance program excuse a student from subsequent compliance with this regulation.
J. Carryover from Middle to High School. Violations of Rule II.B.8 shall accumulate from grades seven through twelve.
K. Criminal and Other Serious Misconduct. Students who violate Rule II.B.9 committing non-substance criminal violations or engaging in other serious misconduct (e.g., harassment, bullying, hazing, fighting, cheating, forgery, inappropriate use of social media) may be excluded from participation for a period consistent with the seriousness of the offense. Any serious criminal behavior may be the basis for final exclusion for the remainder of the student’s career. Sanctions applied at the building level may be appealed to the director of athletics.
IV. ATHLETIC DISCIPLINE
Any student, parent, or guardian, who is aggrieved by the imposition of discipline at the building level, including exclusion from participation in extracurricular activities, shall have the right to appeal to the director of athletics. The appeal must be requested within three school days of the time the parent receives notice by mail or orally. During the appeal the student, parent or guardian shall be subject to questioning by the director of athletics and shall be entitled to question school personnel involved in the matter being grieved. Subsequent to this appeal, the student, parent, or guardian, upon two school business days prior notice (or sooner, but only if convenient for all concerned), shall have the right to present a written or oral grievance to the board of directors during the board’s next regular meeting. The board shall notify the student, parent or guardian of its response to the grievance within ten school business days after the date of the meeting. The discipline action shall continue notwithstanding the implementation of the grievance procedure set forth in this section unless the director of athletics elects to postpone such action.
V. STUDENT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES CONTRACT
Prior to the first day of the first season of participation, each student participant in extracurricular activities shall, as precondition to participation, agree to terms of the year-round Student Extracurricular Activities Contract in substantially the following form covering all extracurricular activities through the last day of the student’s last year in school:
Student Extracurricular Activities Contract
This contract applies to all extracurricular activities year-round and is in effect from the first day of the first season of participation through the last day of the student’s last year in school.
I recognize that being a participant in student athletics or other extracurricular activities in the Highline School District means being a role model for other students and holding myself to a high standard of personal conduct.
In order that I may enjoy the privilege of participation in extracurricular athletics or other activities, I agree to obey and be bound by the rules of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the Highline School District, and my school and coaches/advisors.
I understand that I am subject to these rules year-round, and not only during the seasons or timeframes of extracurricular athletics or other activities.
I understand that the full rules for student extracurricular participation in Highline School District are available to me upon request, or online at www.highlineschools.org/athletics.
I understand that I may lose my privilege of participation in extracurricular activities for an entire season or longer if I possess, use, traffic in drugs, alcohol, vape or tobacco; or place myself in the presence of, or remain in the vicinity of, the use of such substance prohibited by criminal law or engage in behavior that enables others to illegally use such substances. I further understand that I may be excluded from participation if I engage in criminal acts or other serious misconduct such as harassment, bullying, hazing, fighting, cheating, forgery, and/or inappropriate use of social media.
I understand that all offenses, including first offenses, for violation of these rules may result in exclusion from participation in extracurricular activities and that exclusion from participation may be avoided or shortened only by self-reporting, truthful cooperation and voluntary assessment and treatment.
I agree to abide by all team/activity rules and to meet and maintain compliance with all pre-participation and academic requirements for eligibility, and I understand that I may be denied participation for failure to meet these standards.
___________________
Signature/Date
Highline School District 401
Approved by the Superintendent: August 1984
Revised by the Superintendent: 10.88, 06.92, 06.98, 05.99, 03.00, 04.02, 05.13, 11.16, 05.22