1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
   The Board of Education encourages students to participate in a variety of athletic and extracurricular activities and recognizes the many benefits to students who engage in such activities. The Superintendent, with the approval of the Board of Education, shall determine the proper procedures for extracurricular activities.  These procedures shall conform to the best acceptable standards; the rules and regulations of the Utah High School Activities Association and the Weber School District; and applicable local and state law.

2. POLICY
   To participate in activities sponsored by the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA), a student must meet eligibility requirements with regard to attendance, behavior, residency, scholastic performance, and other applicable criteria.  Weber School District accepts and supports the constitution, bylaws, regulations, guidelines, and standards established by UHSAA in relation to eligibility for participation.
   
   The Weber School District Board of Education believes that ninth-grade students should participate in athletics at the junior high school level.  However, there may be occasions where a ninth grader may desire to participate in a sport at the high school level.  In such cases, a ninth grader may try out for a high school team.  The Board of Education strongly encourages high school coaches and junior high coaches to collaborate together, along with the parents of student-athletes, in making this important decision in a young person’s development.
   
   Each school, with the approval of the principal, may also establish eligibility requirements for participation in activities not sponsored by UHSAA.  The student council programs and co-curricular programs at each school are governed by each school’s student constitution and bylaws and not by UHSAA.  Eligibility expectations for those programs must be clearly outlined for students and their parents/legal guardians in a disclosure document.

3. DEFINITIONS
   1. “Activity Season”  means the period beginning on the first day of practice allowed by the UHSAA for any sport and ending the last day of competition for that sport season; for an organization (cheerleading, band, etc.), the time they are enrolled or participating.
   2. “Alcohol” means any beverage as defined under Utah Code 34-38-2
   3. “Drug” means any controlled substance as defined in Utah Code 34-38-2, except those possessed and/or used pursuant to a valid prescription.
   4. “Eligibility” means eligibility to participate in an interscholastic activity regulated or governed by an association
   5. “Extracurricular” means all activities sponsored by the UHSAA and school organizations involving adjudication or competition or representation of the school in the community as determined at the school level.
   6. “Tobacco” means tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or vapor products
   7. “Non-Punitive” means test results will not be disclosed to law enforcement or juvenile authorities without a valid and binding subpoena.
   8. “UHSAA” means the Utah High School Athletic Association
      
      
4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
   1. Residency
      1. Must be a full-time student in the school they intend to represent, otherwise, comply with all Utah State Board of Education dual enrollment requirements.
      2. After a student has established initial eligibility in a school in accordance with UHSAA rules, the student will not be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities at any other school unless the student has met the requirements of the transfer process as stipulated by UHSAA (see the UHSAA Handbook for additional details).
      3. First entry is established in the ninth grade for any student who participates on a high school level team while enrolled in the ninth grade.  A student in those circumstances has four (4) years of eligibility.  A ninth-grade student is eligible to participate only on the high school teams: (a) within the established school boundaries the student resides; (b) the high school where a sibling of the student currently attends; (c) the high school where the student’s custodial parent/legal guardian is employed; or (d) the high school whose boundary is the same as the junior high school where the student is currently enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment.
   2. Academic Eligibility- Athletics
      1. A student must have a 2.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) and not more than one “failing” or “incomplete” grade from the previous grading period.
      2. Students become accountable for their grades on the day following the grade posting deadline at the school.  The grade posting deadline is the fifth (5th) school day following the end of the grading period.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that eligibility standards will be met by the grade posting deadline regardless of whether report cards have been issued.  If, however, an error in calculating or recording the grade is discovered when the report cards are issued, the error may be corrected.
      3. The grade “P” received from any class which grades on a pass/fail basis is not counted when assessing the GPA for eligibility purposes.  The grades “F” – Fail, “I” – Incomplete, or “NC” – No Credit, are considered failing grades until made up.
      4. For activities that occur during the first grading period in the fall, eligibility is based on the last report card issued for the preceding spring.  Incoming tenth-grade students must meet the same eligibility standards based on the previous spring report card.  Deficiencies or other grades earned during that grading period may be made up during the summer, but make-up coursework must be in the same subject and done through a district-approved program.
      5. An ineligible student may not represent the school in any of the activities governed by this policy.  A student who is deemed to be ineligible may not do any of the following:
         1. be in uniform on competition day;
         2. warm up with the team;
         3. be introduced as a member of the team;
         4. sit on the bench with the team; OR
         5. travel with the team.
   3. Academic Eligibility - Non-Athletic Activities
      1. Individual schools, with the approval of the school principal, may establish the GPA requirement to be met for student government and other events and activities not sponsored by UHSAA.
   4. Behavior
      1. In order to participate in extracurricular activities a student must be in good standing with the school.  Students who have been suspended or expelled from school become ineligible for participation during the period of the suspension or expulsion.  Behavior expectations are also established by UHSAA and district/school policies.  Additional behavior expectations for participation in extracurricular activities may be established by teams/groups so long as they are clearly outlined for students and their parents/legal guardians in a disclosure document.
   5. Eligibility Related to the Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drugs
      1. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use is strictly prohibited. Students who use any of the above substances during a season will be subject to the sanctions outlined in the UHSAA Handbook.  Students may also be subject to school disciplinary action as set forth in district or school policies. Coaches may impose a more restrictive policy for a given team, but in order to do so they must include that information in the team disclosure statement.
   6. Birth Certificates
      1. Athletes must provide a birth certificate when registering with the state-approved athletic registration platform.  The birth certificate the school maintains on file will suffice.
      2. Athletes without access to a birth certificate will be allowed to provide alternative documentation for the registration process for an athletic team.
         
         
5. NINTH-GRADE PARTICIPATION IN HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
   1. Process
      1. Ninth-grade students, if otherwise eligible as set forth in paragraphs 3 and 4 below, may participate in any Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) activity (“Association activities”).  If the student is not selected for the high school team, the student may still try out for the junior high school team.  In the event a ninth grader is selected for the high school team, they may not participate on the junior high school level in that particular sport.  Consistent with UHSAA rules, ninth-grade students who have participated at the junior high level, are not eligible to participate at the high school level in the same activity in the same school year.
      2. A student who is enrolled in a junior high school but participates or tries out for any Association activity at a high school shall be deemed to have attended that high school.  If such a student shall enroll in a different high school for the tenth grade, that enrollment shall be considered a transfer and shall be subject to the requirements of the Association’s Transfer Rule (Article I Section B, UHSAA).
      3. Ninth-grade students participating in high school sports may not lose credit in more than one class in the preceding grading period.  Ninth-grade students participating in high school sports must have obtained a minimum grade point average (G.P.A.) of 2.0 or its equivalent in the term prior to the Association activity and during that activity’s full season even if a grading period ends.  A student who has failed to meet these minimum academic requirements shall be ineligible for participation in Association activities throughout the next grading period.  Deficiencies in the final grading period of the school year may be made up prior to the first term of the succeeding year by any method acceptable to the District.  Failed grades must be made up in the same subject area.  Scholastic regulations apply to any ninth-grade student at a junior high school who has established eligibility at a UHSAA member high school (UHSAA) as provided in these procedures.
      4. Eligibility under this rule is determined when grades are posted.  Grades are “posted” when the school registrar enters all grades electronically and are available to students, parents, and teachers.  In no case may the posting be more than 5 days following the last day of the grading period.  Grade changes after that time cannot restore lost eligibility, except for a documented clerical error.  These scholastic regulations are the minimum required for participation in Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) activities.
         
         
6. HOME SCHOOL AND UHSAA NON-MEMBER CHARTER, ONLINE, AND PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR  ACTIVITIES
   1. Students exempted from compulsory public school education by the local board for instruction in-home or Utah charter schools or private schools may be eligible for participation in extracurricular public school activities provided they earn credit as outlined in the USBE policies and with the same eligibility standards as applied to full-time students enrolled in the District.
   2. The home, online, charter, or private school student may establish initial athletic eligibility at any UHSAA member high school by being selected for membership on a high school sports team.  A student who has established eligibility at a UHSAA member high school, even though they did not attend that school, shall be considered to have attended that school for the purposes of eligibility.
   3. If a student then transfers athletic eligibility to a different UHSAA member high school, or should that student enroll in a different UHSAA member high school, that student shall be subject to the requirements of the Association’s transfer rule.
   4. UHSAA non-member charter and UHSAA non-member private school students may only be eligible at a UHSAA member high school for sports or activities that are not available at the non-member charter high school or the non-member private high school.
   5. Participating private, online, and homeschool students shall be responsible to pay any and all activity fees, participation fees, player-pack fees, etc. that are approved by the Board and which are required of all students to participate in the extracurricular activity.  Any and all such fees shall be paid prior to the student’s participation in the extracurricular activity.
   6. Eligibility requirements based on school attendance are not applicable to home-school students.
   7. Home school students meet scholastic eligibility requirements if the student is mastering the material in each course or subject being taught, and the student is maintaining satisfactory progress toward achievement or promotion.  To establish a home school student’s scholastic eligibility, a parent, teacher, or organization providing instruction to the student shall submit an affidavit to the principal indicating the student meets scholastic eligibility requirements.
   8. Ineligibility of a home school student can be established by the person or organization who initially submitted the eligibility affidavit by providing a subsequent written notice to the school principal that the student no longer meets scholastic eligibility requirements.
   9. An enrolled public school student who has been declared to be ineligible to participate in an extracurricular activity and who subsequently enrolls in a home school program shall lose eligibility for participation in the extracurricular activity until the student demonstrates scholastic eligibility by providing test results or a portfolio of the student’s work to the school principal.  A student may not re-establish eligibility during the same activity season in which the student was declared ineligible.
      
      
7. ATHLETIC TRANSFERS
   1. Students shall attend school and participate in athletics within the boundaries in which they reside. A student’s athletic eligibility is established at the school in which boundary they reside. Resident students may be able to attend another school within the District through the Open Enrollment procedures.  A school transfer under these procedures does not establish eligibility for athletic participation.  A school transfer may adversely affect a student’s eligibility to participate in athletics sanctioned by UHSAA wherein the student may be ineligible to participate for up to twelve (12) months.
   2. When a student-athlete desires to transfer to another school, all requirements for the transfer and enrollment will first be considered independent of the requirements for UHSAA athletic eligibility.  Student-athletes who have first satisfied all requirements for a school transfer must then satisfy all UHSAA eligibility transfer requirements in order to participate in UHSAA-sponsored athletics.
   3. A student attending a class or program at another school in the District, other than the one where they regularly attend, is eligible to participate in interscholastic competition only at the school where the student’s permanent records are maintained and where they are considered a full-time student.
   4. Students attending alternative high schools in the District are eligible to participate in interscholastic competition only at the high school in whose attendance area they reside.
   5. If a UHSAA member school closes, a new school is constructed, or school boundaries are changed, any student-athlete affected by these changes shall be eligible and expected to participate at the new UHSAA member school in whose aligned boundaries they reside.  A student opting to attend and participate in a UHSAA member school other than their aligned school must follow regular UHSAA eligibility and transfer procedures.
   6. A student suspended, expelled, or otherwise removed for disciplinary reasons, including revocation or non-renewal of open enrollment permit, from a UHSAA member high school shall be ineligible for interscholastic activities in any other UHSAA member school until all conditions for re-admittance have been fulfilled at the school where the suspension, expulsion, or removal for disciplinary reasons occurred.  In no case shall that period exceed twelve (12) months.
      
      
8. DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND TOBACCO TESTING OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
   1. The use of alcohol; tobacco, including electronic cigarettes and vapor products; and illegal drugs are strictly prohibited.  Students who use any of the above substances during a season will be subject to the sanctions outlined in the UHSAA Handbook.  Students may also be subject to disciplinary action as set forth in Policy 5200.  Coaches may impose a more restrictive policy for a given team, but in order to do so they must include that information in the team disclosure statement. 
   2. Limitations for the participation of students in Utah high school activities regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco products, and other drugs during a sports season, as defined in the Utah Code are:
      1. First offense: Suspension from two consecutive games, meets, matches, competitions, or performances at the same level of play (and any intervening levels as well).  Practice may be continued following a personal assessment of the student by a licensed substance abuse intervention or treatment program and/or participation in a district, governing board of a charter, or private school-approved intervention program.
      2. Second offense: A six-week suspension from games, meets, matches, competitions, or performances.  Student participation in an assessment by a licensed substance abuse intervention or treatment program with prescribed follow-up is required.  Practice may continue only after the assessment has been completed and positive participation in the prescribed follow-up is occurring.
      3. Third offense: An eighteen-week suspension from all games, meets, matches, competitions, performances, and practices.  Reinstatement of eligibility at the end of the eighteen-week suspension is predicated upon the successful completion of a formal assessment, intervention, and treatment program.  In all of the foregoing offenses, local school and/or district requirements that deal with discipline, suspension, corrective measures, parent/guardian involvement, rehabilitation, and so forth, must be met.
   3. Before any student participates in any UHSAA extracurricular or school program, the student and the student’s custodial parent or lawful guardian shall sign and return a written consent form for random drug testing.  Students are ineligible to compete/perform until this form has been completed.
      1. Random Student Selection:
         1. Random drug testing will be conducted during the season on a weekly basis or any other frequency determined by the school (not to exceed 6 times a month).  If the participant has already been initially tested as a result of their participation in a prior activity, they will continue to have their name in the pool consisting of all students participating in programs at the time of the drawing.
         2. Selection for testing will be by lottery drawing.  Reasonable steps will be taken to assure the integrity, confidentiality, and random nature of the Selection process.
      2. Procedure for Random Drawing:
         1. Each participant will be assigned a number at the beginning of the extracurricular activity season or session.
         2. These numbers and the identity of the student to whom such a number is assigned will be known only to the school’s designees.  The numbers will be in a secure place accessible only to authorized personnel.
      3. Urine Sampling Procedure:
         1. On the day the student numbers are drawn for testing, those students selected will be notified and must immediately report to the designated place to produce a urine sample.
         2. Samples will be collected at an appropriate school site and on the same day the student is selected for testing.  If the student is absent on that day, the testing will take place on the next testing day.  If a student is unable to produce the urine sample, they will remain under supervision for a reasonable amount of time until a sample can be provided.  If after one hour, a student is unable to provide a sample, the inability will be treated as a refusal to test.  (See paragraph 9.)
         3. The student will use a single occupancy bathroom with supervision remaining outside of the bathroom.
      4. Prescription Medication: Students selected for random drug testing may, prior to the test, disclose any prescription medications and supplements they are currently taking.  The school’s designee has the right to confirm the authenticity of the medications with parents.
      5. Scope of Tests:
         

         Amphetamines	Opiates (Oxycontin)
         Barbiturates	Marijuana (Level 20, 50, and 100)
         Benzodiazepines	PCP
         Cocaine	Propoxyphene
         Alcohol	Creatinine level
         Methadone	Tobacco

      6. Access to results: The testing agency will be authorized to report results only to the school designee(s).  Test results shall be destroyed at the end of each year unless conditions for future participation that were mandated following a positive test have not been met.
      7. Procedures for a positive test: If a student tests positive, the parent will be notified.  A student or parent may contest the results of the random test and request a second reading.  Students will remain under the supervision of the test administrator until the second reading is completed.  If a parent cannot be contacted, a second reading will be conducted.
      8. Consequences of a positive result: Participation after a positive test will follow UHSAA conditions outlined above in Section VIII.B.1 through 3.
      9. Refusal to be tested: If a student refuses to be tested or fails to produce a sample within one hour, they will be treated as if they tested positive on a first, second, or third offense. 
      10. Altered or Fraudulent Sample: If a student provides an adulterated or fraudulent sample, they will be treated as if they tested positive on a first, second, or third offense.
      11. Non-punitive: No student shall be penalized academically for testing positive for the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, nor shall any student be denied the right to participate in or otherwise be denied any benefits, services, or programs of the school, or other participation in the activity programs of the school, other than participation in the activity programs outlined above.  The results of the drug test pursuant to this policy will not be documented in any student’s academic records.  Information regarding the results of the drug tests shall be kept confidential among the building principal, designees, any employee with a need to know, the student’s parent or legal guardian, and the student.  In particular, test results will not be disclosed to law enforcement or juvenile authorities without a valid and binding subpoena or other process issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
          
          
9. JUNIOR HIGH ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
   1. A student must have a 2.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) and not more than one “failing” or “incomplete” grade from the previous grading period or have a 2.0 cumulative GPA comprised of the previous four consecutive quarters.
   2. Students receiving more than one “U” (Unsatisfactory), or two “N’’s (Needs Improvement) in the preceding grading period for their Citizenship grade will not be considered eligible for participation in extracurricular activities.
   3. Final report cards will be the basis for determining eligibility.  Grade changes at the end of the quarter due to clerical error must be made in five (5) calendar days.  Any changes made after this time period will not be considered for eligibility.  Reading/Advisory grades and citizenship may not count toward eligibility.  Eligibility is the responsibility of each individual school and will be governed by the school administration.
   4. No student shall be eligible to represent their school and participate in any athletic activity who has reached an age of sixteen (16) years prior to September 1st of the current school year. 
   5. If a question arises as to a student’s eligibility, the athlete and parent have the right to a hearing by the individual School’s Standards Committee and a review by the school's principal.

Approved: March 2024