Section 500
Policy 570

Educational Services - Extra-Curricular Activities

1. Extra-curricular activities and athletics are important components of the educational program and the School District's focus on fostering the health, well-being, and talents of our students. Programs are to be conducted in an atmosphere which demonstrates respect for others and which promotes good sportsmanship.

1. The Board of Education shall approve all extra-curricular activities or changes to existing activities offered or sponsored by District schools. Once approved, programs shall be continued until the Board of Education discontinues the program.
   
   
2. The Principal shall notify the Superintendent who shall notify the Board when the number of participants is insufficient to field a team or to fulfill the purpose of the activity. Notice shall also be provided when the Principal is unable to obtain sponsors or coaches needed for the activity or sport.
   
   
3. The Board shall periodically review extra-curricular activities and sports including, but not limited to, participation levels, availability of qualified sponsors and coaches, and costs to determine if the activities should be continued.

1. Each activity and athletic program shall be conducted as an educational endeavor that teaches skills, encourages dedication and commitment, fosters enjoyment, and requires respect for others and good sportsmanship.
   
   
   
   1. At the Elementary Level, enjoyment of sports and activities should be fostered along with knowledge of rules and beginning development of basic skills.
      Elementary school programs shall develop and foster an awareness of the values and fun of activities and sports, and encourage participation.
      
      
   2. Middle school programs shall offer a variety of activities and sports, and encourage participation while emphasizing fundamental skills and team concepts. Competitive sports, including inter-school competition, may be included as extra-curricular activities.
      
      
   3. High school programs shall offer a variety of activities and sports that foster the values of enjoyment and participation and introduce the rigorous demands of the student-athlete commitment and the challenges of competition through sports sanctioned by CHSAA. offer a variety of activities and sports. Inter-school athletic programs shall focus on the student-athlete commitment and the competitive aspect of sports sanctioned by CHSAA.
   
   
   
2. Sponsors and Coaches shall conduct activities, practices, events and competitions in a manner that supports and promotes the District's mission, philosophy, goals and expectations.
   
   
3. Students shall be encouraged to participate in more than one extra-curricular activity or sport during a year. Staff shall not, in any fashion, focus the student on one activity or sport and shall not, in any manner, place pressure upon a student to limit out-of-season training to one sport. Staff must not prohibit, restrict or limit students from participating in activities or sports sponsored by other organizations unless such participation specifically conflicts with scheduled practices and/or events and competitions.
   
   
4. The Student Conduct Code (Policy 403) shall apply to all students participating in extra-curricular activities or athletic programs. Additional rules related to the conduct of students while they are participating in extra-curricular activities or athletic programs shall be published in each school's student handbook or other documents made available to all participants and their parents. Such rules should include attendance requirements for practices and events, conduct while traveling to and from activities as well as conduct during activities, and eligibility requirements in keeping with Article 5, Paragraph C of this policy. To the extent feasible, requirements for participation should be standardized across activities. Rules shall meet minimum CHSAA requirements.
   
   
5. Continual efforts toward the improvement of extra-curricular activities and sports programs are important to foster excellence and success for individual students and teams engaged in competitions. Thus, each School Improvement Plan shall include a component addressing extra-curricular improvement including objectives and planned actions/activities to attain these objectives.

1. The Board of Education shall employ staff qualified through licensure, certification or experience to sponsor or coach extra-curricular activities.
   
   
2. Coaches
   
   
   1. Coaches must be 18 year of years of age and have graduated from high school.
      
      
   2. Coaches must have current First Aid and CPR certificates.
      
      
   3. Coaches must be:
      
      
   4. a licensed teacher who is employed by the District and assigned as a coach by the Principal.;
      
      
   5. a CHSAA registered coach who has been recommended by the Principal for a coaching assignment and has been employed by the Board specifically for that coaching assignment. To be registered, the individual must provide evidence of experience in playing and coaching the sport, evidence of experience in working with youth, have letters of recommendation testifying to the moral character of the applicant, and have successfully completed the CHSAA coaches test. Register coaches shall also complete a background check (fingerprinting).
      
      
   6. To the extent feasible, head coaches should have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a head or assistant coach in the sport.
      
      
   7. At the completion of each sport season, head coaches shall be evaluated by the Principal or designated Athletic Director. Such evaluation shall include information from participating students, trends toward program improvement including accomplishment of goals established at the beginning of the season, and, if coaching for more than one season, win/loss history and patterns. A copy of the written report shall be filed in the coach's personnel file.
      
      
   8. Coaching assignments shall be considered "at-will" positions that may be terminated during a season. Assignment shall be for one sports season without any rights of the coach to be placed in the assignment for additional seasons. However, if the evaluation supports a coach's re-assignment, he/she should be re-assigned for the next season as soon as feasible.
      
      
   9. Volunteer coaches must be licensed teachers or a CHSAA registered coach or be under the direct supervision (line of vision) of an employed coach. Volunteer coaches shall not directly supervise or instruct students independent of the direct supervision of a licensed or registered coach. They may not be responsible for a team in the absence of a paid head or assistant coach.
      
      
   10. Licensed teachers employed by the District shall be notified of vacant coaching positions and provided opportunity to apply as a candidate. However, it shall be the responsibility of the Principal to assign or recommend for employment the most qualified candidate for the position. All vacant positions shall be advertised by the District Personnel Office.
       
       
   11. To the extent feasible, head coaches shall be assigned prior to assistant coaches and included in determining who their assistant's will be.
       
       
   12. The Superintendent Principal is authorized to fill a coaching vacancy when such vacancy has occurred during an activities/sports season. An individual filling such position shall be a temporary employee. The Superintendent shall notify the board of this action.
       
       
   13. Coaches are to read and be familiar with all of the procedures, policies, guidelines and rules governing the league, state, and their sport. They shall assure that their team members receive school and District athletic/activity handbooks, and shall uphold compliance with the District's student conduct code.
       
       
   14. Coaches are expected to promote sportsmanship. Coaches should discipline and may dismiss players who disregard the conduct code or good sportsmanship.
       
       
   15. Coaches shall be fair and unprejudiced with players considering their individual differences, needs, interests, temperaments, aptitudes and environments.
       
       
   16. A licensed or registered coach must provide supervision while team members are being transported in a District vehicle. Coaches are also responsible for seeing that facilities including locker rooms and dressing areas used by their athletes are left in the same (or better) condition as when they arrived. A coach or designated supervisor shall remain in the locker room at all times to see that facilities are cared for properly.
       
       
   17. Coaches' must adhere to District policies and their actions and statements must reflect well upon the District and set personal examples for students. As such, coaches shall not smoke or chew tobacco or use alcohol or drugs while in contact with athletes or during any coaching related activities, not use profane or obscene language.
   
   
   
3. High School and Middle School Principals may assign licensed teachers to serve as Activities and Athletics Directors within the scope of the adopted General Fund Budget.
   
   
4. Sponsors and coaches shall adhere to all policies established by the Board of Education and to all applicable CHSAA regulations. At all times, their primary interest as a sponsor or coach shall be the safety, positive development and successful accomplishments of the participants. Sponsors and coaches are also expected to serve as positive role models for students and to foster positive community relations.
   
   
5. The Principal or designee shall assure the presence of sufficient staff who are adequately trained to monitor each activity or event, to call for emergency responses (ambulance, fire, sheriff), and to assure compliance with policies and laws.

1. Student participation in extra-curricular activities and sports programs shall be voluntary. Participation is a privilege, not a right. Students must adhere to the District's Student Conduct Code (Policy 403) and to the rules for the activity or sport established by the school, sponsor or coach in order to participate. Students who have violated the Conduct Code or rules for the activity, or who have been sanctioned for un-sportsman like conduct or ejected from an activity may be prohibited from further participation without refund of fees paid.
   
   
2. Student participation in extra-curricular activities and sports programs may not be barred because of a student's participation in lawful activities during out-of-school hours and off school property.
   
   
3. Athletic Eligibility Requirements
   
   
   1. Must not be 19 years old or older prior to August 1.
      
      
   2. Have completed required participation forms.
      
      
   3. No failures in prior grading term (excludes incoming freshman).
      
      
   4. Maintain 65% (Numerical Point Average) or above in each enrolled class during a competitive season. Athletes must be enrolled in a minimum of three (3) classes during a competitive season. Grades are to be monitored on a weekly basis. A grade below 65% shall place the athlete on Academic Notice. A second consecutive grade below 65% shall place the athlete on Academic Ineligibility for a minimum of one week. The athlete may continue to practice, but participation in competition shall not be allowed.
      
      
   5. Must comply with all CHSAA and Metro League rules and regulations.
   
   
   
4. Any enrolled student or resident home-schooled student or resident student attending an independent or parochial school meeting the eligibility requirements shall be permitted to participate. Continued participation, shall be contingent upon adherence to rules and requirements established by the sponsor or coach and approved by the Director or Principal. CHSAA requirements must be met to continue in a CHSAA regulated activity.
   
   
5. Students from other school districts that have boundaries contiguous to Platte Canyon may participate in School District extra-curricular activities and sports programs if the district of residence does not sponsor the particular activity provided that eligibility requirements are met.
   
   
6. Students may participate in an extra-curricular program at another high school in a District contiguous to Platte Canyon when an activity or sport is not offered at Platte Canyon High School. If the activity is not offered by a contiguous district, the student may participate at the nearest public school that offers the activity.
   
   
7. Students must pay fees as established by the Board of Education to participate in an extra-curricular activity or sport except that the fee may be waived by the Principal for students who are eligible for the "free or reduced lunch" program or who, due to a significant economic hardship, are not able to pay such fee. The participation fee amount for non-enrolled students shall not exceed one hundred fifty percent of the fee amount charged an enrolled student to participate.

1. Student organizations and clubs shall be encouraged when they meet the criterion of contributing to learning. Such organizations shall operate within the framework of state statutes, Board policy, administrative rules and the parameters of the school program. Any school sponsored organization or club must be approved by the Principal and must be assigned a faculty advisor.
   
   
2. Secret societies clubs, fraternities, or sororities may not be formed or sponsored as extra-curricular activities.
   
   
3. Religious groups or clubs may meet on school grounds or in school facilities with approval of the Principal or designee. However, such groups or clubs shall not be, in any manner, school sponsored or supported. No public monies shall be expended for these groups or clubs.