FILE:  IDE

Cf:  IDFA, IDFAA

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The Caldwell Parish School Board shall be committed to providing for each of its schools a program of student activities to all students in a manner which allows students equal opportunity to participate in services and activities.  All activities shall be in compliance with pertinent regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

All work missed by students while participating in student activities or events shall be made up and completed in a manner that would be required of any other students in order to receive credit.

No student shall be allowed to participate in any event on the day or night while the student is under suspension from school.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Co-curricular activities are activities that are relevant, supportive, that are an integral part of the program of studies in which the student is enrolled, and which are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Extracurricular activities are those activities which are not directly related to the program of studies, which are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff, and which are considered valuable for the overall development of the student.

Notwithstanding any policy, rule, or regulation adopted by the School Board to the contrary, no student otherwise eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity, including interscholastic athletics, shall be limited in the number of such activities in which the student may participate in a school year.

The School Board shall take all reasonable steps to ensure an equal opportunity for students of all races to participate in extracurricular activities, including, but not limited to:

1. At the beginning of each school year, sponsors, directors and coaches of extracurricular programs shall notify all eligible students by posting notices and/or by disseminating fliers or similar items which state that students of all races are encouraged to participate in all extracurricular programs and which contain the name, title, and contact telephone number for each sponsor and coach.  This notification shall also state that each sponsor, director, and coach is available to meet, upon request, with any interested student to fully inform him/her about each extracurricular program in order to encourage participation by students of all races.  A general notification to this effect shall also be posted prominently on bulletin boards in each school and shall be included in the student handbook.
   
   

2. The School Board shall distribute appropriate information to parents and students throughout the system, by school level (e.g. information on high school activities to high school students and their parents), about all extracurricular programs and sports, with the information designed to encourage broad participation of students of all races in such programs.
   
   

3. The School Board shall ensure that there are no systemic barriers to participation by minority students in any extracurricular programs and sports, including fees, camps, and transportation (systemic barriers are those over which the School District has some degree of control).

Loss of Activity Privileges

Students may be suspended from participation in or being present at school-related extracurricular activities.  Only the principal or person designated by the principal may suspend a student from participation in extracurricular activities.  When under suspension from school or assigned to an alternative education program, a student shall not participate in nor be present at any school activities sponsored by the school held on school property.

Nothing in policy is intended to limit a teacher's authority to require a student to leave a particular extracurricular activity when the teacher has evidence that the student's behavior has been in violation of School Board policies or school rules regarding student conduct.  A report of misconduct of such a student and the action taken by the teacher shall be reported to the appropriate school administrator at the earliest possible opportunity, preferably not later than the beginning of the next school day.

SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT PARTICIPATION

All non-academic and extracurricular services and activities shall be offered to all exceptional students in a manner that allows them equal opportunity to participate in services and activities.

GUIDELINES

1. Co-curricular activities may be scheduled during instructional time.  Participation in those activities shall permit a student to be excused from attending class(es) and to make-up any classwork missed as a result of the activity.
   
   

2. Extracurricular activities shall be scheduled at a time that generally will not interrupt instructional time.  (Students shall not be allowed to be excused from classroom instruction for extracurricular activities, except where approved by the school principal.)
   
   

3. Student eligibility for co-curricular activities shall depend upon specific organizational requirements either by maintaining a certain grade average or by being a member of a particular class.
   
   

4. Principals shall schedule student activities during recesses and before and after school, whenever possible, in order to maximize the use of instructional time.
   
   

5. To be eligible to participate in any extracurricular activity, a student must be in attendance at least one-half day (three (3) class periods) or have a doctor's excuse with appointment time verified.  Extenuating circumstances shall be considered on an individual basis by the principal.

CHEERLEADER AND DANCE/DRILL TEAM TRYOUT PROCEDURE

Tryouts for cheerleader and dance/drill team shall be conducted using the same basic criteria for grades 6-12.  Every activity, individual and/or group is subject to all school and School Board policy.  Rules and conditions of the organization are in addition to school and School Board policy and shall not be interpreted to replace these policies.  Sponsors and/or coaches shall be expected to coordinate all activities with the school principal.

Tryout Procedure Requirements:

1. Selection shall be made by a panel of three (3) judges with expertise in cheerleading and/or dance.  These judges must be from out of parish and preferable from the college level and at least one judge should be black.
   
   

2. A standard format score sheet shall be used for each group.  The total score may include a sponsor score of no more than ten (10) points.
   
   

3. Score sheets shall be tallied by a school or School Board administrator outside the presence of the sponsor.  Candidates shall be identified only by a number drawn randomly.
   
   

4. The administrator, after double-checking the scores, shall list the scores from highest to lowest using candidate number only for identification.  This listing will then be given to the sponsor who will, with the administrator, choose an appropriate cut off score.
   
   

5. A student who is unable to participate in tryouts due to an injury, which occurred while participating in a varsity sport and who has been a cheerleader or Dance/Drill Team member for two years, will be exempt from tryouts and will retain his/her position on the squad for the following school year only.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:176

U.S. v. Caldwell Parish School Board et al., Civil Action No. 71-16751, Dist. Court, WD Louisiana

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education

Official Handbook, Louisiana High School Athletic Association

Board minutes, 9-5-00, 7-9-02, 8-6-02, 4-4-06, 7-11-13, 11-10-13, 5-16-24

Caldwell Parish School Board