File:  JJJ - Student Eligibility

Definitions

For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

1.  "Activity" means any extracurricular or interscholastic activity including but not limited to any academic, artistic, athletic, recreational or other related activity offered by La Junta High School and La Junta Junior High School.

2.  "School of attendance" means the school in which a student is enrolled and attends classes.

3.  "School district of residence" means the school district in which a student resides.

4.  "School of participation" means a school in which the student participates in an activity but is not the student's school of attendance.

RATIONAL AND PURPOSE:

Students have a responsibility to themselves, their parents, school, and community.   Participation in any school activity outside of instruction is not a right. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which will reflect the high ideals and standards of senior and middle school students in our community.  This code of conduct will require students to align their conduct and community expectations with the Mission and Vision of La Junta Schools.

Activities intended to provide academic or social-emotional support shall not be denied based on student eligibility.  (Tutoring, homework club, LGBTQ support groups, peer counseling.)

Participation in activities

All students meeting eligibility requirements are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities at their school of attendance.  Subject to the same eligibility requirements, the district shall allow students enrolled in any school (including charter schools, online education programs, nonpublic schools and home schools) to participate on an equal basis in any activity offered by the district that is not offered at a student's school of attendance. 

If an activity is not available at a student's school of attendance, the student may choose to participate at another public or non-public school.  Students must choose the school that offers the greatest number of activities in which the student wishes to participate.

If the original school of participation chosen does not offer an activity in which the student wishes to participate, the student may participate in activities at more than one school of participation during the same school year.  It is the responsibility of the students and their parents/guardians to acquire all paperwork and contact the other school.

If an activity is not offered by either the district of attendance or the district of residence, the student may seek to participate in a contiguous school district or at the nearest public school that offers the activity even if the school is not in a contiguous school district.  However, the district will choose the specific school of participation.  When choosing, that district must choose the school that offers the greatest number of activities in which a student wishes to participate.

With regard to athletic teams, the school of participation may reserve slots for up to twice the number of starting positions on the team at each level of competition for students enrolled in the district. With regard to individual athletic activities, the school of participation may reserve slots for up to half the total number of team members at each level of competition for students enrolled in the district.

Students who are residents of the school district but who are being educated in a home school may participate provided they comply with all laws governing non-public home-based education.  Students may only participate in one sport per season.

Eligibility requirements

To participate in any student activities at a school of attendance, a student shall meet all of the requirements imposed by the school of attendance. 

To participate in activities at a school of participation students must comply with:

1.  All eligibility requirements imposed by the school of participation.  Those requirements include the following:

o  The student must be a full-time junior high school student or a high school student who is enrolled in five classes and pass a minimum of 2.5 carnegie units per semester.

o  La Junta Jr./Sr. High School, in accordance with the Colorado High School Activities Association, follows a semester and weekly eligibility check. Semester eligibility requires the student's grades from the preceding semester of attendance to be checked. The student must have passed a minimum of 2.5 carnegie units.  During the current semester the student must be enrolled in five credits and pass a minimum of 2.5 carnegie units per semester. Students who have not met the academic requirements at the close of the semester may regain academic eligibility on the sixth Thursday following Labor Day for the first semester and on the Friday immediately prior to March 10th for the second semester. Weekly eligibility will include that a student may not fail one class in consecutive weeks or may not be failing two or more classes in the same week. Weekly eligibility is updated every Monday.  If a student is academically ineligible for the week, that remains in effect from Monday to the following Monday. Incoming 7th grade and 9th grade students are exempt from the previous semester grades for their first semester due to school of choice as incoming Freshmen.

o  The student must be in attendance at school for the entire school day in order to participate in any school sponsored event, game, or activity and in order to practice they must be in attendance at least half of that day.  In cases of emergency or extenuating circumstances, the principal or his designee may grant an exception to this limitation.

2.  The same responsibilities and standards of behavior, including related classroom and practice requirements that apply to enrolled students. 

If a student has not met all of the eligibility requirements or if the student would have become ineligible to participate at a school, the student cannot gain or regain eligibility by applying to participate in activities at another school.  Any penalties assessed to the student must first be paid at the school of attendance or participation before regaining eligibility to participate at another school.

Transfer students

If a student transfers enrollment to another school without an accompanying change of domicile by the student's parent/guardian, the student's eligibility to participate is determined by the district's eligibility requirements and Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) rules. 

Participation fee

Except as otherwise prohibited by state law, non-enrolled students participating in district activities shall pay the same fee charged enrolled students for participation in the activity. 

Athletic Fees for Junior/Senior High School:

1.  A $30 athletic fee will be charged for each sport that an athlete participates in, with a cap of $75 if involved in 3 sports.

2.  A family will be charged $25 per sport for the first child.   There will be a $100 family cap with children in two or more sports.

3.  Out of District student fee will be $50.00 per sport.

4.  The athletic fee for all participating athletes for each sport must be collected prior to an athlete's participation.

5.  Athletes who have a financial hardship may apply for a waiver of this fee by submitting a written request to the Athletic Director.  If approved, the Athletic Director will present alternatives to the fee schedule after reviewing the individual circumstances.

6.  A full refund will be made to the athlete who is cut from the team.

(NOTE:  District may charge non-enrolled students up to 150% of the fee charged enrolled students.  The district cannot charge a participation fee to any student in out-of-home placements, as that term is defined by C.R.S. 22-32-138(1)(e).)

CHSAA requirements

Eligibility requirements as published by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) shall be observed by all students at the junior and senior high school level.  Additional eligibility requirements may be imposed by the school district for both high school and junior high students.  Such eligibility requirements shall include good citizenship, acceptable academic standing, parental permission and good health (sports only).  Any student participating in a CHSAA sanctioned activity must meet the following eligibility requirements:

o  A physical examination statement must be turned into the school before being allowed to participate in a sport.

Have Emergency Treatment Form, District Parent Permission, Athletic Insurance Waiver, and Acknowledgement and Contract forms filled out, signed, and on file with the school before being allowed to practice in a sport or activity.  Athletic fees must be paid prior to the first day of practice.

RULES OF CONDUCT

A.  The following conduct, regardless of whether it constitutes a single incident or a pattern of activity, shall be grounds for disciplinary action.

1.  Use, *possession, sale, and/or exchange, regardless of the quantity, of alcoholic beverages, illegal controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia as defined by CRS 12-22 (e.g. hallucinogens, marijuana, opioids, anabolic steroids, etc.) and tobacco (in any form).

*A student will be in violation of this policy when the student is in open use and possession of controlled substances, visibly intoxicated or under the influence of some form of chemical, or in attendance (without parental accompaniment) at any activity where alcohol and/or drugs are accessible and are being used by those in attendance. 

Students involved in any activity sponsored by La Junta High School or La Junta Junior High School placing themselves (whether by coincidence or voluntarily) in the following situations shall be considered in violation of such policy:

a.  on person

b.  in a vehicle

c.  in attendance (without parental accompaniment) at any activity where alcohol and/or controlled substances are accessible and are being used by those in attendance, unless such activity is held at a place licensed to serve alcohol.

Guilt by association does not apply to tobacco.

2.  Willful destruction, damage, or defacing of any school property or equipment.

3.  Behavior on or off school property which is detrimental to the welfare, safety, or morals of others.

4.  Serious violations in or on school property, including district vehicles, for which suspension or expulsion shall be mandatory.  Refer to Policy JKD-JKE-E.

5.  Any other infraction in violation of Policy JKD-JKE-E.

B.  PENALTIES for Rule Violations are stated in Policy JJJ-R-1.

C.   Any violation of the rules of conduct may result in the revoking of any awards for which the participant might otherwise be eligible.

D.  The District and Administration reserve the right to bypass any or all of the levels of penalties and impose any or all of the more serious levels of penalties if the seriousness of the offense warrants such action.

E.  Any observed incident must be reported to school authorities within ten calendar days of the incident to be considered a valid and legitimate charge.  An exception to this is where an incident is not reported to school officials but the student participant is convicted of a criminal or juvenile offense related to any of the rules of conduct affected by this policy.

F.  Further rules and guides for participation in extracurricular activities will be handled by activity sponsors as prescribed by CHSAA, East Otero School District, and the La Junta Junior/Senior High School handbook.

Student participation in an activity through any amateur association or league that is not a member of Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) shall not prevent the student from participating or affect eligibility to participate in the same activity at any school as long as the student has the express written permission of the principal at the school of participation, the student's class attendance is not comprised and the student is in good academic standing.

Appeal

Any student who is sanctioned or is found by the school, school district or CHSAA to be ineligible to participate in any extra-curricular activity may appeal the sanction or finding.  Students may not appeal sanctions for ejection from the activity as a result of violating Policy JICDA.

As an alternative, a student may bypass the appeal process by filing a request for binding arbitration with the school district or entity issuing the sanction or finding.  The cost associated with the arbitration procedure shall be shared according to state law.  The parties shall select an arbitrator and proceed as provided in state law. 

Students may not appeal a sponsor's/coach's team/organization rules that are uniformly applied to all team members.

Adopted August 17, 1993
Revised September 12, 1994
Revised September 9, 1996
Revised September 15, 1997
Revised February 2, 2004
Revised December 10, 2007
Revised December 8, 2008
Revised March 12, 2012
Revised June 10, 2013
Revised January 13, 2014
Revised August 8, 2016
Revised June 11, 2018
Revised March 8, 2021

LEGAL REFS.:  C.R.S. 22-32-116.5 (6)(a)

C.R.S. 22-33-104.5 (6)

C.R.S. 22-30.7-108

C.R.S. 22-32-138 (7)

CROSS REF.:  IHBG, Home Schooling

JJD, Student Activities Fees

JFABE, Students in Foster Care