2430 - DISTRICT-SPONSORED CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

The School Board of Polk County

Bylaws & Policies

Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013.

2430 - DISTRICT-SPONSORED CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

The School Board believes that the goals and objectives of this District are best achieved by a diversity of learning experiences, including those that are not conducted in a regular classroom but are directly related to the curriculum.

The purpose of curricular-related activities shall be to enable students to explore a wider range of individual interests than may be available in the District's courses of study but are still directly related to accomplishing the educational outcomes for students as adopted by the Board in Policy 2131.

For purposes of this policy, curricular-related activities are defined as those activities in which:

	A.	the subject matter is actually taught or will be taught in a regularly offered course;
	B.	the subject matter concerns the District's composite courses of study;
	C.	participation is required for a particular course;
	D.	participation results in academic credit.

No curricular-related activity shall be considered to be under the sponsorship of this Board unless it meets one or more of the criteria stated above and has been approved by the Superintendent.

Such activities, along with extra-curricular activities (not directly related to courses of study), may be conducted on or off school premises by clubs, associations, and organizations of students sponsored by the Board and directed by a staff advisor. Career and technical education programs with career and technical student organizations must be under the advisement of a current career and technical education teacher.

The Board shall allow nondistrict-sponsored, student clubs and activities during noninstructional time, in accordance with the provisions in Policy 5730 -- Equal Access For Nondistrict-Sponsored, Student Clubs and Activities.

Noncurricular student activities that are initiated by parents or other members of the community may be allowed under the provisions of Policy 7510 - Use of District Facilities. The Board, however will not:

	A.	assume any responsibility for the planning, conducting, or evaluating of such activities;
	B.	allow any member of the District's staff to assist in the planning, conducting, or evaluating of such an activity during the hours s/he is functioning as a member of the staff.

No nondistrict-sponsored organization may use the name of the School District or any other name which would associate an activity with the District.

In order to be eligible for any co-curricular, interscholastic, and noninterscholastic extra-curricular activity, a student must have maintained at least a cumulative 2.0 grade-point average for the grading period in which s/he wishes to participate.

An exception may be made by the Principal if the student has been participating in a career and technical education program and has shown satisfactory progress toward achieving the minimum grade-point average.

If a student who becomes ineligible under these standards improves his/her grade point average during the current semester enough to meet the eligibility standard, s/he may be reinstated at the beginning of the next semester.

Students must maintain satisfactory conduct, including adherence to appropriate dress and other codes of student conduct policies as described in F.S. 1006.07(2). (Policy 5500 - Student Conduct and Policy 5511 - Dress and Grooming)

Participation in extra-curricular activities by home school students, charter school students, and virtual school students shall be governed by State statutes and respectively by Policy 9270 - Equivalent Education Outside the Schools (Home-Education), Policy 9800 - Charter Schools, and Policy 2370.01 - Virtual Education Program.

Students identified as disabled under the IDEA are subject to the eligibility standards established by this policy unless specifically exempted by the express terms of their individualized education program (IEP). An IEP can specify the criteria by which a grade will be determined for [a] course[s], given the individual student's disability.

Whenever a student becomes a member of a District-established student group or national organization such as National Honor Society, in order to remain a member, s/he must continue to meet all of the eligibility criteria and abide by the principles and practices established by the group or organization.

Students shall be fully informed of the curricular-related and extra-curricular activities available to them and of the eligibility standards established for participation in these activities. Students will be further informed that participation in these activities is a privilege and not a right, and that they may be prohibited from all or part of their participation in such activities by authorized school personnel without further notice, hearing, and/or appeal rights (See Policy 5610.05 - Prohibition from Extra-Curricular Activities). District-sponsored activities shall be available to all students who elect to participate and who meet eligibility standards.

F.S. 1006.15