| 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. |
2431.01 - PARTICIPATION BY TRANSFER STUDENTS
The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent, fair, and equitable requests for student reassignment consistent with the School Board's policies on facility utilization/class size (F.S. 1003.03), capacity, and enrollment.
The Board recognizes the value of interscholastic athletics and the positive impact sports have on students. The Board shall comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Florida High School Athletic Association, Inc. (FHSAA), Florida law, and this policy when determining the eligibility of a transfer student to participate in the District’s interscholastic athletic program. Transfers within the District will be honored between April 1st and May 1st for the upcoming school year. Eligibility to participate in sports will be determined in accordance with FHSAA Bylaw 9.3.2.
Pursuant to the bylaws of the FHSAA, a "transfer" occurs when a student makes any change in schools after s/he establishes residency at a school each year. A student who transfers from one school to another will be eligible at the new school provided the student qualifies under one of transfer eligibility categories set forth in the FHSAA’s bylaws and meets all other eligibility requirements.
A student who transfers to a school during the school year may seek to immediately join an existing team if the roster for the specific interscholastic or intrascholastic extra-curricular activity has not reached the identified maximum size for the particular activity and if the coach for the activity determines that the student has the requisite skill and ability to participate. The FHSAA and District may not declare such a student ineligible because the student did not have the opportunity to comply with qualifying requirements.
However, a student may not participate in a sport if the student participated in that same sport at another school during that school year, unless the student meets one (1) of the following criteria:
| A. | Dependent children of active duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders. | |
| B. | Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone. | |
| C. | Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent. | |
| D. | Authorized for good cause. |
For purposes of this policy, "authorized for good cause" means the student is able to satisfactorily demonstrate to the Principal that one (1) of the following applies:
| A. | The student moves to a new home address due to a move by the student and a person or person(s) with whom s/he has been previously living that makes it necessary for the student to attend a different school. | |
| B. | The student moves to a new residence following marriage of the student. The student must immediately establish a new residence that makes it necessary to attend a different school. | |
| C. | The student is reassigned to a new school pursuant to Board policy. | |
| D. | The student transfers from his/her current school within the first twenty (20) school days to a new school (i.e., acceptance into a previously applied for magnet program, charter, or private school). | |
| E. | Special assignment by the Superintendent. | |
| F. | Undue hardship. |
The Principal of each school in the District shall be responsible for enforcing the FHSAA’s bylaws and policies in his/her school. The Principal shall review and determine whether a transfer student qualifies under one of the transfer eligibility categories set forth in the FHSAA’s bylaws and meets all other eligibility requirements. Upon approval of the transfer student’s eligibility, a Notice of Transfer form prescribed by the FHSAA shall be submitted to the FHSAA prior to the student participating in any sport season.
The Principal or his/her designee must annually submit all eligibility reports electronically and sign all eligibility correspondence. The principal or designee shall certify that the information provided to the FHSAA is accurate and that the students named in the report are eligible to participate in accordance with the FHSAA’s bylaws.
Recruiting Prohibited/Penalties
The Board recognizes that the recruitment of student athletes is strictly prohibited by F.S. 1006.20. The FHSAA, through its bylaws, has prescribed penalties, sanctions and an appeals process for athletic recruiting violations. A student may not be declared ineligible based on violation of recruiting rules unless the student or parent has falsified any enrollment or eligibility document or accepted any benefit or any promise of benefit if such benefit is not generally available to the school’s students or family members or is based in any way on athletic interest, potential, or performance.
Eligibility Appeals
If the Principal determines that a transfer student is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics, a student may submit an appeal in accordance with Florida law and the FHSAA’s bylaws.
Handbook and Bylaws of the Florida High School Athletic Association
F.S. 1002.20
F.S. 1006.15
F.S. 1006.20
© Neola 2016