The Board of Directors of the Burlington Community School District offers a variety of voluntary activities designed to enhance the classroom education of its students. Students who participate in extracurricular activities serve as ambassadors of the District throughout the calendar year, whether away from or at school. Students who wish to exercise the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities must conduct themselves in accordance with board policy and must refrain from activities that are illegal, immoral, unhealthy, or inappropriate. Participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege, conditioned upon meeting the eligibility criteria established by the board, by the administration, and by individual activity coaches and sponsors. The Activities Director shall keep records of violations of the Good Conduct Rule.
The following activities are covered by the board’s policy:
Athletics, cheerleading, dance team, musical-play, speech and debate contests, and any other competition and/or performance where the student represents the school.
Academic Eligibility:
To be eligible for an activity, students participating must abide by the following guidelines:
- be enrolled or in at least 4 classes during the current semester or trimester, or be dual enrolled;
- have earned passing grades in at least four full-time classes the current semester or trimester;
- be earning passing grades in at least four full-time classes in the current semester or trimester;
- for students in athletics, music, or speech activities, be under 20 years of age;
- for students in athletics, music, or speech activities, be enrolled in high school for eight semesters or 12 trimesters;
- for students in athletics, have not been a member of a college squad nor trained with a college squad, nor participated in a college contest, nor engaged in that sport professionally;
- have met all transfer requirements, if the student is a transfer student, or be eligible under State of Iowa law and regulations if the student is an open enrollment student.
***IN ADDITION ATHLETES MUST FOLLOW THIS NEW GUIDELINES***
Language for the New No Pass No Play Rule
Iowa Code 36.15 (2) Scholarship Rules.
a. All contestants must be enrolled and in good standing in a school that is a member or associate member in good standing of the organization sponsoring the event.
b. All contestants must be under 20 years of age.
c. All contestants shall be enrolled students of the school in good standing. They shall receive credit in at least four subjects, each of one period or “hour” or the equivalent thereof, at all times. To qualify under this rule, a “subject” must meet the requirements of 281—Chapter 12. Coursework taken from a postsecondary institution and for which a school district or accredited nonpublic school grants academic credit toward high school graduation shall be used in determining eligibility. No student shall be denied eligibility if the student’s school program deviates from the traditional two-semester school year.
(1) Each contestant shall be passing all coursework for which credit is given and shall be making adequate progress toward graduation requirements at the end of each grading period. Grading period, graduation requirements, and any interim periods of ineligibility are determined by local policy. For purposes of this sub-rule, “grading period” shall mean the period of time at the end of which a student in grades 9 through 12 receives a final grade and course credit is awarded for passing grades.
(2) If at the end of any grading period a contestant is given a failing grade in any course for which credit is awarded, the contestant is ineligible to dress for and compete in the next occurring interscholastic athletic contests and competitions in which the contestant is a contestant for 20 consecutive calendar days.
d. A student with a disability who has an individualized education program shall not be denied eligibility on the basis of scholarship if the student is making adequate progress, as determined by school officials, towards the goals and objectives on the student’s individualized education program.
e. A student who meets all other qualifications may be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for a maximum of eight consecutive semesters upon entering the ninth grade for the first time. However, a student who engages in athletics during the summer following eighth grade is also eligible to compete during the summer following twelfth grade. Extenuating circumstances, such as health, may be the basis for an appeal to the executive board which may extend the eligibility of a student when the executive board finds that the interests of the student and interscholastic athletics will be benefited.
f. All member schools shall provide appropriate interventions and necessary academic supports for students who fail or who are at risk to fail, and shall report to the department regarding those interventions on the comprehensive school improvement plan.
g. A student is academically eligible upon entering the ninth grade.
h. A student is not eligible to participate in an interscholastic sport if the student has, in that same sport, participated in a contest with or against, or trained with, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), or other collegiate governing organization’s sanctioned team. A student may not participate with or against high school graduates if the graduates represent a collegiate institution or if the event is sanctioned or sponsored by a collegiate institution. Nothing in this sub-rule shall preclude a student from participating in a one-time tryout with or against members of a college team with permission from the member school’s administration and the respective collegiate institution’s athletic administration. [This is NOT a substantive change; it clarifies the “college squad” rule.]
i. No student shall be eligible to participate in any given interscholastic athletic sport if the student has engaged in that sport professionally.
j. The local superintendent of schools, with the approval of the local board of education, may give permission to a dropout student to participate in athletics upon return to school if the student is otherwise eligible under these rules.
k. Remediation of a failing grade by way of summer school or other means shall not affect the student’s ineligibility. All failing grades shall be reported to any school to which the student transfers.
l. To play varsity athletics, you must have at least 12 credits as a Junior and 30 credits as a senior. If dual enrolled, student must be in good standing.
Students receiving special education services or students covered by a Section 504 plan shall not be denied eligibility on the basis of scholarship if the student is making adequate progress, as determined by the student’s team, towards the goals and benchmarks on the student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Good Conduct Rule:
To retain eligibility for participation in Burlington High School extracurricular activities, students must conduct themselves as good citizens both in and out of school at all times.
Students who represent the school in an activity are expected to serve as positive role models to other students and to the members of the community.
Any student who, after a hearing at which the student shall be confronted with the allegation, the basis of the allegation, and given an opportunity to tell the student’s side, is found to have violated the Good Conduct Rule will be declared ineligible for a period of time, as described below. A student may lose eligibility under the Good Conduct Rule for any of the following behaviors:
- possession, use, purchase of, or distribution of tobacco products, regardless of the student’s age;
- possession, use, or distribution of vaping pens and or products, regardless of the student’s age;
- possession, use, purchase of, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine (having the odor of alcohol on one’s breath is evidence of “use”; “possession” has been defined by the Iowa Supreme Court as being within reach of or in “close proximity to” the contraband e.g., alcohol or other drugs);
- possession, use, purchase of, or distribution of illegal drugs, or the unauthorized possession, use, purchase of, or distribution of otherwise lawful drugs;
- engaging in any act that would be grounds for arrest or citation in the criminal or juvenile court system (excluding minor offenses such as traffic or hunting/fishing violations), regardless of whether the student was cited, arrested, convicted, or adjudicated for the act(s);
- inappropriate or offensive conduct such as assaulting staff or students, insubordination, or hazing or harassment of others. (This could include group conduct.)
- possession of a weapon or look alike weapon (except in participation in legal and parent or guardian approved recreational activities taking place off of school property, such as hunting, archery, trap shooting, marksmanship competitions, etc.)
Penalties:
Any student who is found by the administration to have violated the Good Conduct Rule, during the school year or during summer, is subject to a loss of eligibility as follows:
First Offense Within the Student’s High School Career- 25% of the performance dates, and if the offense involves substance abuse, the student must attend ADDS or similar agency approved by the administration.
Second Offense Within the Student’s High School Career- 50% of the performance dates, and if the offense involves substance abuse, the student must attend ADDS or similar agency approved by the administration.
Third or More Offense(s) Within the Student’s High School Career- Twelve (12) calendar months, and the student must attend ADDS or similar agency approved by the administration.
Self-reporting to administration or head coach for a violation outside of the school day or off school property within 24 hours will reduce the suspension by 50% of the first offense.
Any student charged with a felony is subject to a loss of eligibility equivalent to a third offense.
- The number of competition performance dates shall be utilized for determining dates of ineligibility. Example: The varsity season has 12 performance dates and the junior varsity has 3 performance dates. A student declared ineligible for 25% of the performance dates shall be ineligible for three varsity performance dates and all junior varsity events during that period of time.
- The period of ineligibility attaches immediately upon a finding of a violation by the administration if the student is eligible for and currently engaged in an extracurricular activity. If the student is not currently eligible or engaged in an extracurricular activity, or if the ineligibility period is not completed during the current activity, the period of ineligibility is carried over to the time the student seeks to go out for the next activity.
- However, if the period of time between a violation and an activity is twelve calendar months or more, the student shall not serve an ineligibility period for the violation.
- If a student drops out of an activity prior to completion of the ineligibility period, the full penalty or the remainder of the penalty, will attach when the student goes out for the next activity, subject to the 12-month limitation above, and will be served.
- If a student violates the Good Conduct Rule while ineligible due to an earlier violation, the penalty for the subsequent offense will attach at the completion of the earlier penalty.
- The penalties shall accumulate during grades 9-12, commencing with the completion of the 8th grade school year.
- An ineligible student shall attend practices or rehearsals but may not “suit up” nor perform/participate.
- A student who has been declared ineligible for participation in extracurricular activities by another school district who then enrolls in the Burlington Community School District shall be ineligible for participation in extracurricular activities in the Burlington District for the balance of the period of ineligibility as if the student were still enrolled in the former district, except that the student shall be allowed to participate in practices regardless of the former district’s policy on practices during periods of ineligibility. The good conduct violation will expire after 365 days. The student may file a written request with the Activities Director to have the term of ineligibility imposed by the former district reconsidered. The administration may shorten the period of ineligibility if it is determined that the student would have received a shorter period of ineligibility if the student had been enrolled at Burlington at the time the ineligibility was imposed by the former district.
- The number of periods of ineligibility imposed by former districts shall be considered when imposing sanctions for a violation of the Burlington Good Conduct Rule after enrollment in the Burlington Community School District. (Example: if the student had one period of ineligibility in grades 9 through 12 prior to enrolling in Burlington, a violation of the Burlington Good Conduct Rule shall be treated as a second offense.)
Violations Occurring During Ineligibility:
If a student is ineligible at the time of a violation of the Good Conduct Rule, the penalty for the violation will not begin until the student regains eligibility. Example: A student academically ineligible for a semester is found to have been in possession of tobacco, a Good Conduct Rule violation. When the student is again academically eligible, the penalty attaches. Example: A student violates the Good Conduct Rule and is ruled ineligible for 25% of performance dates. While ineligible, the student again violates the Good Conduct Rule. The second penalty attaches when the first penalty is completed.
Academic Consequences:
There will be no academic consequences for the violation (e.g., detention, suspension, expulsion from school, or grade reduction/withholding) unless the violation of the Good Conduct Rule occurred (a) on school grounds or school property; or (b) at a school event regardless of location; or (c) the violation has a direct and immediate negative impact on the efficient operation of the school despite occurring off school grounds/time.
Appeals:
Any student who is found by the Activities Director or his/her designee to have violated the Good Conduct Rule may obtain review of this determination by appealing to the principal within ten (10) calendar days of being advised of the finding of violation.
The penalty will be in effect until reversed. If the student is dissatisfied, he or she may then seek review by appealing to the Superintendent within five (5) calendar days of the principal’s determination. The penalty will be in effect until reversed.
If the student is still dissatisfied, he or she may seek further review by the school board by filing a written appeal with the board secretary at least five (5) calendar days prior to the next board meeting. A special meeting of the board will not be called. The review by the board will be in closed session unless the student’s parent (or the student, if the student is 18 or older) requests an open session. The grounds for review by the school board are limited to the following: the student did not violate the Good Conduct Rule; the student was given inadequate due process in the investigation and determination; or the penalty is in violation of the policy. The penalty will remain in effect pending the outcome of the meeting with the board. If the school board reverses the decision of the administration, the student shall be immediately eligible and shall have any record of the ineligibility period and violation deleted from the student’s record.
Other Factors Relating to Eligibility:
- Attendance. A student must be in attendance for half of their schedule classes preceding any scheduled event or practice in order to participate, unless the student was absent for an appointment with prior approval by the administration.
- Other Rules. Coaches and sponsors may make additional rules as they relate to their activities as long as the rules are approved by the Activities Director and shared with the participants. Violation of these rules may also result in dismissal from the activity.
- Physical Forms. Every participant in athletics, cheerleading and the dance team must have a physical examination form completed within the 13 months immediately prior to participation.
- P.E. Doctor’s Excuse. A student excused from P. E. with a doctor’s excuse may not participate in an athletic activity.
- First Adoption:
- 2023-11-24
- Revision Adoption:
- July 17, 2016/ May 19, 2024
- Reviewed Dates:
- November 14, 2021