• 203.0 -- EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

    203.1 — Athletic Eligibility

    Athletic participation is a privilege granted to a student by the school district and the state, allowing that student to participate in interscholastic activities. Participation is not a student’s right by law. Precedent-setting legal cases have determined that athletic eligibility is a privilege to be granted only if the student meets all standards adopted by the school and district. 

    In order for a student to be eligible to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities, they must have a minimum 2.0 unweighted GPA to participate in both middle school and high school sports:  

    1. Incoming 6th graders are automatically eligible for the first semester.  Their GPA counted toward eligibility would begin at the end of the 1st semester. 
    2. 7th and 8th-grade eligibility would be based on a student’s GPA for the previous semester or cumulative GPA. 
    3. Students have 3 years of middle school eligibility from the time they begin 6th grade. 
    4. Middle school students become ineligible when they turn 16 years of age. 
    5. High school students have 4 years of eligibility beginning their 9thgrade year.
    6. High school students become ineligible when they turn 19 after July 1st.
    7. GPA can only be calculated at the end of each semester. 
      In addition to GPA, students must maintain satisfactory conduct, as defined by the District Code of Student Conduct.  

    In all circumstances, a student is allowed to participate in extracurricular activities at their districted school, unless assigned to a different school through the district’s school choice program.  Home-schooled middle school students are only eligible to participate at their residentially-assigned districted school. High school students from charter schools, special schools and home-schooled students may be eligible to participate at their residentially-assigned districted school or another school through the districts athletic choice program. 

    If a student is arrested and charged with a misdemeanor or felony, he or she will immediately be suspended from extracurricular activities while the matter is investigated. In substantiated cases, the student may be suspended from participating in all extracurricular activities, including practices/meetings, for an entire school year (from the beginning date of his or her suspension). If a student is convicted of an on- or off-campus felony or delinquent act, the student’s participation in interscholastic extracurricular activities will be suspended for the remainder of the school year. (§1001.41 and §1001.42Fls. Stat.)   


    203.2 — Field Trips 

    Students sometimes have the opportunity to participate in curricular and/or extracurricular field trips and travel. 

    Although the school district recognizes the importance of learning opportunities associated with field trips, the district values student safety above all other considerations. 

    IMPORTANT: Before a parent/guardian authorizes a student to participate in a field trip or travel, please consider the following:

    • The current world situation has placed parents/guardians in a position of increased responsibility. It is important that parents/guardians analyze each situation before granting permission for a student trip. 
    • Parents/guardians volunteering as field trip chaperones (as well as all other volunteers) must be registered and approved as a school district volunteer at the required level (Level 1 or Level 2). (See section 102.2 for details). 
    • For all overnight field trips, chaperones must be 25 years of age or older. For day trips, elementary chaperones must be 21 years of age or older and middle and high school chaperones must be 25 years of age or older. 
    • The school district cannot assume financial liability in the event that a trip is canceled. The student’s family must assume financial responsibility for any monetary loss and may want to investigate the feasibility of purchasing cancellation/interruption insurance to cover advance payments. 
    • When parents/guardians consider a student’s participation in a field trip, it is important to review carefully the parental consent forms, including transportation to and from the specific field trip destination, s to ensure a clear understanding of the school district’s role and each family’s responsibility. 

    Throughout the year, there may be a few trips organized by private individuals or groups. Many of these trips are not sponsored, reviewed or evaluated by the school district itself. High school senior trips are an example of independently organized trips. The Sarasota County School District is not responsible for these trips.