Interscholastic extracurricular activities shall be defined as planned secondary school- sponsored competitive activities which exist or are performed between students representing schools, school districts, regions, or the state. The extracurricular program shall be considered an essential part of the total school program and shall be under the principal’s direction and general supervision. The principal shall select the personnel to direct and to act as advisors for the various extracurricular activities. Care shall be exercised to limit the load assigned to any one teacher.

I. The principal shall be responsible for determining each participant’s eligibility in interscholastic extracurricular activities pursuant to the standards established in Florida Statutes and the By-laws of the Florida High School Athletic Association, Inc., or the Florida School Music Association, Inc. Any school which allows an ineligible student to participate shall be subject to the penalties set forth by the Bylaws of the Florida High School Athletic Association, Inc., or the Florida School Music Association, Inc., whichever shall have jurisdiction.

II. Students shall not be excluded from participating in activities for lack of money for dues, materials, or uniforms. This does not apply to charging admission for students who are spectators of extracurricular activities.

III. Funds derived from extracurricular activities shall be processed according to the District’s accounting procedures.

IV. Students may be suspended from extracurricular activities based on procedures established by each school and by district policies on suspension and expulsion.

V. Appropriate adult supervision consistent with Florida Statutes shall be provided for all students.

VI. Suspension/expulsion from school will automatically result in suspension from all extracurricular participation including practice/meetings for at least the duration of the school suspension/expulsion.

VII. If a student is arrested, charged with a felony, or commits an act which brings embarrassment to his/her school, club, or team, he/she will be immediately suspended from extracurricular participation 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/her suspension).

VIII. Students in full compliance with home education laws and students attending a charter school, a full-time program in the Florida Virtual School, or a private school who meet all the eligibility requirements established by Florida Statutes are eligible to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities at the school to which thestudent would be assigned according to the School Board's attendance area policies or which the student could attend in any interscholastic extracurricular activity of that school. These types of students can also go through the district’s athletic choice in order to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities outside of their attendance zone.

IX. Students attending a district special school (Pine View, Suncoast Polytech or Sarasota Virtual Academy) are permitted to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities at any traditional high school in the district.

X. A student at a traditional public school who is eligible to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities may participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at a different public school in the district or develop an agreement to participate at a private school, if their public school does not offer the activity.

XI. A student who participates in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at a public school and transfers from that school during the school year shall be allowed to continue to participate in that activity at the school for the remainder of the school year. In these situations, the parents of the student are responsible for the transportation of the student to and from the school where the student participates in the activity.

XII. A student that transfers schools, due to living in the new school's attendance zone or through district re-assignment, is eligible for athletics at the new school. The student must still meet other FHSAA requirements.