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FM (TSBVI) Student Activities

UIL RULES & SCHOOL POLICIES

A student enrolled in the School or who participates in an extracurricular activity or a University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition is subject to TSBVI policy and UIL rules regarding participation only when the student is under the direct supervision of an employee of the School or at any other time specified by resolution of the Board.  Education Code 33.081(b)  [See FO regarding additional standards of conduct for extracurricular activities]

ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

UIL Forms

Each student participating in a UIL extracurricular athletic activity must complete the UIL forms entitled “Pre-participation Physical Evaluation—Medical History” and “Acknowledgement of Rules.”  Each form must be signed by both the student and the student’s parent or guardian.  Education Code 33.203(a)

Notices

Each school that offers an extracurricular athletic activity shall:

  1. Prominently display at its administrative offices the telephone number and electronic mail address that the commissioner of education maintains for reporting violations of Education Code Chapter 33, Subchapter F; and
  2. Provide each student participant and the student’s parent or guardian a copy of the UIL’s parent information manual. The document may be provided in an electronic format unless otherwise requested.

Education Code 33.207(b), .208

Safety Training

Based upon UIL approved training materials, TSBVI will provide training to visually impaired students participating in an extracurricular athletic activity related to:

  1. Recognizing the symptoms of potentially catastrophic injuries, including head and neck injuries, concussions, injuries related to second impact syndrome, asthma attacks, heatstroke, cardiac arrest, and injuries requiring use of a defibrillator; and
  2. The risks of using dietary supplements designed to enhance or marketed as enhancing athletic performance.

The training must be conducted by the UIL or by another organization as determined by the UIL, including the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or a similar organization.

Education Code 33.202(d)-(e)

Records

The Superintendent shall maintain complete and accurate records of the School’s compliance and TSBVI shall make available to the public proof of compliance for each person enrolled in the School who is required to receive safety training.  If the Superintendent finds employees out of compliance with the safety training requirements or the requirements regarding unsafe practices and safety precautions (see below) shall be subject to the range of penalties determined by the UIL.  Education Code 33.206

Unsafe Practices

A coach, trainer, or sponsor for an extracurricular athletic activity may not encourage or permit a student participant to engage in any unreasonably dangerous athletic technique that unnecessarily endangers the health of a student, including using a helmet or any other sports equipment as a weapon.  Education Code 33.204

Safety Precautions

A coach, trainer, or sponsor for an extracurricular athletic activity shall at each athletic practice or competition ensure that:

  1. Each student participant is adequately hydrated;
  2. Any prescribed asthma medication for a student participant is readily available to the student;
  3. Emergency lanes providing access to the practice or competition area are open and clear; and
  4. Heatstroke prevention materials are readily available.

If a student participating in a practice or competition becomes unconscious during the activity, the student may not:

  1. Return to the activity during which the student became unconscious; or
  2. Participate in any extracurricular athletic activity until the student receives written authorization for such participation from a physician.

Education Code 33.205

Concussions

“Interscholastic athletic activity” includes practice and competition, sponsored or sanctioned by a district”, including a home-rule district, or a public school, including any school for which a charter has been granted under Education Code Chapter 12, or the UIL.  Education Code 38.152

“Concussion” means a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain caused by a traumatic physical force or impact to the head or body, which may include temporary or prolonged altered brain function resulting in physical, cognitive, or emotional symptoms or altered sleep patterns, and involve loss of consciousness.  Education Code 38.151(4)

Concussion Oversight Team

The Board shall approve a concussion oversight team that must include at least one physician and, to the greatest extent practicable, each member of the concussion oversight team must have had training in the evaluation, treatment, and oversight of concussions at the time of appointment or approval as a member of the team.  The members also must take a training course at least once every two years and submit proof of timely completion to the Superintendent or designee in accordance with Education Code 38.158.  A school nurse at TSBVI may be a member of the concussion oversight team if requested by the school nurse.  Education Code 38.154, .158

Return-to-Play Protocol

Each concussion oversight team shall establish a return-to-play protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence, for a student’s return to interscholastic athletics practice or competition following the force or impact believed to have caused a concussion.  Education Code 38.153(b)

Required Annual Form

A student may not participate in an interscholastic athletic activity for a school year until both the student and the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student have signed a form approved by the UIL for that school year that acknowledges receiving and reading written information that explains concussion prevention, symptoms, treatment, and oversight and that includes guidelines for safely resuming participation in an athletic activity following a concussion.  Education Code 38.155

Removal from Play

A student shall be removed from an interscholastic athletics practice or competition immediately if one of the following persons believes the student might have sustained a concussion during the practice or competition: a coach, a physician; a school nurse; a licensed healthcare professional, as defined by Education Code 38.151(5); a licensed chiropractor; or the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student.  Education Code 38.156

Return to Play

A student removed from an interscholastic athletics practice or competition under Education Code 38.156 may not be permitted to practice or compete again following the force or impact believed to have caused the concussion until:

  1. The student has been evaluated, using established medical protocols based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence, by a treating physician chosen by the student or the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student;
  2. The student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-play protocol established under Education Code 38.153 necessary for the student to return to play;
  3. The treating physician has provided a written statement indicating that, in the physician’s professional judgment, it is safe for the student to return to play; and
  4. The student and the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student have acknowledged that the student has completed the requirements of the return-to-play protocol necessary for the student to return to play, have provided the treating physician’s written statement to the person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play protocol and the person who has supervisory responsibilities, and have signed a consent form indicating that the person signing;
    1. Has been informed concerning and consents to the student participating in returning to play in accordance with the return-to-play protocol;
    2. Understands the risks associated with the student returning to play and will comply with any ongoing requirements in the return-to-play protocol;
    3. Consents to the disclosure to appropriate persons, consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191, of the treating physician’s written statement and, if any, the return-to-play recommendations of the treating physician; and
    4. Understands the immunity provisions under Education Code 38.159.

A coach of an interscholastic athletics team may not authorize a student’s return to play.

The Superintendent or designee shall supervise the person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play protocol.  The person who has supervisory responsibilities may not be a coach of an interscholastic athletics team.

Education Code 38.157

Immunity

These provisions do not:

  1. Waive any immunity from liability of the School or if its officers or employees;
  2. Create any liability for a cause of action against TSBVI or against school officers or employees;
  3. Waive any immunity from liability under Civil Practice and Remedies Code 74.151; or
  4. Create any cause of action or liability for a member of a concussion oversight team arising from the injury or death of a student participating in an interscholastic athletics practice or competition, based on service or participation on the concussion oversight team.

Education Code 38.159

Cardiac Assessment

TSBVI must provide a student who is required under UIL rule or policy to receive a physical examination before being allowed to participate in an athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the UIL, information about sudden cardiac arrest and electrocardiogram testing and notification of the option of the student to request the administration of an electrocardiogram, in addition to the physical examination.

A student may request an electrocardiogram from any health-care professional, including a health-care professional provided through the School program, provided that the health-care professional is appropriately licensed in Texas and authorized to administer and interpret electrocardiograms under the health-care professional’s scope of practice, as establish by the health-care professional’s Texas licensing act.

Immunity

These provisions do not create a cause of action or liability or a standard of care, obligation, or duty that provides a basis for a cause of action or liability against a health-care professional described in the provision, the UIL, TSBVI or a school officer or employee for:

  1. The injury or death of a student participating in or practicing for an athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the UIL based on or in connection with the administration or interpretation of or reliance on an electrocardiogram; or
  2. The content or distribution of the information required under these provisions or the failure to distribute the required information.

Education Code 33.096

ELIGIBILITY

A student otherwise eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity or a UIL competition is not ineligible because the student is enrolled in a course offered for joint high school and college credit, or in a course offered under a concurrent enrollment program, regardless of the location at which the course is provided.  Education Code 33.087

MILITARY DEPENDENTS

TSBVI shall facilitate the opportunity for transitioning military children’s inclusion in extracurricular activities, regardless of application deadlines, to the extent they are otherwise qualified.  Education Code 162.002 art VI, § B.  [See FDD]

SUSPENSION FROM EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

A student shall be suspended from participation in any extracurricular activity sponsored or sanctioned by the TSBVI or the UIL after a grade evaluation period in which the student received a grade lower than the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100 in any academic class.

Length of Suspension

A suspension continues for at least three school weeks and is not removed during the school year until the conditions of Reinstatement, described below, are met.  A suspension shall not last beyond the end of a school year.

Grade Evaluation Period

“Grade evaluation period” means:

  1. The six-week grade reporting period; or
  2. The first six weeks of a semester and each grade reporting period thereafter, in the case of a grade reporting period longer than six weeks.

Education Code 33.081(c)

School Week

The school week is defined as beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first instructional day of the calendar week and ending at the close of instruction on the last instructional day of the calendar week, excluding holidays.  19 TAC 76.1001(b)

Students with Disabilities

In the case of a TSBVI student who has a disability that significantly interferes with the student’s ability to meet regular academic standards, suspension must be based on the student’s failure to meet the requirements of the student’s individualized education program (IEP).  The determination of whether the disability substantially interferes with the student’s ability to meet the requirements of the student’s IEP must be made by the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee.  Education Code 33.081(e)

Practice or Rehearsal

A student suspended under Education Code 33.081 may practice or rehearse with other students for an extracurricular activity but may not participate in a competition or other public performance.  Education Code 33.081(f)

Reinstatement

Until the suspension is removed or the school year ends, TSBVI shall review the grades of a student at the end of each three-week period following the date on which the suspension began.  At the time of a review, the suspension is removed if the student’s grade in each class, other than an identified honors or advanced class, is equal to or greater than the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100.  The principal and each of the student’s teachers shall make the determination concerning the student’s grades.  Education Code 33.081(d)

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

The State Board of Education (SBOE) by rule shall limit participation in and practice for extracurricular activities during the school day and the school week.  The TSBVI Board may adopt a policy establishing the number of times a student who is otherwise eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity sponsored or sanctioned by TSBVI, UIL, or an organization sanctioned by Board resolution.  This policy permits a student to be absent from class at least ten times during the school year, and the policy prevails over any conflicting policy adopted by the State Board of Education.  Education Code 33.081(a), .0811

SBOE Rules

The following provisions apply to any UIL activity:

Other organizations requiring student participation that causes a student to miss a class may request sanction from the Board.  If sanctioned by resolution of the Board, student participation in the organization’s activities shall be subject to all provisions of statute and to Texas Administration Code 76.1001.  If the Board does not grant sanction, any absences incurred by a student while participating with that organization’s activities shall be subject to the attendance provisions of the Education Code.  19 TAC 76.1001(f) [See FEB]

Extracurricular Activities

An extracurricular activity is an activity sponsored by the UIL, the Board, or an organization sanctioned by Board resolution.  The activity is not necessarily directly related to instruction of the essential knowledge and skills, but may have an indirect relation to some areas of the curriculum.

Extracurricular activities include public performances (except as described below), contests, demonstrations, displays, and club activities.  In addition, an activity is subject to this policy if any one of the following criteria applies:

  1. The activity is competitive;
  2. The activity is held in conjunction with another activity that is considered extracurricular;
  3. The activity is held off-campus, except in a case in which adequate facilities do not exist on campus;
  4. The general public is invited; or
  5. An admission is charged.

Exception – Public Performances

A student ineligible to participate in an extracurricular activity, but who is enrolled in a state-approved course that requires demonstration of the mastery of the essential knowledge and skills in a public performance, may participate in the performance if:

  1. The performance is one to which the general public is invited; and
  2. The requirement for student participation in public is stated in the essential knowledge and skills of the course.

19 TAC 76.1001(a)

State-Approved Music Courses

A student ineligible to participate in an extracurricular activity, but who is enrolled in a state-approved music course that participates in UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation, may perform with the ensemble during the UIL evaluation performance.  19 TAC 76.1001(a)

Limits on Participation and Practice

During the School Week

Limitations on practice, rehearsal, and student participation during the school week shall be as follows:

  1. For any given extracurricular activity, a student may not participate in more than one activity per school week, excluding holidays, except as provided in item 2, below;
  2. A student may also participate in a tournament or post-district contest, as well as a contest postponed by weather or public disaster that may determine advancement to a post-district level of competition;
  3. For each extracurricular activity, TSBVI must limit students to a maximum of eight hours of practice and rehearsal outside the school day per school week.
  4. The Commissioner recommends to avoid scheduling extracurricular activities or public performances on the day or evening immediately preceding the day on which the statewide student assessment program is scheduled for grades 3-11.

19 TAC 76.1001(d); Education Code 33.081(a)

During the School Day

Limitations on practice and rehearsal during the school day shall be as follows:

  1. TSBVI must limit a student to one period of practice during the regularly scheduled school day for practice of extracurricular activities, such as athletics, drill team, or cheerleading.
  2. The limit in item 1 does not prohibit a student from enrolling in any state-approved class. A student who is enrolled in a state-approved class that includes essential knowledge and skills that relate to the preparation for an extracurricular activity may practice that extracurricular activity for no more than one period during the school day.
  3. A student may not be permitted to miss a scheduled academic class to practice for an unrelated extracurricular activity.
  4. The School must limit extracurricular practice during the school day to ensure that class periods for extracurricular practice do not exceed the time allotted for other class periods.
  5. Regardless of the schedule type in place (traditional or nontraditional), the School may elect to practice extracurricular activities daily, provided the total minutes allowed for the extracurricular practice is not greater than 300 minutes during the school week.

19 TAC 76.1001(e); Education Code 33.081(a)

Record of Absences

TSBVI shall maintain an accurate record of extracurricular absences for each student in the School each school year.  19 TAC 76.1001(c)

PARENTAL NOTICE AND CONSENT

A parent is entitled to full information regarding the school activities of a parent’s child except as provided by Education Code 38.004 (regarding child abuse investigations).  Education Code 26.008(a)

Anonymous Evaluations

TSBVI does not allow anonymous evaluations of students because that would violate Education Code 26.001(a) and 26.008(a).  Anonymous evaluations of a student that determine whether the student may participate in a school-related program do not provide full information about the student’s school activities.  TSBVI may by policy establish the parameters for parental contact with evaluating teachers, taking into account the type of evaluation, the information elicited in the evaluation, and scheduling and workload requirements of the teachers.  Byard v. Clear Creek ISD. Comm’r of Educ. Decision No. 020-R5-1001 (June 17, 2002)

Videotaping and Recording

A School employee is not required to obtain the consent of a child’s parent before the employee may videotape the child or record the child’s voice if the videotape or recording is to be used only for a purpose related to a co-curricular or extracurricular activity.  Education Code 26.009(b)(2)

DISCRIMINATORY CLUB

An extracurricular activity sponsored or sanctioned by the School, including an athletic event or an athletic team practice, shall not take place at an athletic club located in the United States that denies any person full and equal enjoyment of equipment or facilities provided by the athletic club because of the person’s race, color, religion, creed, national origin, or sex.

“Athletic club” means an entity that provides sports or exercise equipment or facilities to its customers or members or to the guests of its customers or members.

Education Code 33.082

Special Olympics Recognition

If TSBVI allows high school students to earn a letter for academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievements, the School must allow high school students to earn a letter on the basis of a student’s participation in a Special Olympics event.  Education Code 33.093

Adopted:         9/21/84

Amended:       7/12/85, 10/25/85, 11/30/90, 9/25/92, 3/22/96, 5/25/05, 8/9/19, 1/31/20

Reviewed:       11/19/99