The Broward County Public Schools Standards of Services Policy (6000.1) embraces national, state, and district standards of excellence in regard to student performance.
Through the establishment of high educational standards, students will successfully compete at the highest levels of their abilities nationally and internationally and will be better prepared to make well-reasoned, thoughtful and healthy lifelong decisions. The school system is committed to the continuous progress of education for its students.
Eligibility to participate in interscholastic and extra-curricular activities is considered a privilege. The district’s Student Code of Conduct sets forth the educational requirements to participate in interscholastic athletics.
RULES FOR PARTICIPATING IN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES
I. ELIGIBILITY
- To be eligible for participation in interscholastic, extra-curricular athletics and student activities, a student entering the 9th grade must have been regularly promoted from the 8th grade.
- To maintain eligibility, a student must be receiving passing grades and progressing towards graduation from high school.
- During the 2010-11 school year, a regularly promoted student entering the 9th grade will automatically be eligible for the first 18-week period. To maintain eligibility for the second 18-week period, a student must obtain 2.0 or above cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses taken. Courses for graduation include all attempted credits in high school.
- During the 2010-11 school year, a student entering the 10th, 11th or 12th grade must maintain a 2.0 or above cumulative (GPA) in all courses taken. Students are either eligible or ineligible for an 18-week period based on their cumulative (GPA) per FHSAA rules. Courses for graduation include all attempted credits in high school. Eligibility is determined in June or January only.
- The School Board of Broward County maintains an eligibility standard requiring a 2.0 cumulative GPA standard for student athletics participation. The School Board of Broward County policy supercedes the Senate Bill 92, which allows for a lower GPA standard for 9th and 10th graders.
- All students must maintain satisfactory conduct in order to participate in interscholastic, athletic and extra-curricular activities. Eligibility to participate in after school activities is a privilege. Only students meeting requirements established by their team and school shall be eligible to serve as representatives of their school on the team.
- A student is eligible in the school in which he or she first enrolls each school year, or makes him or herself a candidate for an athletic team by engaging in a summer activity or practice prior to the beginning of the school year. The student is eligible in that school so long as he or she remains enrolled in that school.
- A student who transfers attendance to your school at any time during his/her high school career after having begun the 9th grade must complete the Affidavit of Compliance with Policy on Athletic Recruiting.
II. AGE
- Students will be eligible to participate in interscholastic, extra-curricular, athletics and student activities through the age of 19 years, 9 months. Students will become ineligible at 12:01 a.m. on the day he/she turns 19 years, 9 months, unless it occurs during the state championship series of any given sport. In this case, the student will be permitted to compete until the conclusion of that state championship series.
- How do you figure the age of 19 years, 9 months? Take your birth date and count forward nine months. Example: Jill’s 19th birthday is March 18. Jill turns 19.9 on December 18. The following chart will help.
If you turn 19 in … You will be 19.9 in …
January October
February November
March December
April January
May February
June March
July April
August May
September June
October July
November August
December September
III. LIMIT ON ELIGIBILITY
- Once the student successfully completed the eighth grade according to the school’s pupil progression plan, the student will have four consecutive years of high school athletic eligibility. A student whose four-year limit of eligibility expires during the season of a sport in which the student is participating may complete the season if the student continues to meet all other eligibility requirements.
IV. INSURANCE
- Every athlete is required to have proof of insurance on file in the high school’s athletic department.
- If an athlete does not have personal/family insurance, 24-hour accident/injury insurance can be purchased from a School Board approved vendor through the local high school. See the school Athletic Director for more information.
Note: Athletes participating in tackle football, not having insurance, must purchase the policy specifically for football. See the school Athletic Director for more information.
V. PHYSICALS/PERMISSION FORMS
- Each athlete is required to undergo a preparticipation physical evaluation and be certified as being physically fit for participation in interscholastic athletics using only the FHSAA physical form. The physical evaluation IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR from the date that it was administered. The athlete and parent or guardian must sign this form. This form is to be kept on file in the high school’s Athletic Department.
- Each athlete is required to have a Consent and Release from Liability Certificate on file in the high school’s Athletic Department. The type of insurance the athlete has must be declared on the form, as well as a current copy of the insurance card submitted with the form. The parent or guardian must sign the permission form.
- Each athlete is required to have a Consent to Treat Form from Broward Health or Memorial Hospital District on file in the high school’s Athletic Department. The form on file depends the health system responsible for covering the school. The parent or guardian must sign the permission form.
VI. PERSONAL FITNESS WAIVER
- An athlete who participates in a F.H.S.A.A. sports team for two complete seasons, meets all other requirements, and successfully passes the competency exam with a grade of “C”, may be eligible to receive a “check-off” for completion of one credit of personal fitness. A complete season is defined as a student’s eligible participation one week prior to the first regular season and successful completion through the last regular season contest. The athletic department defines standards for successful completion. See Athletic Director for more information.
- It is the responsibility of the student athlete to initiate a Personal Fitness Waiver Request.
- The student who takes advantage of this opportunity is still required to meet all the credit requirements for graduation, e.g. 25 credits.
- For further infor5mation and guidelines regarding the personal fitness waiver, contact your school’s athletic director.
CHARACTER EDUCTION
The district recognizes that while families have the primary responsibility for teaching character, we know that the best way to influence student behavior is to have good character modeled by respected adults in their environment. The School Board of Broward County has adopted eight (8) characteristics as part of the Broward County Public School’s Standard of Service Policy (6000.1). Through the integrating character education into existing school activities, we will continue to provide quality education in a safe and secure learning environment. For more information on Character Education, please refer to the Student Code of Conduct Book.
The eight characters of education are:
- Responsibility
- Citizenship
- Kindness
- Respect
- Honesty
- Self-Control
- Tolerance
- Cooperation
Participation in sports and extra-curricular activities helps prepare student to become productive citizens. The eight character traits assist students in learning the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and self-discipline. Through integrating character education into athletic and extra-curricular activities, we will continue to ensure that all students receive a quality education, within a safe and secure learning environment.
