122.  EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

1.        Purpose

The Board recognizes the educational values inherent in student participation in extracurricular activities and supports the concept of student organizations for such purposes as building social relationships, developing interests in a specific area, and gaining an understanding of the elements and responsibilities of good citizenship.

2.        Definition

      Title 22

      Sec. 12.1

For purposes of this policy, extracurricular activities shall be those programs that are sponsored or approved by the Board and are conducted wholly or partly outside the regular school day; are marked by student participation in the processes of initiation, planning, organizing, and execution; and are equally available to all students who voluntarily elect to participate.

For purposes of this policy, an athletic activity shall mean all of the following:

1.  An athletic contest or competition, other than interscholastic athletics, that

    is sponsored by or associated with the school, including cheerleading,

   club-sponsored sports activities and sports activities sponsored by school-

   affiliated organizations.

2. Noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or associated with the

   school.

3. Practices, interschool practices and scrimmages for all athletic activities.

3.        Authority

        SC 511

        20 U.S.C.

        Sec. 4071 et seq

        Pol. 103, 103.1

The Board shall make school facilities, supplies and equipment available and shall assign staff members for the support of extracurricular activities for students. Such availability and assignment shall be in accordance with the Equal Access Act.

The Board encourages secondary level students to pursue clubs and interests that may not be related directly to any of the curriculum programs offered in the district.  In pursuit of such goal and in compliance with law, the Board maintains a limited open forum in which secondary students may meet for voluntary student-initiated activities unrelated directly to the curriculum, regardless of the religious, political, philosophical or other content of the speech related to such activities.

Any extracurricular activity shall be considered under the sponsorship of this Board when it has been approved by the Board upon recommendation of the Superintendent.

The Board shall maintain the program of extracurricular activities at no cost to participating students, except that:

        Pol. 110

1. The Board's responsibility for provision of supplies shall carry the same exemptions as listed in the Board's policy on regular school supplies.

2. Students may assume all or part of the costs for travel and attendance at extracurricular events and trips.

3. Where eligibility requirements are necessary or desirable, the Board shall be informed and must approve the establishment of eligibility standards before they are operable.

Off-Campus Activities

        Pol. 218

This policy shall also apply to student conduct that occurs off school property and would otherwise violate the Code of Student Conduct if any of the following circumstances exist:

1. The conduct occurs during the time the student is traveling to and from school or traveling to and from school-sponsored activities, whether or not via school district furnished transportation.

2. The student is a member of an extracurricular activity and has been notified that particular off-campus conduct could result in exclusion from such activities.

3. Student expression or conduct materially and substantially disrupts the operations of the school, or the administration reasonably anticipates that the expression or conduct is likely to materially and substantially disrupt the operations of the school.

4. The conduct has a direct nexus to attendance at school or a school-sponsored activity, for example, a transaction conducted outside of school pursuant to an agreement made in school, that would violate the Code of Student Conduct if conducted in school.

5. The conduct involves the theft or vandalism of school property.

6.  There is otherwise a nexus between the proximity or timing of the conduct in relation to the student’s attendance at school or school-sponsored activities.

4. Delegation of Responsibility

24 P.S.

Sec. 5323, 5333

Pol. 123.1, 123.2

Each school year, prior to participation in an athletic activity, every student athlete and his/her parent/guardian shall sign and return the acknowledgement of receipt and review of the following:

1.  Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Information Sheet.

2. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Symptoms and Warning Signs Information Sheet.

The Superintendent or designee shall develop administrative regulations to implement the extracurricular activities program.  All student groups shall adhere to Board policy and administrative regulations.

All students participating in extracurricular activities shall comply with the Student Athletic/Extracurricular Code of Responsibility.

5.        Guidelines

Guidelines shall ensure that the program of extracurricular activities:

1. Assesses the needs and interests of and is responsive to district students.

2. Ensures provision of competent guidance and supervision by staff.

3. Guards against exploitation of students.

4. Provides a variety of experiences and diversity of organizational models.

5. Provides for continuing evaluation of the program and its components.

     Title 22

     Sec. 12.1, 12.4

6. Ensures that all extracurricular activities are open to all students and that all students are fully informed of the opportunities available to them.

        Pol. 229, 618

Organizations raising funds must do so in accordance with District policy. Accounting of funds must conform to appropriate state requirements.

Student Activities After School Hours

Teachers may not permit students to stay after school hours without supervision. The sponsor of the group involved is specifically responsible in this matter.

Rehearsals, when there is school the next day, must be over by 10 p.m. Special permission must be obtained from the building principal to go beyond that time.

The teacher in charge is responsible to see that students are out of the building, have left the premises accompanied by parent/guardian as age appropriate, lights are out, and notify the custodian that the activity is concluded.

Equal Access Act

        20 U.S.C.

        Sec. 4071 et seq

The District shall provide secondary students the opportunity for noncurriculum related student groups to meet on the school premises during noninstructional time for the purpose of conducting a meeting within the limited open forum on the basis of religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings. Such meetings must be voluntary, student-initiated, and not sponsored in any way by the school, its agents or employees. Noninstructional time is the time set aside by the school before actual classroom instruction begins, after actual classroom instruction ends or during the lunch period.

The meetings of student groups cannot materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of the educational activities in the school.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish the length of sessions, number per week, and other limitations deemed reasonably necessary.

The District retains the authority to maintain order and discipline on school premises in order to protect the well-being of students and employees and to ensure that student attendance at such meetings is voluntary.

References:

School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 511

Safety In Youth Sports Act – 24 P.S. Sec. 5321 et seq.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act – 24 P.S. Sec. 5331 et seq.

State Board of Education Regulations – 22 PA Code Sec. 12.1, 12.4

Equal Access Act – 20 U.S.C. Sec. 4071 et seq.

Board Policy – 000, 103, 103.1, 110, 123.1, 123.2, 218