Disclaimer:  The eligibility law can be very confusing.  If you have questions please ask.

1. Is admission charged?

2. Is the event part of a competition?

3. Will class time be missed to attend the activity?

Students are eligible for all events until seven days after the end of the First Nine Weeks (except any who are retained). Students who fail a class on their report card for the First Nine Weeks will be ineligible for three weeks (the second, third and fourth week of the new nine week cycle). If at that time, the student is passing ALL* (see item #9 below under "other points") subjects, then the student will regain eligibility at the beginning of the next week (week five of that nine week cycle). If, on the other hand, the student has a failing average in any subject, at the end of week four, the student will remain ineligible for three more weeks.  Another progress period will begin and end giving students another opportunity to regain eligibility before the end of the nine week cycle.

(WRONG. THE INELIGIBILITY PERIOD RUNS IN THREE WEEK SEGMENTS.  STUDENTS LOSE ELIGIBILITY BASED ON A REPORT CARD AND REGAIN ELIGIBILITY FROM PROGRESS REPORTS OR THE NEXT REPORT CARD.)

2. Since I'm ineligible, I cannot do anything after school with any organization.

(WRONG. SOME AFTER SCHOOL EVENTS ARE NOT AFFECTED. CONCERTS AT THE SCHOOL ARE CO-CURRICULAR AND ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE GRADE THE STUDENT WILL EARN FOR THE SIX WEEKS, MUCH LIKE A MAJOR TEST GRADE. REHEARSALS BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL ARE ALSO NOT AFFECTED SINCE THEY ARE AN EXTENSION OF THE CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES. PRACTICE IN ATHLETICS IS NOT AFFECTED, JUST COMPETITIONS.)

3. I failed PE and since that's not an academic subject, it doesn't count.

(WRONG. A FAILING GRADE ON A REPORT CARD IN ANY SUBJECT COUNTS!)

Remember the three questions at the beginning of this section as a basic guideline. And above all, the student should ask if he/she is uncertain. These rules apply to all groups: Band, Choir, Orchestra, every Athletic team, Spirit Squad, Student Council, Theatre Arts,...

1. Ineligible students do not regain eligibility immediately at the end of a nine week cycle. They must wait seven calendar days after the end of the grading period.

2. Students may regain eligibility at the end of the fourth  or seventh week of the new nine week cycle providing they have passing averages in ALL subjects. A student with one or more failing average will remain ineligible until seven calendar days after the end of the grading period.

3. Students who are removed from class for discipline reasons under SB1 37.002 (c) MAY be prohibited from participating. Those removed from class and placed in an alternative education program under SB1 37.006 (c) MUST be prohibited from participating.  (A student returning from AEP may or may not be able to remain in band pending a meeting between administrators, band director, and parents.  There is a separate CFBISD policy which addresses this situation.)

4. Students who are ineligible due to no pass-no play may attend practice/rehearsal sessions.

5. A student who is regaining eligibility may not leave school for the purposes of participation until the time the regular school day ends on the last class day of the ineligibility period. In the event parents pick up their child early, the student is not eligible to participate until the time the regular school day ends PLUS travel time to the contest.

6. Grade of I (or Incomplete): A student with an "I" is ineligible until the grade is replaced with a passing grade, provided: (a) the "I" was due to an excused absence and (b) the work was made up within the time as allowed by school district policy. If the student still has an "I" after reasonable time elapses, the student may NOT regain eligibility until seven days after the grading period or after the next three week grade evaluation period.

7. Late work or extra credit may not be submitted after the grading period (except for #6 above). The only way a numerical grade may be changed after a grading period is (a) if there was a mechanical error in averaging or processing the original grade, or (b) the teacher's grading procedure violated either local policy or state rule, and the student would have received a passing grade if the correct procedure had been followed.

8. May ineligible student attend pep rallies? All students may attend. Only eligible students may actually take part in pep rally performances: leading cheers, participating in dance routines, playing in the band, giving speeches, etc.

9. Exempt classes: the following classes are considered passing with a grade of 60 or higher:  all Pre-AP classes, Geometry, Algebra, and Interdisciplinary Seminar.  TAKS Connections is also exempt.  No other middle school classes are exempt.  [Effective 10/30/2001 to be consistent with the other middle schools in the district.]

10. A special education student is eligible if they meet their IEP requirements as set by the ARD committee.

11. 504 Eligibility: Eligibility standards for students identified as disabled under Section 504 are the same as for regular education students. However, Section 504 students are to be considered for IDEA eligibility if the 504 committee determines that because of his/her disability, the student cannot master the essential knowledge and skills necessary to pass a class.