FILE: IDE
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Webster Parish School Board acknowledges the need for a well-balanced and effective student activity program to supplement the academic curriculum. Schools are encouraged to provide ample opportunities for its students to participate in meaningful activities which are considered valuable for the overall development of the student. These activities are to be classified as either co-curricular or extracurricular.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Co-curricular activities are those that are relevant, supportive, and are an integral part of the course of study in which the student is enrolled, and which are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff. These activities include 4-H, FHA, FTA, FBLA, drug education programs, NHS, Beta Club, literary rally, music festivals, science and other fairs, parent-teacher conference time, group guidance, student government, educational field trips, field day (elementary) and Special Olympics, honor or award assemblies, and curriculum clubs such as mathematics, science, foreign language, etc. Principals and sponsors shall carefully monitor all such scheduled co-curricular activities, and shall limit regular instructional time interruptions as much as possible.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Extracurricular activities are those which are not directly related to the program of studies, but are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school staff. These activities include homecoming parades, events, and assemblies, pep rallies, athletic events, talent shows, class meetings, class parties, intramurals, and assemblies scheduled primarily for entertainment or fundraising.
Interruption of instructional time shall be limited as much as possible, and in no case shall more than nine (9) hours per year of regularly scheduled instructional time be used for extracurricular activities. Care should be exercised in scheduling such interruptions so that classes will not be disproportionately affected.
All athletic contests shall be scheduled after school hours. When possible, no instructional time should be missed by student athletes when traveling to athletic events. If teams are allowed to be released from school early to attend these events, release time should be in keeping with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s (LHSAA) Regular Season Release Time Plan.
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
Students must meet all eligibility requirements for the particular club, organization, or activity in order to be allowed to participate.
Students should not be allowed to miss any class in which they are presently failing in order to participate in an activity.
Students will not be allowed to participate in any athletic event or other school activity while they are under suspension from school.
Students must be in attendance at least one half of the school day in order to participate in an event scheduled that night.
When students who miss school for co-curricular or extracurricular activities, they must make up all classwork missed as soon as possible in keeping with individual school policies.
Students who miss school for an approved co-curricular or extracurricular activity will not be counted as absent from the classes missed.
All students, both junior high and high school students, with less than eighteen (18) units toward graduation must be enrolled in at least five (5) subjects and must pass at least five subjects which count toward graduation and earn a grade point average of 1.5 or better in all subjects pursued during the semester prior to participation.
No student otherwise eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity shall be limited in the number of such activities in which the student may participate during the school year.
Special Education Student Participation
All non-academic and extracurricular services and activities shall be offered to each exceptional child in a way which allows equal opportunity to participate in such services and activities.
Ref: Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Official Handbook, Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Webster Parish School Board