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Transfer/Residency Requirements For High School Athletic Participation

Download the Appeal for Athletic Participation for Transferred/Reassigned Students Form

Residence

According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Handbook, a student is eligible to participate at the school to which he or she is assigned by the local board of education, within the administrative unit of residence. "Residence" as used for athletic eligibility purposes is defined as the equivalent of the term "domicile" as applied by the courts of North Carolina. Under no circumstances can a student have more than one residence for eligibility purposes.

Any change in residence must be bona fide. The home address provided to student assignment and shown on the High School Athletic Participation form must be the sole bona fide residence, and the school principal must be notified immediately of any change in residence, since such a move may alter the eligibility status of the student.

For more information concerning NCHSAA residency requirements, please go to the NCHSAA website www.nchsaa.unc.edu.

Transfer Policy

According to Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) Board Policy 6203.8, a student who is granted a voluntary transfer away from the base school shall not participate in athletic activities that come under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and the State Board of Education for 365 days from the first approved transfer date. The superintendent or his/her designee may hear appeals of this section of Policy 6203 and may grant permission for students to participate in athletic activities based upon such hearings. The superintendent shall require written regulation and procedures to govern appeals of this section of Policy 6203.

There are two exceptions:

Students in the above two exceptions are eligible to participate in athletics. No appeal for athletic participation is necessary.

Appeal Process

According to WCPSS Board Policy 6203.8 R & P, after a transfer has been approved, a student may appeal for athletic eligibility.

  1. To appeal policy 6203.8, the Wake County Public School System Appeal For Athletic Participation For Transferred/Reassigned Students form must be completed. Forms are available at each high school.
  2. The parent/guardian must:
    1. Complete the top portion of the form providing all the information requested.
    2. Attach a copy of the Student Assignment transfer approval letter to the form.
    3. Send or take the completed form to the base high school principal.
  3. The principal at the base high school will:
    1. Fill out the requested information.
    2. Sign the form.
    3. Send the form to the principal of the reassigned high school.
  4. The principal at the reassigned high school will:
    1. Fill out the requested information.
    2. Sign the form.
    3. Send/Fax the form to the Senior Administrator for Athletics.
  5. A student requesting an appeal shall be required to demonstrate clear and convincing evidence, in writing, that athletics has played no part in requesting a transfer.
  6. The Senior Administrator for Athletics as the Superintendent’s designee will endeavor to render a decision within five working days of receipt of the completed form and documentation. The decision will be based on the totality of the circumstances. The Senior Administrator for Athletics may revoke a decision to permit a student to participate in athletics if at any time it is determined that the student has transferred for athletic purposes.
  7. The decision will be forwarded, in writing, to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The student shall be ineligible to participate in the athletic program pending approval of the appeal. If a transfer student participates in a contest prior to the approval of an appeal, the student will be immediately dropped from the team. Eligibility will be restored after approval of an appeal and suspension from the number of contests equal to the number of contests the student participated in while ineligible. If the student is an underclassmen, the suspension may carry over into the next sport in which the student participates in that year.
  8. Schools are responsible for knowing transfers participating in their athletic programs by using the student locator information. If a transfer student participates in a contest prior to the approval of an appeal, the student will be considered ineligible, and NCHSAA rules for an ineligible student will apply for the affected student and school.
  9. The decision of the Senior Administrator for Athletics shall be final except where a parent/guardian demonstrates a right to appeal to the Board of Education under G.S. 115C-45(c).

Transferring or Moving During the School Year

According to WCPSS Board Policy 6860.13, students in grades 9 – 12 (high schools) participating in interscholastic athletics may not participate at a second school in WCPSS in the same sport season, unless participation is approved by the Senior Administrator for Athletics as the Superintendent’s designee.

Definition of Recruiting

According to WCPSS Board Policy 2305.7 R & P, no employee shall recruit a student to transfer to or attend another school for athletic purposes. Recruiting includes any communication or means that suggest that a student should transfer to or attend another school to participate in athletics. Staff members who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including the termination of employment.

Penalties:

For more information, contact:

Bobby Guthrie
Senior Administrator for Athletics
Wake County Public School System
Blguthrie@wcpss.net