6800 R&P                               

student activities

6800 R&P

6800.3

A.

Requirements for eligibility, membership, and participation in extracurricular clubs and activities:

1.

A student shall be properly enrolled in the school.

2.

Clubs and activities should have open enrollment whenever possible. When organizational requirements specify limitations on membership, all students and parents should be informed of the membership criteria in writing early in the school year to give students the opportunity to compete.

3.

In activities such as athletics or band, the skill involved shall be a major criterion for selection.

B.

Participants in athletics, cheerleading, marching band, student council executive council, and other activities the principal designates must meet the requirements of policy 6860.

C.

Membership in honor societies is one way to recognize outstanding academic achievement.

1.

All secondary schools are encouraged to have a chapter of either the National Honor Society or the National Beta Club.

2.

Membership in the National Honor Society or the National Beta Club is obtained through an induction process, based on specific criteria, which may include scholarship, leadership, character, service, attitude, and/or conduct.

3.

Each school defines membership criteria and selection procedures consistent with national guidelines and local expectations.

a.

A percentage or quota system shall not be used to determine the number admitted to membership. The number admitted will be determined by the principal and/or the faculty selection committee based on the a priori specified grade point eligibility and procedures for determining other criteria. Schools are not required to induct all students who are academically eligible.

b.

The academic eligibility for the National Honor Society or National Beta Club is determined in keeping with policies and procedures 5520 and 5521 for grading and computing class rank. The most recently completed semester will be included in the GPA computation.

c.

Students' grades in grades nine through twelve for high school, utilizing the weighted grading system, and grades six through eight for middle school, will be used to determine GPA.

d.

Eligibility for introduction will require a minimum GPA no lower than 3.2 and a minimum no higher than 3.6.

e.

Restriction of particular grades (e.g. no grade less than a "B") shall not be permissible.

4.

The principal will appoint a selection committee of at least five faculty members balanced by race and sex to select eligible student candidates. A larger committee representing the total school program is recommended where regulations of the national organization permit.

a.

The principal shall review an and approve the final list of inductees prior to parent notification.

b.

Students shall not participate in the final selection process for the National Honor Society or National Beta Club.

c.

Students may decline induction or elect to relinquish membership in either of the honor societies.

5.

An active member of either honor society who transfers from another school and presents a letter stating his/her good standing will be automatically accepted into the club of the same affiliation if he/she meets the new school's academic criteria.

a.

Since local chapters of these organizations may have different selection criteria and national affiliation, a transfer student must meet all membership requirements to be transferred into a different club.

b.

Transfer members must maintain the standards of the club into which they transfer.

6.

The faculty selection committee should make recommendations for dismissal of members to the principal when:

a.

A member commits a serious violation of school rules or school board policy.

b.

A member fails to maintain minimum grade requirements after a semester's warning.

Students with impending academic probation shall be notified in writing that they have one semester's probation time to comply with minimum eligibility requirements. If a senior receives a warning at the end of the first semester, the faculty committee shall review final grades before graduation. A senior who no longer qualifies for membership shall forfeit awards or honors specifically designed for honor club members, such as seals for diplomas or honor cords.

c.

Any student who is subject to dismissal shall have an opportunity to appeal before the faculty committee before the decision to dismiss is final.

D.

Local service clubs recognize service rendered to the school and/or the community. The establishment of service clubs is at the option of each school. Membership criteria shall be determined by the school.

E.

When a student is to represent the school, the principal shall ensure that the process of pre-selection encourages all eligible candidates to present themselves for consideration.

1.

The selection process shall be made known in advance to students and parents including dates, elimination procedures, allowable numbers, judges, an other pertinent factors.

2.

Each school must develop a plan, prior to selection of participants, that will ensure racial representation when eligible candidates present themselves. If candidates do not reflect an appropriate racial representation, documentation of efforts to achieve equitable representation shall be maintained at the school.

Revised: June 1991