Eligibility

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Through the establishment of high educational standards, students will successfully compete at the highest levels of their abilities nationally and internationally and will be better prepared to make well-reasoned, thoughtful and healthy lifelong decisions. The school system is committed to the continuous progress of education for its students.

Eligibility to participate in interscholastic and extra-curricular activities in considered a privilege. The district’s Student Code of Conduct sets forth the educational requirements to participate in interscholastic athletics.

RULES FOR PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES

• To be eligible for participation in interscholastic, extra-curricular athletics and student activities, a student entering the 9th grade must have been regularly promoted from the 8th grade.
• To maintain eligibility, a student must be receiving passing grades and progressing towards graduation from high school.

• A regularly promoted student entering the 9th grade will automatically be eligible for the first 18-week period. To maintain eligibility for the second 18-week period, a student must obtain a 2.0 or above cumulative grade point average in all courses taken. Courses for graduation include all attempted credits in high school.

• A student entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade must maintain a 2.0 or above cumulative (GPA) in all courses taken. Students are either eligible or ineligible for an 18-week period based on their cumulative (GPA) per FHSAA rules. Courses for graduation include all attempted credits in high school.

• The School Board of Broward County maintains the eligibility standard set forth in Policy 6201, which requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA standard for student athletics/activities participation. This School Board of Broward County policy supercedes the Senate Bill 92, which allows for a lower GPA standard for 9th and 10th graders utilizing the FHSAA Academic Performance Contract for Athletic Eligibility (EL05).

• All students must maintain satisfactory conduct in order to participate in interscholastic, athletic and extra-curricular activities. Eligibility to participate in after school activities is a privilege. This privilege can be revoked at the discretion of the administration and/or athletic department.

• A student is eligible in the school in which he or she first enrolls each school year, or makes him or herself a candidate for an athletic team by engaging in a summer activity or practice prior at the beginning of the school year. The student is eligible in that school so long as he or she remains enrolled in that school.

• A student who transfers attendance to your school at any time during his/her high school career after having begun the 9th grade must complete the Affidavit of Compliance with Policy on Athletic Recruiting.

• A student who transfers from one school to another school during the school year and prior to a sports season will be eligible at the new school provided the student qualifies under FHSAA By-Law 9.3.2.

9.3.2 Transfer Eligibility. A student who transfers from one school to another will be eligible at the new school provided the student qualifies under one of the following:

9.3.2.1 Transfer of Schools before a Sport Season. The student transfers and begins attending the new school prior to the beginning date of the sport season, as established in the FHSAA Calendar, meets all other eligibility requirements in Article 9 and provided: (HB 1403) 

• (a) The transfer has been approved pursuant to district school board policies in the case of a transfer to a public school or pursuant to the private school policies in the case of a transfer to a private school; and

• (b) A form to be provided by the association (EL6 Form – Notice of Transfer) has been submitted to the association.
  
  

• A student is limited to four consecutive calendar years of eligibility from the date he/she begins ninth grade for the first time.

• A student whose four-year limit of eligibility expires or reaches the age of 19 years 9 months during a FHSAA Florida High School State Championships in which he/she is participating may complete the Florida High School State Championships if the student continues to meet all other eligibility requirements. 
  
  

• Every athlete is required to have proof of insurance on file in the high school’s athletic department.

• If an athlete does not have personal/family insurance, 24-hour accident/injury insurance can be purchased from a School Board approved vendor through the local high school. See the school Athletic Director for more information.

NOTE: Athletes participating in tackle football, not having insurance, must purchase the policy specifically from the approved School Board vendor for football. See the school Athletic Director for more information.

• Each athlete is required to undergo a pre-participation physical evaluation and be certified as being physically fit for participation in interscholastic athletics using only the FHSAA physical form (EL2). The physical evaluation IS VALID FOR ONE YEAR from the date that is was administered. The athlete and parent or guardian must sign this form. This form is to be kept on file in the high school’s Athletic Department.

• Each athlete is required to have a FHSAA Consent and Release from Liability Certificate (EL3) on file in the high school’s Athletic Department. The type of insurance the athlete has must be declared on the form, as well as a current copy of the insurance card submitted with the form. The parent or guardian must sign the permission form.

• An athlete who participates on a FHSAA sanctioned sports team for two complete seasons, meets all other requirements, and successfully passes the competency exam with a grade of “C,” may be eligible to receive a “check-off” for completion of one credit of personal fitness. A complete season is defined as a student’s eligible participation one week prior to the first regular season contest and successful completion through the last regular season contest. The athletic department defines standards for successful completion. See Athletic Director for more information

• It is the responsibility of the student athlete to initiate a Personal Fitness Waiver Request.
• There are several dates during the year that the test will be administered. The students must turn in their documentation and are registered at their schools. All of the Athletic Directors and Guidance Directors are emailed throughout the semester reminding them of the exam date.
• The student who takes advantage of this opportunity is still required to meet all the credit requirements for graduation, e.g. 25 credits.
• For further information and guidelines regarding the personal fitness waiver, contact your school’s Athletic Director.
  
  

The district recognizes that while families have the primary responsibility for teaching character, we know that the best way to influence student behavior is to have good character modeled by respected adults in their environment. The School Board of Broward County has adopted eight (8) characteristics as part of the Broward County Public Schools’ Standards of Service Policy (6000.1). Through the integrating character education into existing school activities, we will continue to provide quality

The eight characters of education are:

• Responsibility

• Citizenship

• Kindness

• Respect

• Honesty

• Self-Control

• Tolerance

• Cooperation