Good Cause Procedures, Athletics – Eligibility standards for extracurricular activities

1. A student not currently suspended from interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activities, or suspended or expelled from school, pursuant to a district school board’s suspension or expulsion power provided in law, including ss.1006.07, 1006.08 and 1006.09, is eligible to participate in interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular activities. (Per s.1006.195)
2. All student athletes are to complete and submit the required athletic packet prior to participating, in any capacity, in school interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
3. A student’s eligibility to participate in any interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity may not be affected by an alleged recruiting violation until final disposition of the allegation pursuant to s.1006.20 (2)(b). (Per s.1006.195)
4. Falsification of any required documents shall result in loss of athletic eligibility for 365 days upon confirmation that documents submitted were falsified.
5. Student discipline violations will be in accordance with the district’s Code of Student Conduct.
6. Current FHSAA Bylaws and Policies will be followed and adhered to for athletic eligibility.
7. Non-Traditional students shall participate, in athletics, at their home zoned school only with the following four (4) exceptions.                 
   1. NeoCity, Zenith and PATHS Students (9-12) may participate at their home zoned school or Gateway HS|
      Zenith students (6-8) may participate at their home zoned school or Denn John Middle
   2. OCSA students (9-12) may participate at their home zoned school or Osceola HS
      OCSA Students (6-8) may participate at their home zoned school or Denn John Middle
      1. Only one (1) school may be chosen for athletic participation for the school year
   3. Students choosing Osceola Virtual School (OVS) may participate at their home zoned school or where authorized by the school district.
   4. Home school students may participate at their home zoned school or approved school of choice if they attend a minimum of 1 class period, per day, at the choice school for the entire academic school year.
8. Any student athlete is subject to show continued evidence of “Residence Verification” if requested by school personnel.
9. A student may not participate in a sport if the student participated in that same sport at another school during that school year, unless the students meet the criteria in s.1006.15 (3)(h). (Per s.1006.195). Participation is defined as the first day of the sport season as posted by the Florida High School Athletic Association. (FHSAA) - *Exception to the rule
   *A student may transfer and participate in a sport (mid-season) even if they participated at another school if they meet one of the following criteria:
   • Children of active duty military whose move resulted from military orders
   • Children relocated due to foster care placement.
   • Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation, divorce, or serious illness or death of a custodial parent.
   • Authorized for good cause in district and or reassignment by District School Board.
   • Student(s) who apply for School of Choice prior to the start of the fall FHSAA athletic season, as listed on the FHSAA website, and are accepted within the first twenty (20) days of the start of the school year shall be eligible for athletic participation.
     • Student(s) who have to move to a new home address due to a move by the student and a person or person(s) with whom he/she has been previously living that makes it necessary for the student to attend a different school shall be ruled ineligible but have the right to appeal to the district Athletic Eligibility Committee to be considered for reinstatement of eligibility.
     • Student(s) who transfer schools, without making a move to a new address, shall be ruled ineligible but have the right to appeal to the district Athletic Eligibility Committee to be considered for reinstatement of eligibility
     • The committee will have ten (10) school days to schedule and hear the hardship case.
     • The Appeal Committee shall be made up of the following;
       • Deputy Superintendent of Human Services
       • Two High School Principals whose school are not involved in the transfer of the student.
       • Representative from Student Services
       • Representative from District leadership team.    
     • The Appeals committee decision will be final.
10. Parents shall refer to the district Educational Choices and Innovation department for the required application for specific rules regarding the process for requesting another school.