• IGD: Cocurricular and Extracurricular Activities

    Policy

    The purpose of education is to develop the whole person of the student. For this reason, an educational program must embody, as an essential element, activities that involve students beyond the classroom and foster the values which result from interaction and united effort. Such activities are a logical extension of the required and general curriculum and the elective or special curriculum.

    All student activity programs must:

    • Have educational value for students
    • Balance with other curricular offerings in the schools and be supportive of, and never in competition with, the academic program
    • Be managed in a professional manner

    The following guidelines govern the student activity programs.

    • Student activities are those school-sponsored activities that students voluntarily engage in, have the approval of the school administration, and do not carry credit toward promotion or graduation.
    • Under the direction of the principal and professional staff, each school has a student activity program designed to stimulate student growth and development by supplementing and enriching the curricular activities. A student activity fund accounts for all receipts and expenditures.
    • Schools must design activities that contribute directly to the students' educational, civic, social, and ethical development.
    • The student activity program receives the same philosophy, objectives, social setting, organization, and evaluation as the regular school curriculum.
    • The District develops written guidelines and procedures regulating the creation, organization, administration, and dissolution of student activity programs.
    • The expenses involved in participating in any school activity and the total program for a school year allow a majority of the students to participate without financial strain.
    • Activities must be open to all students, regardless of (including but not limited to) race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, economic status, age, disability, or military status.
    • Activities do not interfere with regularly scheduled classes; this limitation often requires conducting activities beyond the regular school day.
    • Activities at any level should be unique, not duplications of others already in operation.
    • Students suspended and expelled from school are excluded from extracurricular activities.
    • Schools may suspend students from extracurricular activities for violations of the Code of Conduct or the Code of Conduct of the particular activity. Students with an unexcused absence from school are not permitted to participate in extracurricular activities on that date.
    • Annually, the Board directs the Chief Executive Officer or designee to identify supplemental contract positions that supervise, direct, or coach a student activity program that involves athletic, routine/regular physical activity, or health and safety considerations. Upon identifying the position, the individual must complete the Ohio Department of Education and State law requirements.
    • The District may expel a student for up to one year for firearm-related or knife-related incidents occurring off school property at an interscholastic competition, extracurricular event, or other school-sponsored activity.
    • A student may be removed from extracurricular activities when the student's presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption in such a setting. If the school or District removes a student from extracurricular activities, such removal may include all extracurricular activities in which the student is involved.
    • Students receiving home instruction aligned to IGCF (Home School), are home-bound aligned to IGBG (Home-Bound Instruction), or attend a District remote school can participate in activities, including interscholastic athletics, in-person at the assigned District school per Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) business rules. This assignment is most commonly the closest school to the parent or guardian’s residence but could be different based on past educational history. Students or families should contact the District to determine the appropriate athletic assignment. Students must be the appropriate age and grade level as determined by the District and must fulfill similar requirements as other participants (academic, nonacademic, etc.).

    History

    • Adopted: September 6, 2001
    • Amended: March 29, 2022

    Legal References