The Board of Education of Charles County has approved updates to the eligibility policy for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students, specifically impacting athletics and extracurricular activities. The changes were passed during the Board's June 17 work session in a 6 to 2 vote.
Policy Adjustments
The central change to Board Policy 6431 allows students who receive a failing grade (F) in the fourth quarter to remain eligible for fall athletics and extracurricular activities, provided they achieve a final overall passing grade in the class. Additionally, students who fail the fourth quarter can regain eligibility by passing a summer school make-up course in the same subject, if available.
Existing Requirements
The GPA and attendance criteria remain unchanged. Students must still meet a minimum GPA of 2.0, have no failing grades in Quarters 1-3, and be absent fewer than five days from the previous quarter. Suspensions continue to count against a student's eligibility.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
Rising Freshmen (Grade 9):
- Automatically meet GPA and attendance requirements for the first semester.
- Absences count starting in the third quarter.
- Fewer than five absences in the previous quarter maintains eligibility without documentation.
- Lawful absences must be documented within five days, limited to five parent notes.
Repeat Freshmen and Grades 10-12:
- Must meet promotion standards and have earned a 2.0 GPA with no failing grades in Quarters 1-3.
- Final GPA of 2.0 with no failing grades in yearlong or semester courses from the previous year is required.
- An F in the fourth quarter is acceptable if the final grade is passing.
- Fewer than five absences maintain eligibility without documentation.
- Lawful absences must be documented within five days, limited to five parent notes.
Lawful Absences Defined
State regulations outline lawful absences, including:
- Student illness (documented by parent note)
- School-approved work
- Court summons
- Death of a family member
- Principal-approved emergencies
- Hazardous weather conditions
- Religious holiday observance
- State of emergency
- Lack of authorized transportation
Quarterly Eligibility
Eligibility for each quarter is as follows:
- Fall Activities: Eligibility based on final GPA of the previous year.
- Winter Activities: Eligibility based on first quarter GPA.
- Spring Activities: Eligibility based on second quarter GPA.
- Failing Grades in Quarters 1, 2, or 3: Ineligibility for the remainder of the season and following quarter.
Regaining Eligibility
Students who are academically ineligible at the end of the school year due to a failing grade can regain eligibility by passing summer school classes that correspond to the failing grades. GPA requirements will be recalculated after summer school completion. Notably, summer school classes taken for original credit do not impact eligibility.
Restrictions on Regaining Eligibility
Students cannot gain or regain eligibility during the interim period or at any point during the quarter or season. This ensures a consistent standard is maintained throughout the academic year.
The Board's decision reflects a move towards greater flexibility, enabling students to participate in activities critical to their development, provided they meet the overall academic requirements. These changes balance maintaining academic standards while offering students opportunities to recover and remain engaged in school activities.
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