FILE: IDE
CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRACURRICULAR
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The Vernon Parish School Board shall be committed to providing for each of its schools a program of student activities to all students in a manner which allows students equal opportunity to participate in services and activities. The School Board shall require all schools to abide by the regulations of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in regard to student activities. All student activities are to be under the control of designated personnel; including the handling of all finances, the purchase of all equipment and supplies, and the employment of and payment of salaries to all personnel connected with the activity.
Student organizations shall generally be encouraged when they meet the simple criteria of contributing to learning rather than detracting from it. Such organizations shall operate within the framework of the law, School Board policy, administrative rules, and the parameters of the learning program. Their establishment and operation shall be facilitated in reasonable ways by district staff and through utilization of district resources.
The principal shall develop general guidelines for student organizations. Among other provisions, such guidelines shall require the assignment of at least one faculty advisor to each student organization.
All work missed by students while participating in student activities or events shall be made up and completed in a manner that would be required of any other students in order to receive credit.
No student shall be allowed to participate in any event on the day or night while the student is under suspension from school.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Co-curricular activities are those activities that are relevant, supportive, and are an integral part of the course of study in which the student is enrolled and which are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff. These activities may take place during the instructional day, since they are directly related to instruction; however, every effort must be made in scheduling these events to interrupt the school instructional day as little as possible. These activities are:
Science and social studies fairs; state and national level conferences and conventions of student organizations; student-teacher-parent conferences; club meetings which are directly related to courses in which the student is enrolled, such as: FBLA, Mu Alpha Theta, FHA, 4-H, DECA, science club, social studies club, etc.; concerts and other cultural performances in the schools; student evaluations; and college and career fairs.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Extracurricular activities are those activities which are not directly related to the program of studies and which are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff and are considered valuable for the overall development of the student.
Extracurricular activities shall not be scheduled during instructional time.
Notwithstanding any policy, rule, or regulation adopted by the School Board to the contrary, no student otherwise eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity, including interscholastic athletics, shall be limited in the number of such activities in which the student may participate in a school year.
SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT PARTICIPATION
All non-academic and extracurricular services and activities shall be offered to all exceptional students in a manner that allows them equal opportunity to participate in services and activities.
Revised: July, 2013
Revised: October 8, 2013
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยง17:176
Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Official Handbook, Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Board minutes, 7-11-13, 10-8-13
Vernon Parish School Board