- Section J: Students
JICI - Extra-Curricular, Co-Curricular, and Athletic Activities Code of Conduct for Middle and High School Students
A. Basis for this Policy
Participation in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities is a privilege provided by the district above and beyond the mandatory learning opportunities provided during the school day. RSU 21 believes in the important value and opportunity that participation in co-curricular, extra-curricular, and athletic activities can provide to students as an enhancement of their general educational programming. RSU 21 supports providing the activities as an opportunity for students to explore personal interests, foster personal growth, and to engage in additional alternative educational experiences outside of the classroom. In addition, student participants in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities are more visible to the public, and their actions are scrutinized more closely, than students attending classes on school premises during the school day. The public understandably views student participants in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities as representatives of, and ambassadors for, their district.
The student contract handbook outlines information about athletic, co-curricular, and extracurricular participation by RSU 21 students. Any RSU 21 student is expected to abide by the district's policies and behavior expectations while at school. Additionally, students who participate in athletic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities are held to a more stringent level of expectation that requires students to abide by restrictions on drug, alcohol, and nicotine use both during school hours and outside of school hours during active participation in such activities.
B. Operation of this Policy
For these reasons, the standard of behavior expected of student participants in these activities, and the disciplinary consequences for violations of those expectations, set forth in this policy operate ABOVE AND BEYOND the standards and consequences that are applicable to ALL students via the student code of conduct set forth in policy JIC. The provisions of this policy are applied IN ADDITION TO the provisions of policy JIC and violations of the law.
C. Good Standing and Attendance Requirements
1. Students in “good standing” may participate in the co- and extra-curricular, and athletics activities of their school. A student is considered in “good standing” if he/she is not the subject of any disciplinary action for violation of any policy or school rule and is currently academically eligible based on MPA guidelines and Board policy.
2. All participants in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities, are expected to come to school ready to learn on all school days during which such activities are scheduled. For the purpose of this policy, any student who has an unexcused absence for any portion of the school day may NOT participate in co- and extra-curricular and/or athletic activities on that day. Even if their absence is excused, all full-time students (with the exception of seniors who have attended their assigned classes) are required to attend at least 160 minutes of classes and/or programming during the school day in order to participate in after-school events on that day.
D. Consequences of Suspension for School Offenses Outside of Athletic, Co-Curricular, and Extracurricular Activities
Students suspended from school (including in-house and out-of-school suspension) shall not practice, participate, attend, or compete in extra-, co-curricular, and/or athletic activities during the days of their suspension.
E. Consistency with Board Policies
Students are required to abide by all Board policies, school rules, and any additional rules, and/or training guidelines imposed by coaches or advisors. Any additional rules and/or training guidelines must be consistent with Board policies and be approved by the Athletic Director or Activities Director.
F. Equipment and Uniforms
Students shall be responsible for all equipment and uniforms issued to them by the school. The cost of replacing damaged or lost equipment /uniforms will be the responsibility of the student.
G. Co-Curricular/Extracurricular/Athletic Contract
Students and their parents/guardians are required to sign a Co-Curricular/Extracurricular/Athletic Contract as a condition of participating in co-curricular, extra-curricular, and/or athletic activities. Students participating in fall sports (and their parents/guardians) must sign the contract at the beginning of the pre-season or season the student starts playing a sport or activity.
H. Disciplinary Action
Improper conduct, in school or out of school, as determined by the Athletic Director/coach or Activity Director/advisor and administration, shall result in disciplinary action up to and including removal/suspension from the team or activity for the duration of that sport or activity during the school year in question (in addition to any discipline imposed under applicable Board policies or school rules). The Athletic/Activity Directors and coaches/advisors are expected to enforce all policies and school rules at all times and to use their best judgment in applying penalties for violations. The advisor or coach shall consult with the Athletic Director or Activities Director and Principal prior to suspending a student from an activity or team.
For infractions involving drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco/nicotine products, disciplinary action will be taken as specified below (in addition to discipline imposed under JICH and JICH-R). Coaches/activity advisors may not impose additional disciplinary consequences for such infractions in addition to those set forth in policy JICH and procedure JICH-R and the provisions of this section H, except for repeat or extreme violations, which may warrant more stringent administrative review and additional sanctions. Violations during a student’s middle school and high school career are cumulative for each academic year.
This section of the policy applies (i) only during the period of the athletic, co-curricular, or extracurricular season and (ii) only for violations that take place when a student is not participating in school day activities or participating in extracurricular, co-curricular, or athletic activities on or off school grounds.
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Tobacco/nicotine product violations
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Self-Reporting of Violation: In an effort to encourage students to acknowledge a mistake and seek assistance if they violate the Board’s policies on substance use of tobacco/nicotine products, a student who violates Policy JICI has the opportunity to report their violation to the Athletic Director or Activity Director by noon of the following school day. A student who self-reports will not be disciplined but is required to meet with the Substance Use Counselor. This provision can only be used once during a student’s middle or high school career. This provision cannot be used to avoid discipline under this policy for a violation that has already been reported to the school or to avoid discipline for violations of Policy JICH.
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First Violation or First Violation Following Self Reporting: No participation in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and/or athletic activities for one week (7 calendar days from the date the infraction was identified). The student and their parent/guardian must participate in a meeting with an administrator and the Substance Use Counselor prior to returning to the activity.
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Repeat violations: No participation in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and/or athletic activities activities for two weeks (14 calendar days). The student and their parent/guardian must participate in a meeting with an administrator and the Substance Use Counselor prior to returning to the activity. Students are required to comply with any activities recommended by the Counselor. Student-athletes must engage in appropriate conditioning prior to returning to the activity.
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Drug and alcohol violations
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Self-Reporting of Violation: In an effort to encourage students to acknowledge a mistake and seek assistance if they violate the Board’s policies on substance use of drugs or alcohol, a student who violates Policy JICI has the opportunity to report their violation to the Athletic Director or Activity Director by noon of the following school day. A student who self-reports will not be disciplined but is required to meet with the Substance Use Counselor. This provision can only be used once during a student’s middle or high school career. This provision cannot be used to avoid discipline under this policy for a violation that has already been reported to the school or to avoid discipline for violations of Policy JICH
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First violation or First Violation Following Self Reporting: No participation in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and/or athletic activities for (i) two weeks (14 calendar days from the date the infraction was identified) or (ii) the duration of any extended out-of-school suspension. The student and their parent/guardian must participate in a meeting with an administrator and the Substance Use Counselor prior to returning to the activity. Students are required to comply with any activities recommended by the Counselor. Student-athletes must engage in appropriate conditioning prior to returning to the activity.
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Repeat violations: No participation in extra-curricular, co-curricular, and/or athletic activities activities for 30 calendar days from the date the infraction was identified The student and their parent/guardian must participate in a meeting with an administrator and the Substance Use Counselor prior to returning to the activity. Students are required to comply with any activities recommended by the Counselor. Student-athletes must engage in appropriate conditioning prior to returning to the activity.
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If a violation occurs near the end of the school year, the suspension shall carry over to the next school year.
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Activity/Team Leadership Positions
A student elected to a leadership position for an activity/team forfeits that position for the duration of any suspension from the activity or team. Once the student returns to the activity/team, the other members of the activity/team shall hold a meeting to make a recommendation whether or not the student may return to his/her leadership position. This meeting shall be facilitated by the Substance Use Counselor and attended by the Activity Director/Athletic Director and the coach/advisor. A final decision will be made by the coach/Athletic Director or advisor/Activity Director, taking into consideration the recommendations of the students. A second violation of Policy JICI at any time during the student’s middle school or high school career will result in the loss of any leadership designation held for the remainder of the season or activity.
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Appeal of Suspension from Activity / Team
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A student and their parent/guardian who wishes to appeal a suspension from a team/activity must first discuss the matter with their advisor or coach.
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Following that discussion, if the student and their parent/guardian wish to appeal the suspension, it must be done in writing (by letter or email) to the Athletic Director/Activity Director within three school days of notice of the suspension decision. The Athletic Director / Activity Director will conduct an investigation as they deem advisable and render a decision, in writing, to the student and their parent/guardian within three school days of receipt of the notice of appeal.
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If the student and their parent/guardian are dissatisfied with this decision, the decision may be appealed in writing to the student’s Principal within three school days of the student and their parent/guardian's receipt of the Athletic Director/Activity Director's written appeal decision. The Principal will conduct whatever investigation they deem advisable and render a decision, in writing, to the student and their parent/guardian within a reasonable time of the Principal's receipt of the written request for appeal. The Principal’s decision is final.
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The student shall remain under suspension during the appeal process.
Cross Reference:
JICH – Substance Use Policy
JIC – Student Code of Conduct
JICIA – Weapons, Violence and School Safety - Rules for Students, Staff, and Visitors JICK – Bullying
JJJ/JJIC – Academic Eligibility
JKD – Suspension of Students|
JKE – Expulsion of Students
JRA – Student Education Records and Information
ADC - Tobacco/Electronic Smoking Device Use
JICH - Substance Abuse Policy
Amended: 11/21/16
Amended: 6/24/24
- Section J