Seattle Public Schools

2.0 GPA

I.	BACKGROUND		On June 15, 1983, the Seattle School District Board of Directors passed the following policy:

	PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

	IT IS THE POLICY OF THE SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD THAT ALL STUDENTS (GRADES 9-12) PARTICIPATING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES MAINTAIN A 2.0 GRADE-POINT AVERAGE IN ALL SUBJECTS; BE ENROLLED IN COURSES THAT ENSURE NORMAL PROGRESS TOWARDS GRADUATION; AND MAINTAIN THE NUMBER OF CREDITS NECESSARY FOR ADVANCEMENT TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL.

II.	STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES		Students have a primary responsibility for their own degree of success in achievement and adjustment in school. In helping to ensure this success and continued opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities under the new policy, students will:

	A	Know what the policy requires of them and where they stand at all times in terms of their own eligibility.

	B.	Attend classes on a regular and punctual basis except when too ill to come to school, and make up all assignments which may be missed in each class.

	C.	Understand the subject content, specific course requirements, and the criteria for credits and grades in each class.

	D.	Be aware of the school’s homework policy and complete any homework assignments which are given in their classes.

	E.	Take home for review by their parents or guardians all progress reports, report cards, and other communications from the school, and return promptly to the school any forms requiring parental signatures.

	F.	Discuss regularly with their parents or guardians the progress which they are making in school and their eligibility status in terms of extracurricular activities.

	G.	Schedule their time in such a way as to keep up with their class work and still be able to participate in extracurricular activities.

	H.	Request assistance from the classroom teacher when they do not understand an assignment or materials which has been presented.

	I.	Take advantage of the counseling services, tutoring, make-up opportunities, and other assistance which the school may provide for students.

III.	GENERAL GUIDELINES

	A.	Criteria for Participation

		1.	Grade Point:

			a.	Implementation Date - The full implementation date for this policy was fall, 1984. Students expecting to participate in extracurricular activities must establish their eligibility during the most recent final grading period immediately prior to participatiion.

			b.	In order to participate, students in grades 9-12 at the beginning of the school year must have earned a grade average of no less than 2.0 during the second semester of the previous school year. Continuing eligibility will require earning no less than a 2.0 grade point average during the previous term

			c.	All new incoming students, transferring from outside the Seattle School District and regardless of grade level, will be eligible for participation in extracurricular activities for their first term of enrollment, whether a partial or full term. However, all other League and WIAA eligibility requirements must be met. Continuing eligibility will require a) enrollment in a program of studies that ensures normal progress toward graduation, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students earning 2.5 credits each term (enrolled in a minimum of five full credit classes) and, b) earning no less that a 2.0 grade average during the previous term.
			d.	Continuing Participation - for continuing participation, student’s grade average must be 2.0 or more as reported on the grading periods as identified above.

		2.	Program of Studies: Students must be enrolled in a program of studies that ensures normal progress toward graduation. Normal program is defined as enrollment in required courses at each grade level according to each high school’s program as determined by the District’s graduation requirements. Some requirements, such as science and health education, are offered at different grade levels in the various high schools.

		3.	Credits: Ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students must earn at least 2.5 credits each term to be eligible. Exception: Seniors who have 18.5 or more credits at the beginning of first semester of their senior year or at the end of the first term grading period of their senior year may take four full-time classes and be eligible. Students who graduate prior to the end of the school year retain their eligibility and may continue to participate in interscholastic activities until the end of the school year in which they graduate provided they have not exceeded their four (4) consecutive years of eligibility. (Athletic eligibility is subject to the League and WIAA eligibility rules and regulations.)

		4.	Interim Progress Reports: Students declared to be eligible retain eligibility for the entire term with interim progress report. Students declared to be ineligible may request a five (5) week grade check and may petition for probationary status at the five-week period of any term. Interim progress reports require a) letter grades, b) evaluation of credits, and c) evaluation of enrollment in required classes.

		5.	Probationary Eligibility Status: Probationary status is achieved by meeting the program of studies and credit requirements (2 and 3 above) and completing a five-week progress grade check of all classes which results in a grade-point average of no less than 2.0. Probationary status terminates at the conclusion of the term.

	Students may be on probation no more than once per term. Parent permission must be secured in writing before students may apply for probationary status.

	An additional grade check will be made for probationary students every five (5) weeks after the previous five-week grade check until the next term grades. To maintain eligibility, each grade check must also result in a grade-point average of no less than 2.0


IV.	DEFINITION OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

	While the meaning of extracurricular activity is much broader in scope, the purpose of this definition is strictly for the purpose of implementing the District minimum participation requirements. Extracurricular activities may be defined as those activities which occur beyond the regular school day and include:

	.A	All interscholastic athletic programs (varsity, junior varsity and third teams).

	B.	Any activity listed under the current compensation schedule for Special and Supplemental Assignments. EXCEPT:

		a.	intramurals

		b.	senior class advisor

		c.	out-of class activities which are conducted as part of a credit-bearing class

	C.	Any organization/group/club/team which has a fixed published roster. (Definition: A fixed roster is any organization/group/club/team formed within the school whose membership is known at all times and which meets on a regularly scheduled basis over a specified period of time.) Some extracurricular activities may be connected with curriculum experiences in a regular classroom situation (i.e, band, drama, journalism, etc.). This policy does not apply to those out-of-class activities which are conducted as a part of a credit-bearing class.

	D.	Any organization/group/club/team which is scheduled to compete with other schools.

	E.	Elected or appointed officers and chairpersons of any school-sponsored organization/group/club/team.

V.	STANDARDIZED GRADING POLICY

	The following standard grading procedure applies to all students in the regular school program:

	A.	The issuance of grades must follow the explanation of grades on the reverse side of the District Official Transcript.

	B.	The "N" grade may be used only as follows:

		1.	To indicate failure in a pass/no-grade (P/N) course.

		2.	To indicate an audited course.

	C.	A student must elect the P/N grade option within five (5) weeks of entry into a class. The action must be initiated by the student and verified and signed by the counselor, teacher, and parent(s)/guardian(s).

	D.	A student is eligible to elect the P/N option for any one course per term.

		(Note: See VI, B, 2.)

VI.	DEFINITION OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (GPA)

	A.	A 2.0 GPA is calculated on the following value scale for academic marks:

		A = 4 pts, B = 3 pts, C = 2 pts, D = 1 pt, E = 0 pts.

	B.	For purposes of extracurricular participation and eligibility determination:

		1.	"N" grade is not computed.
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		2.	"P" grade: Not more than one "P" grade may be given to regular students for purposes of extracurricular participation computation at the grade marking period. Exceptions may be made only for students in special education and/or bilingual students. (See Section VIII.)

		3.	"I" Incomplete is also disregarded in computing GPA, but is subject to League and WIAA eligibility rules and guidelines and issuance is governed by established District criteria, as follows:

		4.	Criteria for use of the “INC” grade: the “INC” grade can only be given under the following conditions, and only to a student who was passing the class at the given time.

			a.	The student has had a number of consecutive excused absences during the latter part of a grading period without a reasonable period of time to complete the assigned work.

			b.	The student was unable to take or complete a final exam, due to extenuating circumstances, prior to the final day of the grading period. To utilize this mark for term grade, teachers must complete a form which includes the following information:

				1.		A statement or listing of all work which must be completed.

				2.		Specify the performance level (i.e., quality) of the work to be submitted.

				3.		The grade the student will receive if the work submitted meets expectations as defined by the teacher.

				4.		The amount of credit the student will receive.

				5.		Specify the date the work is due to the teacher - maximum time allowed is 25 school days into the following grading period.

				6.		Student must receive a copy of this information.

						Work not completed by the specified date would result in the computer automatically changing the mark to an "E" grade at the next grading period and computing it into the GPA.

			C.	In computing a student's GPA for purposes of this policy:

				1.	The GPA is computed based on all courses the student is enrolled (requiring a minimum of five (5) full-time courses).

VII.	MARKING PRACTICES

	A.	The official grading period is either at the semester or trimester (i.e., 1^st semester final grade, 2nd semester final grade and all trimester final grade).

	B.	At the official end of each grading period, schools have five working days, plus one weekend, before eligibility must be checked. The sixth and seventh working days are used to verify eligibility, and eligibility must be declared on the eighth working day by all schools. Students participating in extracurricular activities or athletic competition must verify their eligibility prior to subsequent scheduled events or meetings.

	C.	Flexibility will be provided in marking practices for alternative schools as it relates to alternative students’ determination of eligibility for participation in extracurricular activities. (See Second VIII, C.)

	D.	Students may request a drop or withdrawal from a class, depending on building policy, without penalty (N-W) until the 25^th school day prior to the semester ending date specified by the official school district calendar. Students who drop or withdraw after this date do so at their own risk and are subject to League and WIAA eligibility guidelines and rules.

	E.	When a course a student has failed is repeated, only the highest grade will be computed into the student's cumulative grade point average.

	F.	When a student repeats a course in which a “D” grade has previously been given, and the grade is improved, the original “D” grade will remain on the transcript and will continue to be calculated as a permanent part of the student’s cumulative grade point average. However, the extracurricular participation purposes, the student’s GPA should be calculated manually, utilizing the improved grade of the repeated course.

VIII.		SPECIAL PROGRAMS

	A.	Special Education Programs

		Special Education students will be required to meet the same requirements as other students, except when their disabled condition prevents them from achieving a 2.0 GPA. Determination of exceptions will be made by the building principal and the supervisor for secondary education, mildly disabled, after consultation with part of the fall I.E.P. If an exception is requested after the fall I.E.P. conference has been held, a new I.E.P. conference will be held to include the exception as part of the student’s I.E.P. This exception addresses the legal requirements mandated by state and federal laws (PL94.142).

	B.	Bilingual Programs

		1.	Ninth and Tenth Grades: Those students receiving bilingual education services at the ninth and tenth grade levels must meet the regular eligibility requirements.

		2.	Eleventh and Twelfth Grades: Limited-English-speaking students (bilingual students) in the eleventh and twelfth grades must meet the regular eligibility requirements except that they may have modified program as specified by the building counseling and bilingual office staff. The modified program will be acceptable for eligibility purposes in lieu of the program of studies described in Section III, B, 2.

	C.	Alternative Programs

		Flexibility will be provided for alternative schools as it relates to alternative students' determination of eligibility for participation in extracurricular activities associated with the alternative programs. An alternative student’s eligibility, when transferring from an alternative program to a regular school program, will be determined by verification, in writing, from an administrator of the sending alternative school to grade-point average in all subjects. Continued eligibility will require earning no less than a 2.0 GPA during the regular grading periods (athletic participation is subject to WIAA and League eligibility rules and regulations).

IX.		APPEAL PROCEDURES

	A.	At the official end of each grading period, when grades are verified, students who do not meet the minimum requirements must be notified by the principal of their ineligibility and may not participate in subsequent events, activities, or contests.

	B.	Students may appeal their notification of ineligibility on the basis of hardship or extenuating circumstances.

	C.	Intraschools Activities (activities within a school building):

		1.	Students may appeal to the building principal (or administrative designee in the absences of the principal);

		2.	Decisions of the building principal shall be final.

	D.	Interschool Activities (activities between schools):

		1.	Students must submit appeals to the building principal for the purpose of screening the appeal to determine whether there is a basis for the appeal;

		2.	Appeals which are deemed to have a basis as declared by the building principal shall be forwarded to the Interschool Eligibility Committee.

		3.	The District shall appoint a District-wide committee, the Interschool Eligibility Committee, to hear and decide student appeals of interschool activities;

		4.	Students aggrieved by decisions of the Interschool Eligibility committee may submit a subsequent appeal to the Interschool Board of Appeals;

		5.	The District shall appoint an Interschool Board of Appeals to hear and decide students appeals which were declared unfavorable by the Interschool Eligibility Committee;

		6.	Decisions of the Interschool Board of Appeals shall be final.