2005-06 GENERAL ELIGIBILITY RULES

       According to UIL standards, students are eligible to represent their school in interscholastic activities if they:

·                     have not graduated from high school,

·                     are full-time, day students in the school, and have been in regular attendance at the school since the 6^th class day of the present school year, or have been in regular attendance for 15 or more calendar days before the contest or competition.

·                     meet the UIL academic standard for the first six weeks of the school year found on page 1 of this document.

·                     are in compliance with state law and rules of the State Board of Education.

·                     are enrolled in a four year program of high school courses, and initially enrolled in the 9^th grade not more than 4 years ago nor in the 10^th grade not more than 3 years ago.

·                     were not recruited.

·                     are not in violation of the awards rule, and

·                     meet the specific eligibility requirements for music competition.

      NOTE:  Any time a student changes schools, it is a red flag to check the residence of the parent(s) and to be sure that the

      student complies with local transfer and admission policies.  If the student has been continuously enrolled in and attending       

      school for one calendar year and the parents leave the attendance zone, check to be sure that the student complies with                     

     local admission and transfer policies. (See Section 442.) [attachment C]

      Understanding Rules for Scheduling Contests in Grades 9-12

·                     Schedules-The following combines state law, State Board of Education regulations and UIL rules.  The Texas Education Agency allows participation in one contest per school week.  Participation is defined as involvement with the activity (e.g., traveling with the team, sitting on the bench).  Example:  On a Tuesday night, the student’s name is on the score book but she         remains on the bench and does not actually enter the game.  This counts as participation according to state law.  That student cannot participate again until Friday after school.  UIL limits participation in contests per calendar week in some sports.          Participation is defined as a student actually entering a contest.  Example:  On Tuesday night, the student’s name is on the score book but the student remains on the bench and does not actually enter the game.  This does not count as participation in a UIL contest according to UIL but does count according to state law.  That student cannot participate again until Friday after school.  The Tuesday game does not count as one of the games UIL permits the student to participate in for that calendar week or for the season because the student did not go in the game.

·                     Constitution and Contest Rules:  Section 5:  Definitions (attachment D)

                        (a)   Calendar week means 12:01 a.m. on Sunday through midnight on Saturday.

                        (y)   School week means the week beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first instructional day of a calendar week and ending at                                     the close of instruction on the last instructional day of the calendar week, excluding holidays.                          

·                     Texas Administrative Code (TAC)

                        (1)   One contest per school week:  School districts shall adopt policies limiting extra-curricular activities from the                                                 beginning of the school week through the end of the school week (excluding holidays) by scheduling no more than                                    one contest or performance per activity per student.   

                                Exception:   Tournaments and post-season competition, as well as district varsity contests postponed by weather or                                   public disaster, may also be scheduled during the school week.

                        (2)   Eight-hour practice rule:  School districts shall adopt policies limiting extra-curricular activities from the beginning                                       of the school week through the end of the school week (excluding holidays) by limiting practice outside the school                                     day to a maximum of eight hours per school week per activity.