January 18, 2007

TO: School Administrators

SUBJECT: Additional Interpretations, Academic Eligibility Rules

Questions concerning the Academic Eligibility Rules continue to dominate the telephone calls and emails at both the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Girls’ Athletic Union. In this email, we are attempting to clarify two commonly asked questions concerning the effective date of ineligibility under this rule, and the date which eligibility is regained under the rule.

QUESTION: When does the 20 day period of ineligibility begin for a student who receives an F?

ANSWER: The period of ineligibility begins with the first school day after grades are made available. The availability of grades varies from district to district. Some post grades for access via computer, or hand out grade reports in school. These acts certainly define availability. Others mail grades to the home. Once a school determines when access to the grades is available (in the case of mail, you may choose locally to wait up to three days from the time the grades are mailed) then the ineligibility begins on the following school day. This means, if a failing grade is made available to a student during the school day on Friday, the ineligibility begins on Monday, the following school day. The student may participate Friday and Saturday. We are aware some schools erroneously commenced the ineligibility in this scenario on the Friday the grades were given. If that is the case, the student’s 20-school day ineligibility “clock” commences with the day the local district imposed the ineligibility rather than the following school day.

QUESTION: A student is sitting out the 20 school days as a result of an F. His/her 20^th day is on Friday. Can the student participate on Friday night? Saturday? Wait until the next school day?

ANSWER: Ineligibility under this rule terminates at the conclusion of the 20^th school day. Thus, a student may compete immediately upon the conclusion of the 20^th school day (Friday night in this example). This interpretation is consistent with that given a student who is sitting out 90 school days as a result of a transfer. That student is eligible at the conclusion of the 90^th school day. In neither case is it necessary to wait until the next calendar or school day.

The interpretation manual does not clearly address the end of the 20-day period. This should clarify, and may alter, prior interpretations from the IGHSAU, IHSAA and DOE.

Although speech and music students are subject to academic eligibility rules which are slightly different than those of students participating in athletics, the executive directors of those associations, Craig Ihnen of the IHSSA and Alan Greiner of the IHSMA, have indicated these interpretations are also applicable when determining the “start” and “end” of ineligibility imposed by their respective rules.

The changes to the academic eligibility rule have created hundreds of questions in an attempt to address the unique scenarios present in each school. We appreciate the cooperation of school administrators as we work through interpretations to these scenarios. And, we welcome continuing calls and emails in hopes of ensuring consistent application of this rule.

Troy Dannen Richard Wulkow

Executive Director Executive Director

Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union Iowa High School Athletic Association