Guidance on “Scholarship Rule,” 36.15(2)

Side by side comparison of 36.15(2)

CURRENT (in effect until 7/1/08)	NEW (Adopted 4/3/08; Effective 7/1/08)
A student must receive credit in at least 4 subjects at all times.	No change.
Pass all and make adequate progress toward graduation to remain eligible.	No change.
If not passing all at end of a final grading period, student is ineligible for first period of 20 consecutive school days in the interscholastic athletic event in which the student is a bona fide contestant. If not passing all at end of final grading period of the school year and student is a contestant in baseball or softball, student is ineligible for next four weeks of that sport but has eligibility in the fall. If not passing all at any check point (if school checks at any time other than the end of a grading period), period of ineligibility and conditions of reinstatement are left to the school.	If not passing all at end of a final grading period, student is ineligible for first period of 30 consecutive calendar days in the interscholastic athletic event in which the student is a contestant. There is no requirement that the student competed in the sport previously. Students in baseball or softball have the same penalty as all other students. No change.
Schools must check grades at the end of each grading period; otherwise, a school determines if and how often it checks grades.	No change.
Requirement that member schools report interventions on CSIP.	No change.
A “student with a disability” and an IEP is judged based on progress made toward IEP goals.	No change.
Ability to use summer school or other means to make up failing grades for eligibility purposes not available.	No change, but rule now also requires that all original failing grades (even those remediated for purposes other than athletic eligibility) be reported to any school to which the student transfers.

Language of new rule (New language is in italics)

36.15(2) Scholarship rules.

a. All contestants must be enrolled and in good standing in a school that is a member or associate member in good standing of the organization sponsoring the event.

b. All contestants must be under 20 years of age.

c. All contestants shall be enrolled students of the school in good standing. They shall receive credit in at least four subjects, each of one period or “hour” or the equivalent thereof, at all times. To qualify under this rule, a “subject” must meet the requirements of 281—Chapter 12. Coursework taken from a postsecondary institution and for which a school district or accredited nonpublic school grants academic credit toward high school graduation shall be used in determining eligibility. No student shall be denied eligibility if the student’s school program deviates from the traditional two-semester school year.

(1) Each contestant shall be passing all coursework for which credit is given and shall be making adequate progress toward graduation requirements at the end of each grading period. Grading period, graduation requirements, and any interim periods of ineligibility are determined by local policy. For purposes of this subrule, “grading period” shall mean the period of time at the end of which a student in grades 9 through 12 receives a final grade and course credit is awarded for passing grades.

(2) If at the end of any grading period a contestant is given a failing grade in any course for which credit is awarded, the contestant is ineligible to dress for and compete in the next occurring interscholastic athletic contests and competitions in which the contestant is a contestant for 30 consecutive calendar days.

d. A student with a disability who has an individualized education program shall not be denied eligibility on the basis of scholarship if the student is making adequate progress, as determined by school officials, towards the goals and objectives on the student’s individualized education program.

e. A student who meets all other qualifications may be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for a maximum of eight consecutive semesters upon entering the ninth grade for the first time. However, a student who engages in athletics during the summer following eighth grade is also eligible to compete during the summer following twelfth grade. Extenuating circumstances, such as health, may be the basis for an appeal to the executive board which may extend the eligibility of a student when the executive board finds that the interests of the student and interscholastic athletics will be benefited.

f. All member schools shall provide appropriate interventions and necessary academic supports for students who fail or who are at risk to fail, and shall report to the department regarding those interventions on the comprehensive school improvement plan.

g. A student is academically eligible upon entering the ninth grade.

h. A student is not eligible to participate in an interscholastic sport if the student has, in that same sport, participated in a contest with or against, or trained with, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), or other collegiate governing organization’s sanctioned team. A student may not participate with or against high school graduates if the graduates represent a collegiate institution or if the event is sanctioned or sponsored by a collegiate institution. Nothing in this subrule shall preclude a student from participating in a one-time tryout with or against members of a college team with permission from the member school’s administration and the respective collegiate institution’s athletic administration. [This is NOT a substantive change; it clarifies the “college squad” rule.]

i. No student shall be eligible to participate in any given interscholastic athletic sport if the student has engaged in that sport professionally.

j. The local superintendent of schools, with the approval of the local board of education, may give permission to a dropout student to participate in athletics upon return to school if the student is otherwise eligible under these rules.

k. Remediation of a failing grade by way of summer school or other means shall not affect the student’s ineligibility. All failing grades shall be reported to any school to which the student transfers.

Other key changes to chapter 36 rules

281—36.1(280), definition of “compete” added to definitions:

“Compete” means participating in an interscholastic contest or competition, and includes dressing in full team uniform for the interscholastic contest or competition, as well as participating in pre-game warm-up exercises with team members. “Compete” does not include any managerial, recordkeeping, or other non-competitor functions performed by a student on behalf of a member or associate member school.

281—36.15(1) amended to add the following sentence:

A member or associate member school shall not allow any student, including any transfer student, to compete until such time as the school has reasonably reliable proof that the student is eligible to complete for the member or associate member school under these rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Definitions

What is passing?

There is no statewide definition of passing; this is a locally controlled decision. In the absence of a local rule to address this, passing means any grade that is other than “F.”

If a school has an option whereby students may take a course “pass or no pass,” a grade of “no pass” is a failing grade.

How about Incompletes? Withdrawals?

Again, this is left to local control. But, LOCAL CONTROL means taking affirmative action to clarify for students just what an “I” or “W” means. In the absence of a local rule to address this, an “I” or “W” will be considered failure.

May an Incomplete be changed to a passing grade?

Depends on local policy. If a school has a policy that an “I” is failure, the “I” may not be changed to a passing grade for purposes of avoiding ineligibility.

What is a grading period?

A “grading period” is the period of time at the end of which a student receives a final grade and course credit is awarded for passing grades. Each school determines its own grading periods.

What is a final grade?

A final grade is that grade that goes on the student’s transcript. If a school offers block scheduling, a final grade might occur at the end of nine weeks if the grade is recorded on the student’s transcript. A final grade is NOT the grade on the progress report that goes to students and their families.

What is credit coursework or a credit subject?

If the student’s transcript includes a letter grade (other than “F,” “I,” or “W”) for the subject or course, this is credit coursework. The most typical example of non-credit coursework is Driver Education. It is a local decision (to be made about the course as a whole, and not to be made on an individual student basis) whether a certain subject or course is one for which credit is awarded.

Why is a definition of “compete” now included in the rules?

There have been instances where member and associate member schools inadvertently played ineligible students, forcing the executive board to determine an appropriate penalty to impose against the school. For instance, in one case, a transfer student (ineligible for 90 consecutive school days from varsity competition) played J.V. football and practiced with the varsity as a member of the scout team. No problem so far. Unfortunately, he was allowed to dress in full pads and uniform and to be on the sidelines with the rest of the varsity team on game nights. During one game, his team had enough of a lead that the coach yelled “scout team go in.” You guessed it; the ineligible player ran in with the rest of the scout team and played a couple of downs before the error was caught. Adding a definition of “compete” and including dressing in full uniform and taking part in pre-game warm-ups is meant to assist member and associate member schools to know what is and is not acceptable.

9^TH Graders

1. Is an incoming 9^th grader affected by the rule if s/he did not pass all credit coursework on his/her final 8^th grade report card?

Not under the state rule. Unless the local policy states otherwise, all incoming 9^th graders have immediate eligibility, at least under the scholarship rule.

2. What is the result for a 9^th grader who did not play softball/baseball and does not pass all after the first grading period as a 9^th grader?

The student is ineligible for the first 30 calendar days of competition of the next sport (or current sport if in season) s/he competes in. This is the same result as for any other secondary student.

3. What is the result for a 9^th grader who played softball/baseball immediately after 8^th grade and does not pass all after the first grading period as a 9^th grader?

Again, this is now the same result as for any other secondary student. The student is ineligible for the next 30 calendar days of competition of the next sport (or current sport if in season) s/he competes in. If the student is participating in basketball at the time, s/he sits out the first 30 calendar days of basketball. If the student is not in basketball, but goes out for track, the 30 days applies to track. If the student competes solely in softball or baseball, that is the season affected, and the period of ineligibility is 30 calendar days.

4. If a 9^th grader does not go out for any sports and does not pass all at the end of a final grading period during the student’s freshman year, what is the period of ineligibility if that student wants to go out for one or more sports sophomore year? Junior or senior year?

The student is ineligible for the first 30 calendar days of the first sport s/he goes out for in the student’s sophomore year. If the student passes all during sophomore year, and does not compete in any athletics until the student’s junior or senior year, the student may participate with no period of ineligibility (unless local rule provides some ineligibility). This is because the student will have satisfied the one full year “look back” period of time (having a full academic year of all passing grades during which time the student does not compete in any interscholastic athletics).

10^TH - 12^th Grade Students

5. What is the result for a student who is competing in basketball and does not pass all after the first grading period?

The student is ineligible for the next 30 calendar days of competition in basketball. The period of ineligibility starts on the first day of the next grading period.

6. Same as above, but the student has a hunch that she failed a course, so she never picks up her report card.

The student cannot postpone her ineligibility. She is out for the next 30 calendar days of competition in basketball, whether or not she receives the report card. The same is true for report cards that get lost in the mail or are eaten by the dog. The period of ineligibility starts on the first day of the next grading period.

7. When there is no doubt that a student is going to receive an “F” as a final grade, can the school let the student know before grades are actually issued so that the period of ineligibility starts sooner?

The school may let the student know about the failing grade, but the period of ineligibility starts on the first day of the next grading period. That is, a school may not move up the period of ineligibility for a student by giving the student advance knowledge of the student’s final grades. If a school has an ineligible student start his/her period of ineligibility earlier than the first day of the next grading period, the ineligibility will NOT end any sooner than the 31^st day of the new grading period.

8. What is the result for a student whose only sport is wrestling (or any fall or winter sport) and he does not pass all after the final grading period (e.g., second semester)?

The student is ineligible for the first 30 calendar days of competition in wrestling the next year. However, if the student decides to go out for cross country (or any other sport) for the first time the next year, the student’s period of ineligibility will be applied to that sport.

9. What is the result for a student whose only sport is football (or any fall sport) and he does not pass all on his first semester report card but gets all “A”s on the second semester report card?

The student is ineligible for the first 30 calendar days of competition in football the next year.

10. What is the result for a student who competes in wrestling or boys swimming and he does not pass all on his first semester report card?

The student is ineligible for the next 30 calendar days of competition in his sport (wrestling or swimming). If the season ends before 30 calendar days expire, the extra days carry over to the next sport in which the student competes.

Example 1: Grades from first semester are issued January 16, a Friday. Second semester starts on Tuesday, January 20. Rick, a wrestler, has an “F” as a final grade. His ineligibility starts on Tuesday, January 20. Wrestling season ends on the Saturday of the state dual team tournament (in 2009 this will be February 28). All of Rick’s 30 calendar days of ineligibility are used up during the wrestling season.

Example 2: Same as above, except Rick is a swimmer. Swim season ends February 14, the date of the state meet. There are 26 calendar days from January 20 to February 14, so Rick has four more days of ineligibility to serve. These days shall be applied to the next sport in which Rick competes.

11. What is the result for a student who competes in spring golf and does not pass all on the second semester report card?

The student is ineligible for the next 30 calendar days of competition in her sport (golf), and any “unexpired” days of ineligibility carry over to the next sport in which the student competes.

Example: Grades from second semester are issued May 31. Carol, a golfer and swimmer, does not pass all. She is ineligible for the girls state golf meet on June 1-2, as well as the state coed golf meet on June 9. She has 21 calendar days of ineligibility that shall apply to the first 21 calendar days of the fall swim season.

12. In the above example where final grades are issued so closely to the student’s next athletic contest, how can a school ensure that it does not inadvertently allow an ineligible student to compete?

The burden is on school officials to talk to teachers and make sure that ineligible students do not compete. Where a competition is schedule within a day or a few days of the end of a grading period, coaches and athletic directors should be talking to teachers to identify any students who are vulnerable to not passing. Inasmuch as allowing an ineligible student to compete exposes the school to penalties by IHSAA or IGHSAU, including forfeiture, it is in the school’s best interests to take all possible means to check on final grades.

13. What is the result for a senior whose only sport has been volleyball (or any fall sport that concludes before end of first semester) and she does not pass all on her first semester report card?

Under the former “bona fide competitor” requirement, there would have been no “penalty.” Under the new rule, the student is ineligible for the first 30 calendar days of any interscholastic sport in which she competes.

14. If a student competes in two sports simultaneously (cross country and volleyball; golf and track; etc.) and becomes ineligible during or for the season, is the student ineligible for 30 calendar days for both sports?

Yes. The student is ineligible for all sports during the 30 calendar day period of ineligibility.

15. If a student competed solely in track as a 9^th grader, did not pass all coursework at the end of second semester, and decides not to compete in track again but to go out for golf, is the student eligible for golf?

No. The period of ineligibility now applies to any interscholastic sport in which the student seeks to compete.

College Coursework, AP Courses

16. If a student takes an Advanced Placement (AP) course and fails that course, but passes all other coursework, does the “F” in the AP course count under rule 36.15(2)?

Yes it does. This was not changed.

17. If a student takes a dual credit course under PSEO (postsecondary enrollment option), does this coursework count under rule 36.15(2)?

Yes it does. This is not a change. The rule has always provided that PSEO coursework shall be used to determine eligibility. Students are not allowed to audit PSEO coursework.

Example: Rick uses PSEO to take Advanced Astronomy at ISU. He also takes four other courses at his high school, all for credit. The stars are not his friends; he fails the PSEO course. Rick passes the other four courses, but the “F” in the PSEO course renders him ineligible under the rule.

18. If a student takes a dual credit course from a community college (contracted course for supplementary weighting), does this coursework count under rule 36.15(2)?

Yes. The rule now treats all dual credit courses equally. They all count under 36.15(2).

19. If a student takes a college credit course on her own and will receive no secondary credit for the course, does this coursework count under rule 36.15(2)?

No. It counts neither for nor against the student.

Example 1: Carol enrolls in a culinary course at DMACC and attends the course at night. She receives only postsecondary credit for the course, no secondary credit. Carol gets an A. This course does not count as one of the four credited subjects she must take to be eligible under 36.15(2). So if she is enrolled in only three credit courses at her high school, she is not eligible.

Example 2: Carol enrolls in a culinary course at DMACC and attends the course at night. She receives only postsecondary credit for the course, no secondary credit. Carol gets an F in the DMACC course. She also takes and gets passing grades in four credit courses at her high school. She remains eligible.

Summer School/Summer Sports

20. How is ineligibility imposed for students whose only sport is softball or baseball?

There is now no difference for students in softball or baseball. The period of ineligibility is 30 calendar days, starting immediately upon release of the second semester (third trimester) report cards. If the ineligibility was because of an earlier “F,” the time starts with the first allowable date of competition for softball or baseball.

Example 1: Troy competes in baseball, but gets an “F” on his final report card for the year. The report card is issued on June 2. His ineligibility starts June 3^rd and ends July 2^nd, 30 calendar days later.

Example 2: Troy competes only in baseball. He received an “F” on his first semester report card. His ineligibility starts on the first date on which a baseball contest is allowed to be scheduled and ends 30 calendar days later. For the 2009 season, the first date on which a baseball contest is allowed is May 25.

Example 3: Troy competes only in baseball. He received an “F” on his first semester report card. He also received an “F” on his second semester report card. His ineligibility for the first semester “F” starts on the first legal playing date, May 25. The second semester grades are issued June 2, so the period of ineligibility for this “F” starts June 3. The two periods of ineligibility run concurrently with each other. Troy does not have 60 days of ineligibility. The days remaining from his first period of ineligibility run at the same time as his new 30 day period. His total ineligibility ends July 2, 2009.

21. May a student who received an “F” on his second semester report card re-take that class over the summer to change the grade?

Not for purposes of changing his eligibility. Students should always be encouraged to remediate subjects they did not master the first time around. If the school has a policy that it will change the student’s grade on his transcript if this occurs, that does not change the fact that the student is ineligible under rule 36.15(2). Also, note that schools are now required to report all original failing grades (even those remediated for purposes other than athletic eligibility) to any school to which the student transfers. So, if a student’s transcript does not reflect that an “F” was originally earned in a certain course (because the student remediated the grade to a passing mark), the school must still let the next secondary school know that the student originally failed the course.

22. When is the ineligibility period for a student who participate in football and baseball and who does not pass all coursework at the end of first semester but passes all at the end of second semester?

If the student goes out for baseball, this is the sport to which his ineligibility will apply.

Students with Disabilities

23. How does the rule affect a student with an IEP?

A student with an IEP (Individualized Education Program) is not subject to “pass all.”

The student is not to be denied eligibility on the basis of grades if the student is making adequate progress, as determined by school officials, towards the goals and objectives on the student’s IEP.

24. May a school set higher requirements for students with disabilities, such as by holding students with disabilities to the “pass all” rule applicable to students without disabilities?

No. So long as the student is making adequate progress toward goals, on the student’s IEP, as determined by school officials, the student “shall not be denied eligibility” based on scholarship. What constitutes adequate progress will vary based on the facts of each student’s case. (See also #28 below.)

25. Who determines “adequate progress” for a student with an IEP?