Section 5-A2700. GENERAL POLICY

 

2700.1Student participation in interscholastic athletic programs in the District of Columbia public schools in grades four (4) through twelve (12) shall be governed by the rules and procedures set forth in this chapter.

 

2700.2Interscholastic athletic programs shall place an emphasis on academic achievement, principles and practices of good sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and fair play, as well as safety, skills, and the rules of a particular sport.

 

2700.3Consistent with this chapter, each Local Educational Agency (“LEA”) shall promulgate and implement interscholastic athletic standards including, without limitation, safety and first aid, eligibility, satisfactory progress toward graduation, practice, equipment, training, probationary actions, and grievance procedures for participants.

 

2700.4Each LEA shall ensure that students with disabilities consistently have appropriate opportunities to participate in extracurricular athletic activities.

 

2700.5All coaches, officials and other personnel, including volunteers engaged with students participating in interscholastic LEA programs, shall obtain a required background check, and demonstrate expertise with regard to a respective sport, applicable rules, safety and first aid standards.

 

2700.6A student shall not be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be treated differently from other students, or otherwise be unlawfully discriminated against in interscholastic athletics based on, but not limited to, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, or place of residence or business.

 

2700.7Notwithstanding § 2700.6, a public school may operate a separate sports team for members of each sex, provided that the selection for such team is based upon competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport.

 

2700.8Notwithstanding § 2700.6, a public school may operate a sports team for members of a single sex, so long as the public school operates a sports team for an underrepresented sex when there is sufficient interest to maintain a team. In the event there is insufficient interest, the LEA shall allow members of the underrepresented sex to try out for existing teams and qualify based on appropriate skill level, safety, and other standards for participation on such team.

 

2700.9Except as provided in § 2700.12, a high school varsity team shall be limited to eligible students enrolled in that high school in grades nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11), and twelve (12).

 

2700.10Except as provided in § 2700.12, a junior varsity team in high school shall be limited to eligible students enrolled in that high school in grades nine (9), ten (10), and eleven (11).

 

2700.11A student who has participated in varsity competition in a sport during a school year shall be ineligible to participate in junior varsity competition in the same sport in the same year.

 

2700.12(a)A DCPS student in grade nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11), or twelve (12) attending a DCPS school in which a desired sport is not offered, may  request authorization at any DCPS school offering the desired sport.

 

(b)A public charter school student in grade nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11), or twelve (12) attending a public charter school in which a desired sport is not offered, may request authorization at another school located within the student’s attendance zone (based upon the student’s primary residential address), or at another public charter school.

 

(c)Students under this section seeking to participate at another school may only participate if it is allowed in the written policy of the LEA in which the student seeks to participate, and the student meets the eligibility requirements of the State, LEA, and school.  An LEA may require actual costs associated with a student’s participation and the sending school is required to provide funding for the costs.

 

2700.13LEAs and member schools shall annually publish their schedules for interscholastic competition.

 

2700.14The State Superintendent may establish an advisory committee on interscholastic athletics to advise LEAs or the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (“OSSE”) on matters pertaining to interscholastic athletic programs.

2700.15LEAs that receive federal funding and maintain athletic programs in the District shall designate at least one (1) employee for purposes of athletics to coordinate with the LEAs’ Title IX (as codified at 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 – 1688) coordinator, to ensure that the requirements of Title IX are met regarding athletics.

authority

Section 3(b)(11) of the District of Columbia State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-2602(b)(11) (2012 Repl. & 2013 Supp.)) and Section 401 of the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, effective July 27, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-209; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-824.01 (2012 Repl.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 6015 (July 22, 2011); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 10858 (September 14, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 16052 (November 22, 2013).