Get an
”
F’ and high school students could be excluded from after school
activities, including sports and clubs. The Morgan Hill Unified
School District’s Board of Education is in discussion that may
prevent students from participating in extracurricular and
co-curricular activities if they receive a failing grade.
Get an “F’ and high school students could be excluded from after school activities, including sports and clubs.
The Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Board of Education is in discussion that may prevent students from participating in extracurricular and co-curricular activities if they receive a failing grade.
Current policy printed in the Rights and Responsibilities handbook states that a student in high school must maintain a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The added “with no failing grade” as part of Board Policy 6145 has not been enforced in the past.
That means that if a student maintains a 2.0 GPA, yet receives an “F” grade in a course, they would not be able to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities which include sports, clubs, dances, and even prom.
Tuesday, board members discussed the possibility of keeping with the current practice or begin enforcing the no “F’ policy.
Grades 7 and 8 currently follow the No “F” policy.
“My concern is consistency in policy from middle school to high school. What is the message we’re sending to students?,” said trustee Bob Benevento. “That in middle school you can’t (participate in activities), but in high school you can?”
Board trustee Claudia Rossi is concerned with the inflexibility of the No “F” policy.
“The no ‘F’ policy doesn’t take into account that there are kids that do struggle.,” she said. “I think the 2.0 GPA would take care of that and allow for some wiggle room for kids that are trying to connect with their schools through extracurriculars.”
Board members asked for more information on what other school districts in the county are using before making a decision at the next meeting.
“What we don’t want to do now is speculate. That would be irresponsible,” said Superintendent Wes Smith. “The board has asked us for additional information and clarification, which we will provide. Then, once they make a decision as to any policy revisions, we would look at how best to implement them.”
Caitlin Ryman, a senior at Ann Sobrato High School, plays field hockey, basketball and softball. She said the possible No “F” policy would push students to strive for better grades.
“People who are playing sports are representing their school, so if they’re playing, they should have good grades,” she said. “If you’re failing, then why should you have extracurricular privileges if you’re not going to try?”
The California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for all high school sports in California, states that a student must have a 2.0 GPA to participate in athletics. If the No “F” policy is enacted, the district’s eligibility requirements will be tougher than the states, pointed out Socorro Shiels, assistant superintendent of education services, at Tuesday’s meeting.
