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 20th 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 20th
school day. Thus, a student may compete immediately upon the conclusion
of the 20th 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 90th 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.
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