R277-494. Charter, Online, Home, and Private School Student Participation in Extracurricular or Co-curricular School Activities  


R277-494-1. Authority and Purpose
Latest version.

  (1) This rule is authorized by:

  (a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board;

  (b) Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which permits the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities;

  (c) Subsection 53G-6-704(6)(a), which directs the Board to make rules establishing fees for a charter school student's participation in extracurricular or co-curricular activities at certain public schools; and

  (d) Subsection 53G-6-705(6), which directs the Board to make rules establishing fees for an online student's participation in extracurricular or co-curricular activities at certain public schools.

  (2) The purpose of this rule is to inform school districts, charter and online schools, and parents of:

  (a) school participation fees; and

  (b) state-determined requirements for a charter school or a public online school student to participate in an extracurricular activity at a student's boundary school.


R277-494-2. Definitions
Latest version.

  (1) "Activity fee" means a fee that:

  (a) is approved by a local school board or public school;

  (b) is charged to all students to participate in an extracurricular or co-curricular activity sponsored by or through the public school; and

  (c) entitles a public school student to:

  (i) participate in a school activity;

  (ii) try out for an extracurricular or co-curricular school activity;

  (iii) receive transportation to an activity; and

  (iv) attend a regularly scheduled public school activity.

  (2) "Co-curricular activity" means a school district or school activity, course, or experience that includes a required regular school day component and an after school component, including a special program or activity such as a program for a gifted and talented student, a summer program, and a science or history fair.

  (3) "Extracurricular activity" means an athletic program or activity sponsored by a public school and offered, competitively or otherwise, to a public school student outside of the regular school day or program.

  (4) "Online school" means a formally constituted public school that offers full-time education delivered primarily over the internet.

  (5) "Qualifying school" means:

  (a) for purposes of a charter school student, a school described in Subsection 53G-6-704(1);

  (b) for purposes of an online school student, a school described in Subsection 53G-6-705(2); and

  (c) for purposes of a private or home school student, a school described in Subsection 53G-6-703(2)(c).

  (6) "School of enrollment" means the public school that maintains the student's cumulative file, enrollment information and transcript for purposes of high school graduation.

  (7) "School participation fee" means the fee paid by a charter or online school to a qualifying school consistent with Subsections R277-494-3(2) or R277-494-4(2) for the charter or online school student's participation in an extracurricular or co-curricular activity.

  (8) "Student activity specific fee" means the activity fee charged to all participating students by a qualifying school for a designated extracurricular or co-curricular activity consistent with Rule R277-407.


R277-494-3. Charter and Online School Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities at Another Public School
Latest version.

  (1) A charter or online school student may participate in an extracurricular activity at a qualifying school if:

  (a) the extracurricular activity is not offered by the student's charter or online school;

  (b) the student satisfies:

  (i) for a charter school student, the requirements of Subsection 53G-6-704(3);

  (ii) for an online school student, the requirements of Subsection 53G-6-705(3); and

  (iii) the requirements of this rule;

  (c) the student meets the qualifying school's standards and requirements; and

  (d) the student's parent agrees to provide the student transportation to the qualifying school for the extracurricular activity.

  (2)(a) A charter or online school student's school of enrollment shall pay a one-time annual school participation fee of $75.00 per student to the qualifying school at which the charter or online school student desires to participate.

  (b) Upon annual payment of the school participation fee, the student may participate in all extracurricular or co-curricular school activities at the school during the school year for which the student is qualified and eligible.

  (3) The school participation fee described in Subsection (2)(a) is in addition to:

  (a) a student activity specific fee for a specific extracurricular activity; and

  (b) the activity fee charged to all students in a qualifying school to supplement a school activity as assessed by the school consistent with this rule.

  (4) Except as provided in Subsection (7), a charter or online school student who participates in an extracurricular activity at a qualifying school shall pay all required student activity specific fees to the qualifying school in accordance with deadlines set by the qualifying school.

  (5) All fees, including school participation fees and student activity specific fees shall be paid prior to a charter or online school student's participation in an activity at the qualifying school.

  (6) A charter or online school of enrollment shall cooperate fully with all qualifying schools:

  (a) regarding students' participation in try-outs, practices, pep rallies, team fund raising efforts, scheduled games, and required travel; and

  (b) by providing complete and prompt reports of student academic and citizenship progress or grades, upon request.

  (7)(a) If a participating charter or online school student qualifies for a fee waiver, in accordance with Rule R277-470, the charter or online student's school of enrollment shall pay the school participation fee described in Subsection (2)(a) and any waived student activity specific fees to the qualifying school.

  (b) A charter or online school that is required to pay a fee waiver student's participation fee or student activity specific fee as described in Subsection (7)(a) shall pay the student participation fee and any student activity specific fees to the qualifying school before the charter or online school student may begin to participate in the extracurricular activity at the qualifying school.


R277-494-4. Charter or Online School Student Participation in Co-Curricular Activities
Latest version.

  (1)(a) A charter or online school student may participate in a co-curricular activity at a qualifying school if:

  (i) the co-curricular activity is not offered by the student's charter or online school;

  (ii) the student satisfies:

  (A) for a charter school student, the requirements of Subsection 53G-6-704(3);

  (B) for an online school student, the requirements of Subsection 53G-6-705(3); and

  (C) the requirements of this rule;

  (iii) the student meets the qualifying school's standards and requirements; and

  (iv) the student's parent agrees to provide the student transportation to the qualifying school for the co-curricular activity.

  (b) A charter or online school may negotiate with a public school other than a school described in Subsection (1) to participate in a co-curricular activity at the other public school, including:

  (i) a debate, drama, or choral program;

  (ii) a specialized course or program offered during the regular school day; and

  (iii) a school's sponsored enrichment program or activity.

  (c) A student who participates in a co-curricular activity described in Subsection (1)(b) shall meet:

  (i) the same attendance, discipline, and course requirements expected of the public school's full-time students;

  (ii) for a charter school student, the requirements of Subsection 53G-6-704(3); and

  (iii) for an online school student, the requirements of Subsection 53G-6-705(3).

  (2)(a) A charter or online school of enrollment shall determine if the school will allow students to participate in co-curricular school activities at qualifying schools.

  (b) If a charter or online school allows one student to participate in a co-curricular activity at a qualifying school, the charter or online school shall allow all interested students to participate.

  (3)(a) A charter or online school student's school of enrollment shall pay a one-time annual school participation fee of $75.00 per student to the qualifying school at which the charter or online school student desires to participate.

  (b) If a charter or online school of enrollment pays a $75.00 school participation fee to a qualifying school as described in Subsection R277-494-3(2)(a), the charter or online school of enrollment is not required to pay an additional $75.00 school participation fee described in Subsection (3)(a) to the qualifying school in the same year.

  (4) A charter or online school student participating under this rule shall:

  (a) pay the required student activity specific fees for each co-curricular activity; and

  (b) meet all eligibility requirements and timelines of the public school.

  (5)(a) If a participating charter or online school student qualifies for a fee waiver, in accordance with Rule R277-407, the charter or online student's school of enrollment shall pay any waived student activity specific fees to the qualifying school.

  (b) A charter or online school that is required to pay a fee waiver student's activity specific fees as described in Subsection (5)(a), shall pay the student activity specific fees to the qualifying school before the charter or online school student may begin to participate in the co-curricular activity at the qualifying school.


R277-494-5. Private or Home School Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities
Latest version.

  (1) In accordance with Section 53G-6-703, a private or home school student may participate in an extracurricular activity at a qualifying school if:

  (a) for a private school student, the extracurricular activity is not offered by the student's private school;

  (b) the student satisfies the requirements of:

  (i) Section 53G-6-703; and

  (ii) this rule; and

  (c) the student meets the qualifying school's standards and requirements.

  (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a private or home school student shall pay the required student activity specific fees for each extracurricular activity to the qualifying school:

  (a) before the student may participate in the extracurricular activity at the qualifying school; and

  (b) in accordance with deadlines set by the qualifying school.

  (3) If a private or home school student qualifies for a fee waiver in accordance with Rule R277-407, the qualifying school shall waive any required student activity specific fees in accordance with the requirements of Rule R277-407, School Fees.


R277-494-6. Private or Home School Student Participation in Co-curricular Activities
Latest version.

  A private or home school student may participate in a co-curricular activity at a public school in accordance with the dual enrollment provisions of rule R277-438.