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PARTICIPATION

While the ideal is full student access to all activities, the reality of limited fiscal, facility, and human resources as well as the appropriate number of students to effectively conduct the activity may impose constraints. When taking these factors into account, Bellows Falls will adhere to the following philosophies:

Middle School: There shall be in place a support system that ensures a positive introduction to co-curricular activities at this level. All students will be assured of participation in the activities of their choice offered by Bellows Falls. Regarding sports, seventh and eighth grade students will be offered access to equitable coaching, practice, and playing opportunities regardless of ability. Students will be made aware in middle school that participation may become more restricted in grades 9-12 as skill levels become limiting factors.
 

High School: Reasonable attempts will be made to assure open access to all 9-12 co-curricular activities; however, this cannot be guaranteed as it is at the middle school level.

Participation in co-curricular activities is a privilege. The following information is the expectations of WNESU and the Vermont Principals’ Association. As such, all participants - including caregivers and spectators - are held to the highest standards described below in the handbook. 
 

Participation in Middle and High School co-curricular Activities for School Choice and Home Study Students (as outlined by VPA): This policy outlines the eligibility and participation guidelines for students enrolled in school choice programs and home study (homeschool) programs concerning extracurricular activities in Vermont middle and high schools. It ensures compliance with Vermont statutes and promotes equitable access to these programs.

Definitions

  • School Choice Students: Students who attend a public school outside their district of residence under Vermont's school choice provisions.
  • Home Study Students: Students enrolled in a registered home study program in accordance with 16 V.S.A. § 166b.

General Participation Requirements

All students — whether enrolled through school choice or home study — must meet the same participation requirements as full-time enrolled students as determined by the local district. These include but are not limited to:

  • Academic eligibility
  • Age and grade-level requirements
  • Compliance with behavior and conduct policies
  • Proof of a current physical examination
  • Proof of valid health insurance coverage

School Choice Students

  • Eligibility: Students participating in school choice programs are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities offered by the school in which they are actively enrolled. In the case of Technical Centers, students can access activities through their sending school.
  • Requirements: These students must meet the same eligibility criteria, including academic standards, physical examinations, insurance coverage, age requirements, and any other conditions as mandated for all enrolled students.

Home Study Students

Eligibility: In accordance with 16 V.S.A. § 563(24) and State Board of Education Rules 4403-4405, home study students are eligible to enroll part-time in academic courses and participate in extracurricular activities at:

  • The public school operated by their district of residence.
  • If the student's school district does not operate a public school offering at the applicable grade level, the student shall be considered a resident of any public school to which their district pays tuition, provided that:
    • The student is attending a school that their district has an established tuition agreement with
    • The student is enrolled at that school through their district's standard process for school placement
    • In cases where multiple school options exist (such as in Hartland, Wolcott, and similar districts with school choice), the student's eligibility will be determined based on their actual school of attendance rather than geographical proximity to their residence

Requirements: Prior to participation, home study students must:

  • Enrollment Verification: Provide the school principal with a copy of the Vermont Agency of Education Enrollment Letter confirming compliance with home study enrollment procedures.
  • Academic Assurance: Submit written assurance from the parent or guardian that the student is meeting the school's academic eligibility standards. This assurance should be provided at intervals consistent with those required for full-time students.
  • Compliance with Policies: Adhere to the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as other participants, including compliance with physical examination, insurance, age, and other requirements set forth by the Vermont Principals' Association (VPA) and the respective school.

Limitations

Participation is subject to space availability. When capacity is limited, preference shall be given to full-time enrolled students of the public school. Schools must establish and publish clear criteria for admitting non-enrolled students to activities with limited spaces, which may include lotteries or waiting lists. A public school may establish reasonable participation caps to ensure program sustainability and prevent overcrowding due to an influx of students from private institutions that have discontinued similar programs.

Program Availability

If a specific extracurricular program is not offered by the public school operated by the district of residence (for home study students) or the school of enrollment (for school choice students), the student is not eligible to participate in that activity at a neighboring school or district that does offer the program. Participation is strictly limited to the offerings of the student's designated or enrolled school.

Student Participation Limitations: Participation on scholastic teams is limited to enrolled students and qualified home study students. The rationale for this limitation is as follows:

  • Co-curricular activities are supposed to be part of a scholastic program. These are school teams, not community teams.
  • School teams promote academic progress in the classroom by requiring adherence to local academic standards. At a minimum, it is more difficult for schools to administer academic standards when some of the participants in activities are, because they are not enrolled, exempted from those requirements.
  • School teams help promote a sense of community within the school.
  • Participation by individuals who are not enrolled displaces enrolled students. All teams have limited playing time. Most teams have cut policies; some students do not even get to participate on their school team. We should not tell enrolled students to sit on the sidelines, or even not make the team, because someone from another school has taken the spot.
  • Participation by individuals not enrolled places the school’s administrators, teachers, and coaches in the position of having responsibility for the participant without the authority they have over-enrolled students.
  • The VPA nurtures an environment in which all schools support a full range of activities for their students. Independent schools may partner with another school through a member-to-member agreement. (see policy on member-to-member agreements)

Eligibility Limitations and Amateur Status

Contestants or participants must be enrolled in their school and must meet the school’s prescribed academic and eligibility rules. Students may only compete on school teams sponsored by their school during the season, and may only compete for the one school in which they are officially enrolled. Students may participate in meets as individuals but may not participate as a member of another team. 

School Commitment Bylaw

Once a home study or school choice student participates in an extracurricular activity at a particular school, that student must remain with that same school for all extracurricular activities for the duration of the academic year. Students may not choose different schools for different sports or activities within the same academic year. This bylaw is intended to prevent "program shopping" across multiple schools and to maintain the integrity of school-based extracurricular programs. Students must commit to one school per academic year for all their extracurricular participation.

Implementation: School principals are responsible for implementing this policy in accordance with existing state laws and guidelines established by the Vermont Principals' Association. They must ensure that all students, regardless of enrollment status, have equitable access to extracurricular activities, consistent with the provisions outlined above.