“4-H has been recognized by the Texas Education Agency as a legitimate school-related extracurricular organization. 4-H members may apply for excused absences in order to participate in 4-H activities. It is the responsibility of the local school district to determine whether or not any student is eligible and may be excused from classes to participate in any extracurricular event or activity. 4-H members are not automatically excused upon request, but are subject to all regulations of the Texas Education Agency and their local school district as they may apply to extracurricular participation. “
As stated in the Texas 4-H Rules and Guidelines, Section 5 http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/19-20_TX4H_RulesGuidelines.pdf
With the end of another “six-weeks” quickly approaching (for most school districts) right in the middle of stock show season, many questions about eligibility arise. Thankfully there is a guide to help answer some of those tough questions for 4-H, please reference the TEA – UIL Side-By-Side Document
https://www.uiltexas.org/files/policy/TEA_UIL_Side_by_Side_19-20.pdf
Key Take Aways:
- If a student passed the previous grading period, but is failing a course at the time of a livestock show or other non-UIL activity, is the student prohibited from participation? No. The student is academically eligible until the end of the grading period unless the district has imposed stricter criteria for eligibility.
- At what point in time is an ineligible student prohibited from working with the show animal for competition? After the animal has been delivered to the show barn or competition area, the ineligible student may no longer tend, groom, or in any other way prepare the animal for competition. A student may assist in transporting the animal to the competition site provided no school time is missed.
- May a student who is ineligible to compete in a livestock show participate in the sale or auction portion of the show? No. The sale would be considered an extracurricular activity in that it is held in conjunction with another activity that is considered to be extracurricular. (19 TAC §76.1001 [a] [1] [B]) Whether or not the animal may be sold by another individual is the decision of the school officials or determined by rules of the sponsors of the show.
-Bailee