Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality

Participation of Home School/Alternative Instruction Students in Interscholastic Activities

At the discretion of the local, member school, alternative instruction students, under SDCL 13-27-3, may be granted permission by an accredited member school to participate in interscholastic contests by annually fulfilling the following conditions:

1. Demonstrate compliance with CHAPTER I, PART IV – STUDENT ELIGIBILITY and CHAPTER II, PART I – FURTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ATHLETIC CONTESTS (as applicable) by submitting the SDHSAA Eligibility Checklist for Alternative Instruction Students.
    

2. Providing documentation of the SDCL 13-27-3 APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE REQUEST and nationally standardized achievement tests in grades tested under the state testing program.
    

3. Complying with all member school eligibility requirements with the exception of attendance requirements. Scholastic/academic eligibility shall be verified per local school administrative policy following the same procedure used to accept credits towards graduation when an alternative instruction student requests a transfer to the local school district.
    

4. Any student, who was unable to maintain academic eligibility in an accredited school, shall be ineligible to participate as an alternative instruction student for a period of one year. After one year, the student may regain eligibility per local school administrative policy.
    

5. Satisfying the responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related class or practice requirements, as expected of other student participants as a condition for both the initial acceptance and continued membership in the activity including but not limited to:

   1. All local school training rules and/or codes of conduct will be applicable.

   2. In order to be eligible to audition for and /or participate in Region Music Contests, All-State Chorus, All-State Orchestra or All-State Band, the student must be currently enrolled and attending the local school’s parallel musical organization (if one exists) i.e. vocal music, instrumental music, orchestra. (This is the same rule that applies to students attending a member school.)

   3. A student who is a member of a high school team may not participate in games, practice, tryouts, etc. in that particular sport during the same season on an independent or non-high school team or as a member of any “all- star” team, or completely unattached on an individual basis. (This is the same rule that applies to students attending a member school.)

   4. All references to calendar shall refer to the calendar of the member school where the alternative instruction student is participating.
       

6. Eligibility will be established at the first member school the alternative student decides to participate.
    

7. The student may transfer their eligibility one time to another member school. If this occurs at the beginning of the school year, the student would become eligible immediately. If the transfer occurs after the first day of school, the student would become eligible following 45 school days. NOTE: This would be consistent with the current by-law applicable to open enrollment students.
    

8. A student who leaves an accredited school for any reason to enter an alternative instruction program, shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition for a period of one year, beginning on the date the student enters the alternative instruction program.  Re-enrollment in a member school shall not nullify the year of ineligibility.