|
|
Welcome to the WIAA Student Eligibility Center. The resources available here will help you navigate the WIAA eligibility process.
| |
|
 |
| Students/Families & Athletic Directors: |
Guiding forms, information and clarifying resources related to Student Eligibility. | |
| |
| Athletic Directors: |
When a new student-athlete joins a school without one (1) year of continuous enrollment in that school/feeder school, AD's will use this document as a tool to determine eligibility. |
| Students/Families: |
Please work with your school's Athletic Department to complete and submit this packet. | |
| |
| Athletic Directors: |
When an AD has determined an athlete is ineligible, they will follow the steps here to communicate the ineligibility. AD’s should meet with the family when presenting this document to declare ineligibility and provide information in reference to the appeal process. |
| Students/Families: |
This link contains the steps a family is required to take to appeal the determination of ineligibility, if chosen to do so. | |
| |
| Athletic Directors: |
If you have a question regarding eligibility, interpretation of a rule or are seeking clarification. |
| Students/Families: |
If you have a question regarding eligibility PLEASE WORK THROUGH YOUR BUILDING ADMINISTRATOR. All WIAA Member School contact information can be found using the Member School Directory. | |
| |
|
|
Collection of resources related to Student Eligibility.
Translations supported by Legends Casino and Hotel.
PROTECTING MY ELIGIBILITY:
How can I make sure I'm eligible at my school? |
| Form Name |
Form Description |
File/Language Options |
| Eligibility Checklist |
Identifies all of the criteria that each student must meet in order to be eligible, along with a check sheet for validation. |
|
| "Protect Your Eligibility" |
A form for student-athletes reminding them of the responsibilities they must uphold in order to maintain athletic eligibility. |
|
| Student Residence Eligibility Expectations |
Standard contract between a school and a family unit as related to WIAA eligibility rules. |
|
| Incoming International Exchange Student Contract |
Entering the United States for one school year. |
|
| Outgoing International Exchange Student Contract |
Leaving the United States for one school year. |
|
CHANGING/TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS:
What happens to my eligibility if I transfer schools? |
| Form Name |
Form Description |
File/Language Options |
| Before You ENROLL |
Prior to enrolling a student-athlete into a new school, this form will help to determine athletic eligibility at the new school. |
|
| Before You WITHDRAW |
Prior to withdrawing a student-athlete from a school, this form will help to determine athletic eligibility at the new school. |
|
MAINTAINING ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY:
How do I protect my eligibility receiving education outside of the high school? |
| Form Name |
Form Description |
File/Language Options |
| Home-Based Education School Contract |
An academic plan contract between Home Based School students and their home high school to ensure academic eligibility for high school activities. |
|
| Alternative Education School Contract |
An academic plan contract between Alternative Education School students and their home high school to ensure academic eligibility for high school activities. |
|
| Running Start Contract |
An academic plan contract between Running Start students and their home high school to ensure academic eligibility for high school activities. |
|
| Navigating Educational Offerings |
A document intended to help Athletic Directors navigate the various academic environments families wish to access for their students while maintaining athletic eligibility.
OSPI School Directory Tool
|
|
STATE LEVEL APPEAL DOCUMENT:
I've been determined ineligible by my District Eligibility Committee. How do I appeal to the next level? |
| Form Name |
Form Description |
File/Language Options |
| 2023-24 Appeal Forms and Procedures |
Required documents for appealing a District Eligibility Decision. |
|
| MISCELLANEOUS ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTS |
| Form Name |
Form Description |
File/Language Options |
| State of Washington High School Transcript Example |
|
|
| 2023-24 School Certificate of Eligibility |
|
|
| OSPI/WIAA McKinney-Vento Bulletin |
|
|
When a new student-athlete joins a school without one (1) year of continuous enrollment in the school/feeder school, the AD will work with the new student to complete all three (3) steps below prior to declaring the student eligible for participation.
Translations supported by Legends Casino and Hotel.
AD will work with the new student to complete the New Student Packet in order to help determine eligibility.
New Student Packet
AD Checklist
AD will work with the student who is utilizing the Window of Transfer to complete the form below in order to help determine eligibility.
Window of Transfer Form
In all new student cases, AD will send the previous school statement to the most recent previous school attended.
Previous School Statement
AD receives complete and up-to-date transcript for the new student.
AD makes Determination of Eligibility status.
When an AD has determined an athlete is ineligible, use the steps on the link below to communicate the ineligibility to the student and family. AD’s should meet with the family when presenting this document to declare ineligibility and provide information in reference to the appeal process.
Translations supported by Legends Casino and Hotel.
Determination of Ineligibility
If you (or your student) have (has) been determined ineligible by the building Athletic Director, follow the steps below if you choose to appeal the decision.
The following "Request for Appeal" document must be filled out, signed, and sent to the AD of the school by the date indicated in the Declaration of Ineligibility.
Request for Appeal
Decide which of the following categories to appeal the hardship, complete the appropriate packet and collect necessary documents.
Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying
Medical/Mental/Physical
Financial
Season Limitations
General (does not fit in one of the other categories)
Submit the entire Appeal Packet to the building AD so they can schedule a hearing with the District Eligibility Chair.
Appeal Packet Checklist:
- New Student Packet
- Declaration of Ineligibility
- Request for Appeal
- Hardship Packet
- Transcript
- Current Schedule/Grades (if school is in session)
- Additional Supporting Documents (if relevant)
What to Expect at a District Hearing
The District Eligibility Committee will grant, deny or table (request more information) the Appeal. The Eligibility Committee will communicate the decision within five (5) school business days following the date of the Hearing.
If the appeal is denied by the District Eligibility Committee and the student/family chooses to Appeal the decision to the State Level, please follow the steps to request a State level Appeal here (this document can also be found on the Eligibility Forms page).
The following is a summary of frequently asked questions and answers regarding student eligibility.
Our son has been participating in school sports since 7th grade. As he just finished the 9th grade, it's apparent that he is not growing at the same rate as his peers and is falling behind academically. We would like to have him repeat 9th grade and sit out a year of athletics. When he returns to athletics in 10th grade, will he still have 3 years of high school eligibility?
NO. Rule 18.1.0 indicates that students shall have 6 consecutive years of interscholastic eligibility. Having your son sit out a year will not extend his eligibility and that year will be counted as one of his 6 consecutive years of eligibility.
We have a student that got cleared for a sport and has been practicing with the team. However, due to academic challenges, has not participated in any competitions nor been on the eligiblity list. We are beyond the date of the 50% rule and 1 week before Districts and they are now eligible academically. Can they compete in post season?
Because the student was listed on the cleared list for the sport prior to the 50% date, they are eligible for post season.
I have a student whose parents have never been married, although they have lived together and raised their child jointly. The adults have recently split up and the student is choosing to make a move from one parent to the other. Will they need to have a hardship hearing?
If a student is transferring schools and wishing to access rule 18.11.0C, they would need to have sufficient documentation to provide a timeline consistent with the separation. Documentation that shows the 2 adults were living in a partnership (shared lease agreement, joint bank account) and corresponding evidence of separation indicating separation of shared assests, child custody agreements, separate living and separate finances. It is the responsibility of the Athletic Director to make a determination of eligibility and if such documentation is not evident, an eligibility hearing may be necessary.
We have a new student to our school that would like to gain eligibility via rule 18.11.0C, however, the parents, due to religious reasons do not want to get a divorce. What options do they have?
When working through eligibility and the movement of students between parents or change in the family unit, documentation indicating there is a legal searation is required. People choose legal separation instead of divorce because of religious beliefs, a desire to keep the family together legally for the sake of children, the need for one spouse to keep the health insurance benefits that would be lost with a divorce, or simple aversion to divorcing despite the desire to live separate lives. Divorce and legal separation have similar effects in many ways. Both a divorce and legal separation legally create a space between the two adults. They live separately. Finances are separated. Child custody, child support, division of marital assets and debts and spousal support are all ordered by the court. A notarized letter is not enough to access rule 18.11.0C.
We have a student that recently moved into our school district. He told me he is sleeping on a friends couch. Does this automatically allow him to be eligible to compete at the varsity level in athletics due to being homeless?
Students that are facing homelessness are not automatically eligible for athletics. The building AD needs to work with the school/district McKinney-Vento Liaison to best support the student. The Liaison is responsible for making a determination of McKinney-Vento status. Once McKinney-Vento is established, the athletic director needs to determine if the student meets all WIAA eligibility requirements. Eligibility requirements in question should be discussed with the McKinney-Vento liaison as to best secure needed information to determine eligibility.
Do 8th graders that have the opportunity to participate in high school sports have access to the "window of transfer"? Does the fact that they played high school sports in 8th grade impact the window of transfer?
The window of transfer is between 8th and 9th grade for all schools that indicate 9th grade as the beginning of high school. Yes, an 8th grader that participated in high school sports can still access the window of transfer.
We have a student that is taking 7 classes and our school is on a 6 period day. How many classes does he need to pass to remain eligible?
This student would be held to the standards of 18.7.0 and would need to maintain passing grades in 6 classes in a 7 period class schedule or the equivalent credits.
We have a new student that is transferring into our school after just one quarter of the school year. She does not have established grades due to the limited academic time and we are trying to establish her eligibility at our school.
This student, upon withdrawing from the previous school, should have a list of classes she was actively taking and grades or academic progress that would be sent along to the new school. In the absence of such grades or proof of academic standing (or if the student was not enrolled in the first 15 school days of a semester or 10 days of a trimester), she would not be eligible to participate in contests in the current semester / trimester.
We have a student that has a 504 plan for anxiety. Her 504 plan has accomodations that allows her to come to school for 1/2 of the day which is 3 of our 6 period day. Is she allowed to take just 3 classes and remain eligible?
NO. The presence of a 504 plan does not preclude the expectations that all athletes are taking and passing the minimum number of classes. If the desire is for this student to be athletically eligible, the school will need to work with the family to provide academic offerings that will allow her to both meet the academic expectations and accomodating the 504 plan. Resource : Alternative Education Document
We have a student that is attending an alternative program without athletics and accessing our public school for athletics. She is in a program that takes just 1 class (.5 credit) at a time. How do I establish and maintain her eligibility?
You would need to insure she is maintaining passing grades or the minimum grade standard for your school in order to maintain athletic eligibility. For instance, if your school is a 6 period day, this is the equivalent of 3 credits. These 3 credits are being earned over, lets say, 12 weeks. The girl in question would need to earn a .5 credit every 2 weeks to maintain the equivalent academic progress as other student/athletes in your school. It would be the collaborative responsibility to set up a verification system for this student on a regular basis. |
|
|
|
|