Eligibility
Students must maintain eligibility to participate in Meridian Clubs & Organizations.
There are three considerations for maintaining eligibility in Meridian Clubs & Organizations:
- Character in Good Standing - applies to all extracurricular activities
- Academic Eligibility - applies to extracurricular activities that compete or perform.
- Financial Eligibility - applies to all extracurricular activities
1. Character in Good Standing
Please see the Parent/Student Handbook for school policies. Students responsible for an offense or offenses that resulted in two or more days of suspension while enrolled at Meridian School could be removed from the club/organization roster and could have all club-related privileges revoked, including but not limited to the right to participate in meetings, recognition ceremonies, socials and traditions, such as the opportunity to letter. Enforcement will be at the discretion of Meridian Administration who will inform club sponsors of necessary implications. Disciplinary offenses that would result in mandatory removal to an alternative placement under TEC Section 37.006 (in a traditional public school) will automatically result in suspension from all Meridian extracurricular activities for a period ranging from one month to the remainder of the school year.
2. Academic Eligibility
Per state law and Meridian school rules, any students who fail or receive an incomplete in at least one class for the quarter are ineligible to compete or perform in extracurricular activities (athletics, theater, Model UN, etc.). Ineligibility starts at the end of school (4:05 pm) five school days after the start of the new quarter. The reason for this one week “waiting period” prior to ineligibility is to give teachers a chance to catch any errors that might have occurred in grading or grade entry, and to give students with an incomplete a chance to clear it. Additionally, if there is a summative assessment that is still eligible for retest (still within the retest window), the retest may be completed during this 5 day waiting period. If errors are corrected or incompletes cleared prior to the end of school that Friday of the first week of the new quarter, then the student is eligible to compete. If not, then they are ineligible until at least the four week progress report period.
At the end of the 4 week progress report period, a student who is passing all classes on their progress report (and has no unresolved incompletes from the previous quarter) regains eligibility to compete and perform. Like with the end of the quarter, however, there is a one week (five school day) “waiting period” before eligibility is regained. Note that failing grades on a progress report cannot cause a previously eligible student to lose eligibility. Under “no-pass-no-play,” progress reports only will result in a student regaining eligibility, not losing it.
Though semester grades are ultimately what counts for a student receiving credit for a high school credit course, they do not count towards “no pass no play”. Only quarter grades and 4 week progress reports affect “no pass no play” eligibility to compete / perform.
DP Exception - Diploma Programme students who have failed ONLY one “IB” class may request an Academic Eligibility Waiver. Find the waiver here. The DP Academic Eligibility Waiver must be completed by the student and signed by the teacher of the DP class the student is failing as well as the principal prior to date and time by which eligibility would be lost.
Note: Students may compete over the summer or extended (week or more) breaks regardless of eligibility status, and a failing grade the previous year does not affect eligibility in the subsequent year.
3. Financial Eligibility
Students participating in clubs/organizations that have membership and/or participation fees must maintain financial eligibility to participate. This means all fees must be paid by the club/organization's deadline(s) to maintain eligibility and continue to participate.
Financial assistance is available to those who need it. Please email [email protected] to inquire.
Questions about Eligibility can be sent to [email protected].