The District provides opportunities for students to participate in interscholastic activities and athletics. The interscholastic programs should encourage participation by as many students as possible and should be carried on with the best interests of the students as the primary consideration. The programs are expected to be well organized and well conducted and to have a positive influence on the students and the community.

Participation in interscholastic and extracurricular activities is a privilege and not a right. Interscholastic competition may be withheld from any student as a condition of discipline. Furthermore, all policies that apply to the regular school day apply also to interscholastic competition. Coaches and sponsors may establish policies for their groups in addition to those set out by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Hazing

Student hazing is inconsistent with the educational goals of the District and poses a significant risk to the physical and mental welfare of District students. Hazing of students, on or off District property, is prohibited and may result in suspension or expulsion from school and from activity/athletic participation.

Extra-Curricular/School Athletics

As used in this policy, the terms “Athletics” and “Gender” are defined as follows:

Athletics – any interscholastic athletic games, contests, programs, activities, exhibitions, or similar competitions organized and provided for students.

Sex - the two main categories of male and female into which individuals are divided based on an individual reproductive biology at birth and the individual genome.  Biologic sex is the gender correctly stated in the student’s official birth certificate completed at or near the time of the student’s birth.

The District will not permit any student to compete in an athletic competition that is designated for the biologic sex opposite to the student’s biologic sex.

However, the District may allow a female student to compete in an athletic competition that is designated for male students, if no corresponding athletic competition designated for female students is offered.

The District acknowledges that if the District violates this policy, as derived from state statute, the District is subject to a loss of state aid and any other state revenues. 

This policy will expire on August 28, 2027, unless specifically reauthorized by the Board.