February 11, 2002
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED
Subject: Extracurricular Activities Update #1 for the 2001-2002 School Year
Prior to the 2000-2001 school year, districts were prohibited from scheduling extracurricular activities the evening or day before the statewide administration of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) test except for those activities that were beyond the control of the local district, such as the University Interscholastic League (UIL) basketball playoffs or the Houston Livestock Show. These districts were authorized to modify their TAAS testing schedule in instances where there was a concern that extracurricular activities might have a negative impact on students taking the scheduled assessment. This was allowed under the previous State Board of Education (SBOE) rule [(19 TAC §76.1(g) (4)]. Districts that needed to modify the published TAAS testing schedule were required to submit a report to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) describing either the modification of the testing schedule or an exception to the rule.
Under the current Commissioner’s rule [(19TAC 76.1001 (d) (4)], districts are discouraged, but not prohibited, from scheduling extracurricular activities during the testing week. Enclosed are the guidelines for the modification of testing schedules. Districts that modify their testing schedule are now required to report the modifications to the TEA Student Assessment Division on the enclosed form. In instances where on-site testing is necessary, TAAS District Coordinators must submit the request for prior approval using the enclosed form to the Student Assessment Division. Districts that have students who will be tested at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention test site in San Antonio will not need prior approval for on-site testing.
The best source of information related to extracurricular eligibility issues for both UIL and non-UIL extracurricular activities continues to be the “TEA & UIL Side by Side” publication, which is published annually by the UIL. The Side by Side can be located on the UIL web site at http://www.uil.utexas.edu/admin/side/index.html and is available in .PDF format for easy downloading and printing. It is highly recommended that coaches, sponsors, administrators, and those involved with or who are interested in extracurricular activities ensure that only the current issue of the Side by Side is used, since there are changes in it each year.
The proposed UIL rule changes for the 2002-2003 school year are located on the UIL web site at http://www.uil.utexas.edu/admin/newrule.html; these rules will be in effect at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year, pending the approval of the Commissioner of Education.
For information regarding extracurricular activities and 19 TAC §76.1001, districts may contact Dr. Ron Bradford in the Texas Education Agency Division of Field Services at 512/463-9354. Questions specifically related to the University Interscholastic League should be submitted to the UIL at 512/471-5883. In addition, the UIL web site contains the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, the TEA & UIL Side by Side, the UIL Calendar, links to the various UIL Divisions, UIL district alignment information, and a variety of other UIL links. The homepage of the UIL is http://www.uil.utexas.edu/index.html.
This update is being mailed to all superintendents and copied to TAAS coordinators; however, it is extremely important that campus level administrators and other staff members responsible for supervision and sponsorship of extracurricular activities be provided with a copy as well.
Sincerely,
Virgil (Ed) Flathouse
Associate Commissioner
for School Finance and Support Systems
C: TAAS Coordinators
Enclosures