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Parent Residence Requirements for Service Members, Peace Officers & Educators

The amendments to Section 442, Residence in School District provide for an exception to the parent residence requirement for children of ‘service members’ (military) and ‘peace officers’ as defined in the Texas Education Code 25.0344, as well as children of school employees who are hired for an SBEC certified position who transfer to new schools at their first opportunity. 

  • All students must complete a Previous Athletic Participation Form (PAPF) and be found not to have changed schools for athletic reasons.
  • "First Opportunity" in reference to Section 442(h): If the first opportunity for a child to transfer to a new school occurs during a semester, the student is expected to at least start the next semester at the new school. 
    • Entry into the 9th grade is considered first opportunity. 
  • "Requiring a certificate from the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) in reference to Section 442(h)(3): Professional educators who are hired for an SBEC certified position may be eligible for this exception even if they have not yet acquired the SBEC certification to fulfill the SBEC certified requirement.
    • A SBEC certified position would include, but may not be limited to teachers, principals, certified professionals, and instructional aides.
  • Students whose parents are service members, peace officers, or educators who DO NOT meet the criteria for this exception to the parent residence requirement need to apply for a waiver for varsity eligibility the first year of attending a school in which they are not in compliance with the parent residence rule.

UIL Portal: Students who were previously ruled ineligible, who now meet the exceptions found in Section 442(h), may be eligible.

The school should contact UIL Staff to re-open the PAPF so that it may be re-sent to the DEC with the updated information. 

  • If the student meets the criteria for an exception to the parent residence requirement but a waiver automatically populates when filling out the online PAPF:

    • The waiver can be removed by pressing "Tools" (top of screen) then "Add/Remove Forms."

    • An explanation of why the waiver is not required should be uploaded to the PAPF for the DEC chair. 

Section 442(h) of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will be amended as follows:

Section 442: RESIDENCE IN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ATTENDANCE ZONE

  1. A student whose parent is a ‘servicemember’ as defined in section 25.0344 of the Texas Education Code (TEC), and transfers to a new school as outlined in TEC 25.0344 at first opportunity, and is otherwise in compliance with eligibility rules, is considered in compliance with this rule.
  2. A student whose parent is a ‘peace officer’ as referenced in section 25.0344 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) (definition in section 1701.001, occupations code), and transfers to a new school as outlined in TEC 25.0344 at first opportunity, and is otherwise in compliance with eligibility rules, is considered in compliance with this rule.
  3. A student whose parent is hired for a full-time position requiring a certificate from the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) at a member independent school district (ISD) or member charter school organization and transfers to a new school in the ISD or the charter school in which the parent is employed, at first opportunity, and is otherwise in compliance with eligibility rules, is considered in compliance with this rule, with local school district approval.