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Charter Schools

Reclassification and Realignment Policies Regarding Charter Schools

  1. Charter schools may be reassigned to a higher conference if actual enrollment is larger than the submitted enrollment projections.

  2. Charter Schools shall not be assigned to a football district unless they provide evidence to UIL staff that they have participated previously.

  3. Charters schools located within a school district with three (3) or more high schools shall be assigned to the same conference as the high school in that school district with the lowest enrollment, unless the charter school’s enrollment qualifies it for a higher conference.

i). A charter school elevated in conference under this rule shall receive an automatic appeal to UIL staff related to conference assignment.

ii). Decisions of UIL staff may be appealed to the District Assignment Appeals Committee.

Varsity Athletic Eligibility Information for Charter Schools

According to the UIL varsity athletic parent residence rule (section 440 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules), a student athlete has eligibility for varsity athletics at the school in the attendance zone where their parents reside.

If a student athlete attends a school outside of the attendance zone where the parents reside, that student athlete would be ineligible for varsity athletics for a period of one calendar year from the day he/she enrolls and attends. This student would also have to be in compliance with local school district attendance policies.

The student may need to complete a Previous Athletic Participation Form prior to varsity athletic eligibility at the new school.

According to section 403 (f) (6) of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules:

Section 403: ELIGIBILITY - ATHLETICS

Subject to the other sections of this subchapter, an individual is eligible to participate in a UIL varsity athletic contest as a representative of a member school if that individual:

(f) is a resident of the member school district (See Section 442), and a resident of the attendance zone in which the member school being attended is situated:

(6) Charter Schools:

(A) Students whose parents live within the boundaries of an independent school district where a charter high school is located and opt to attend the charter high school at their first opportunity to select a high school and are otherwise in compliance with varsity eligibility requirements, are eligible.

(B) Students whose parents live within the independent school district where the charter school is located, who do not select the charter high school at their first opportunity, are ineligible for varsity athletic competition unless they have been enrolled in and regularly attending the charter high school for at least the previous calendar year.

(C) Students whose parents reside outside the boundaries of the independent school district where the charter school is located are ineligible for varsity athletic competition unless they have been enrolled in and regularly attending the charter school for at least the previous calendar year.