Three weeks into the semester, coaches and club sponsors at a number of schools, however, say they haven't had time to start the tracking program or weren't even aware of the new requirement. The Korean Club at Mather High is now must monitor its members to ensure they meet the new academic requirements. The club, led by teacher Carolyn Kim, has 15 members and meets weekly to plan for events such as its annual performance of the fan dance at Mather's Ethnic Festival. To participate in extracurricular activities, a student must have earned a C average the previous semester and have had passing grades in at least 20 class hours, or four courses. He also must currently be passing at least 20 hours of classes on a weekly basis and have a C average.
Students typically take six or seven courses a semester.
The student, his parents or guardian, his counselor and the club sponsor or team coach must sign off on the plan. The board adopted the policy in the wake of state legislation that required all school districts with grades 9 through 12 to set minimum academic requirements for participation in extracurricular activities. The deadline for implementation was Jan. 1, 1999. Since the mid-1970s, interscholastic athletic teams have been subject to grade standards imposed by the Illinois High School Association, according to Executive Director Dave Fry. The shift got mixed reviews.